Page 150 of Of Spindles and Nightfall
She held the scepter in her hands, feeling its power flow through her. “What did you mean earlier? About me being able to wield this?”
“Only royalty can use the scepter. Long before now, I’d acknowledged you as my queen and the scepter responds to that.”
She took his hand, and they proceeded to the throne. Zarathos grabbed the side of it, strain on his face. She spun to look at him. “Are you certain—”
“Sit, Vampress.”
She sat down, a wave of relief washing over her—light, quick, and overwhelming. They had survived. Both of them. It felt like a miracle.
“When all of this is behind us,” she said softly, “we should have a ball. Celebrate everything we’ve made it through.”
“What? A celebration that’s not about flaunting power and gloating over our victory against the other demon kingdoms?”
“I didn’t say it can’t have multiple purposes.”
He smirked. “You have yourself a deal.”
Marbas and members of the council searched those who entered—soldiers, other members of the council, and shapeshifters. The shapeshifters, who were dressed as guards, were not bound, and they watched Zarathos carefully. One walked up to him. “You said that you will grant us our own nation?”
“Yes, if you swear you will never again decide to overthrow me or the demon alliance.”
He pressed his lips and walked over to the other shapeshifters and began to converse. Some started arguing.
Marbas stepped up next to Aryana. “The human Neri attempted to escape out the window, however when she tried to descend the castle, she slipped and impaled herself on one of the spires.”
Aryana didn’t care about Neri one way or another, but she had wanted to pass judgment on the one who had so fully upended Aryana’s life. Then again, perhaps this end was more appropriate than anything she could provide. “Thank you for informing me,” she said.
Marbas bowed low. “Your Majesty, forgive me for doubting you. I was wrong to assume you’d get my master killed.”
“You were only trying to protect him,” she replied. “I can’t fault you for that.”
“Thank you,” he said with another bow. “I hope to prove my loyalty to you in time.”
“Keep fighting for him. That’s all the proof I need.”
“Yes, my queen.”
“Don’t think you’re off the hook just yet,” Zarathos cut in, his gaze sharp. “Loyalty to me from this moment on means loyalty to Aryana.”
She shot him a look, her heart lifting despite herself. He always had to have the last word.
Marbas gave a final nod. “Yes, master.”
The argument among the shapeshifters grew more intense.
“I need to speak with them,” Zarathos muttered, and then straightened his shoulders, which had slumped a bit, and stepped forward.
He cleared his throat and the shapeshifters turned to look at him. “I know you are uncertain, maybe even angry about my victory today. My father and the demon kings before this have delivered nothing but death and destruction upon you. And I, in years past,helped them do so. I thought he succeeded. That you were gone, and I alone was left. The sole half-incubi who had to hide who I was for fear of being destroyed along with the rest of you. And in that isolation, and fear, and hiding, I finally realized that my father was wrong.Ideserve to exist.” He pushed a fist to his chest. “I from this point forward shall be known as Zarathos Rumpelstiltskin, the demon arch king.”
The shadows swirled freely through the room, bursting around him, gathering at his feet.
He stepped forward, motioning to those who stood before him. “And just as I deserve to exist,youdeserve to exist, free of fear and death. I shall grant that to all demons. And I grant you your own kingdom—independent of the demon alliance, if that is your wish—where you may live in peace and rebuild.” His jaw clenched. “But there are some conditions. You must make a deal with me that you will never again decide to infiltrate these kingdoms under the guise of seeking its destruction or to overthrow me. You must agree to grant incubi and other demons the same freedoms you enjoy. Those are my terms.”
He stood amidst the swirling shadows, eyes glowing with unshakable resolve. Gods, how she loved him.
The shapeshifters didn’t respond. Slowly, they turned and discussed in hushed tones.
After a bit, the shapeshifter who had spoken to Zarathos earlier approached. “You have granted us something we thought we would never have. We will agree to your terms.” Suddenly, the form ofthe demon guard shifted and transformed into a demon with a half dress, half suit and dark eyeliner, highlighting their impish eyes.
