Page 39 of Wicked Savior
Cormal left as soon as Meri returned. There was a haunted look in his eyes and a tinge of madness in his face. Seeing the beast did something to him. Resurrected a part of his past he’d worked hard to forget is my best guess, but you never know with him. It worries me.
While I stayed at The Abbey, he conducted the interviews for the staff and got everything kicked off for our project in the Underworld. Orlo, the Nemean Lion, was hired as one of the supervisors, but Cormal sent me videos of the interviews, and I agreed that he was the best candidate for the job.
Excited about the project, I tell Evren about our plan to help improve the Underworld for all our races, not just the demons.
I explain the different habitats we’re building to help the non-demon races feel more at home. “When I came into power, only demons lived in the capital. Once I started reuniting the outlying kingdoms, other races came to live in our dark city. They left their natural habitats and their families to live in a harsh environment. Instead of returning home, they stayed and built new lives. This will finally give them a piece of their home. Something to rejuvenate them and their powers.”
She shifts closer to me, and I silently groan at the feel of her body lined up against mine. With every breath, she settles in closer until I don’t know where I end and she begins.
Needing a distraction, I pull out the sketches Cormal sent over. “I’m most excited about the school we’re building. This is a rough sketch of the campus and the buildings.” One sketch depicts all the buildings and layout of the campus. “It will be a school for all ages at first. If it proves successful, we’ll build another based on what we see is needed.” I excitedly show her the sketch of each building, already proud of it, even though we haven’t broken ground yet.
Her body leans into mine, and her green eyes glow with intensity as she stares at me, questions swirling in their depths. “The Underworld doesn’t currently have schools or education for its citizens? How do they learn? What jobs do they do?”
Thrilled to hear her voice again, it takes me a second to respond. “Most of the demons have been operating within their own mini hierarchy for years. The high demon or duke assigns tasks according to their sin, capability, race, or power. But outside of this structure, there is nothing.”
She frowns. “So not everybody has a purpose?”
It’s a good way to think about it. Everyone should have a purpose. Whether it’s convincing humans to sin, providing goods and services to the people, or whatever they choose.
“No, they don’t,” I answer. “For the first two thousand years of my reign, I battled anyone who was a threat to my throne.” I can’t help but wince when the words come out of my mouth. “The next two thousand years, I made peace a priority, along with a strong army and a good defense. Our allies see us as a dominating force, and we’re valued for our ability to fight. To keep our alliances, I’ll continue to make that a priority. But I know we can be more.”
Iwantmore for my people. “Underworld is lost to the ancient ways. When I went to war against the Light Fae for Arden, I saw sophisticated, orderly cities with commerce, advanced magic, and educated citizens. I want my people to have the same advantages, not through an ally, but through our own resources.”
Her gaze is locked on me as if she finds every word of this fascinating.
My brow furrows and I shift uncomfortably. “It’s more than that, though. Angels serve. They don’t make decisions or choices on their own. I loved serving, but it’s nothing compared to the power of choosing your own path. As a ruler, I want my people to have choices.”
She nods. “Everyone in my family is a… scientist. I truly love it, but it would have been nice to have a choice.” A wry smile graces her lips. “Is this the first school?”
My shoulder lifts. “I wasn’t sure what to do at first. The task felt overwhelming. It took me a while to realize I don’t have to do it all at once, nor do I have to do it alone. And if there is an expert in the field, I’ll bring them in to help,” I say with a wry smile. It took me a while to admit I couldn’t do it all.
There’s a knock on the door. I hand her the sketches and get up to answer.
Daire motions me into the hallway.
“I’ll return in a second, Evren,” I inform her, and step out.
“Have you found somewhere else for her to go?” Daire asks, his face set in a frown. “Arden said she’s pretty much healed, and with what has happened, she can’t stay here.”
My head rears back. I hadn’t thought about it, but I can see the issue with her staying. “The only other place is the cottage. It’s not quite as secure, but we can go there.”
Daire’s icy blue eyes look shocked. “You would take her to our home?”
Exasperated, I blow out a loud breath. “She’s human, Daire. I can’t exactly take her to the Underworld. And it would take a lot of negotiation for me to find her a safe place with the Fae or Elven,” I remind him. “Is there a hurry?”
He throws his hands up. “I don’t understand why you continue to protect her or be with her after everything she’s done.”
Straightening my shoulders, I return his hard look with one of my own. “It was a simple mistake. She didn’t know that would happen. Nobody did. There’s not a hell of a lot written about the Druids. Nothing about their blood turning humans into beasts. Trust me. I’ve read almost all the books on the subject.”
“Her mistake cost thirty-seven supernaturals and three humans their lives,” he spits back at me. “We’re a sanctuary. Right now, we can’t guarantee anyone their safety. She needs to leave.”
My patience is running dangerously thin, but I try to view it from his perspective. “We’ll leave after the next healing session.” I reach out to clasp his shoulder, but he jerks it away.
“Why do you have to go with her? I don’t understand this hold she has on you,” he snarls in return.
I scoff. “There is no hold. I promised I would protect her from Gabriel. There is something about her that is driving him to the edge of insanity. For thousands of years, I’ve been dreaming and hoping he would fuck up and fall from grace. My gut says this is it. And when it happens, I’ll be there to drag his ass to the Underworld to pay for what he did to me. That is why I’ll stick with her to the end.” The words have a hollow ring to them that I ignore. It’s all about revenge. That’s it. “When he’s no longer a threat, she can go her own way and I’ll go mine.” Patience gone, I slide a hand through the air. “Discussion over.”
His icy blue eyes study me intently for a second, then he stalks off, leaving me to wonder if the massacre is the only reason he’s upset.
