Page 19 of Our Vicious Oaths
His expression shuttered. Then it turned to stone. He stilled, his fingers digging into her side. “It is time to introduce you properly to my court,” he said brusquely, stopping the dance and stalking toward the onyx throne. The singular one in the grand ballroom was meant for the Apollyon king and him alone to sit atop it, Kadeesha figured. It would’ve made sense given what she knew of Malachizrien’s sheer arrogance, but the fact that he’d shared authority easily with his auntie and cousin back in the throne room made the lone throne in the ballroom a peculiarity.
The sea of revelers parted for their king, and they bowed as he passed. Curious eyes lingered on Kadeesha. Even if she hadn’t heard the quiet guesses before about where she’d come from, they currently swirled loudly around the room. The chatter only began to die down as she and Malachizrien ascendedthe dais. Once the Apollyon king faced his subjects, utter silence descended without him needing to give a command. Kadeesha couldn’t quite decide if it was because his courtiers held just that much reverence for their king or if it had to do with Malachizrien’s hellish reputation and his courtiers having impeccable senses of self-preservation. She’d place her runi coins on the latter because, while standing on the dais, Malachizrien allowed his power to slip its leash. It was a thing southern fae never did, not even the monarchs, since it was considered gauche. More, though, it was dangerous to allow others to know the true depths of one’s might. But apparently things were done differently among the Apollyonfolk since Malachizrien stood before his courtiers doing exactly that. Kadeesha felt the action the moment it happened, the sensation akin to a frigid blast slamming into her and nearly knocking her a step back. And now an icy, stinging cold seeped through her pores and settled into her bones. It alarmingly felt like it invaded her soul. From the courtiers’ half-stricken, half-awed expressions, Kadeesha surmised they experienced the same effect.
Then there were the changes about the physical room. Every corner, from floor to ceiling, seemed to be abuzz with Malachizrien’s power. The temperature had plunged so much that the space felt like it had been submerged in subzero temps, and dark tendrils of shadows clung to the walls and floor. Kadeesha bit her tongue to cut off the surprised gasp. She would not give Malachizrien such satisfaction. But she also couldn’t resist turning to watch him and glimpse what he looked like when such power was unleashed. She really should have fought harder.
The gasp slipped free.
Her eyes grew as wide as the diamond teardrop jewels that hung from her ears and between her breasts on delicate silverchains. Malachizrien stood on the dais beside her swathed in authority and power and ominous shadows, as much as the room itself was. No,he dripped them.Oozed them.And he sported a vicious grin that said he liked doing so. That said he got off on the expressions of intermingled awe and fear as if his court looked upon a Celestial instead of a mere king. Malachizrien’s brown eyes had darkened to nearly black without a trace of gold and shadows wove themselves around the three points of his crown. They writhed around his hands, snaked up his forearms and biceps, and rippled across his shoulders. Kadeesha gaped. She had impeccable control over her aether flames, but she couldn’t manipulate them on the level Malachizrien was doing with his void magic. Her mouth went dry. If not for her pride, she would’ve taken a hefty step away from the Apollyon king.
Literally crowned in shadows, he slid a slick look her way as if he knew what she was thinking. That shook Kadeesha from her reverie and she scrubbed any traces of fear or surprise away. And then she scowled. Malachizrien raised an amused brow but said nothing. He silently reached for her, and it was a hard-won effort not to snatch away her hand. His fingers locked around her wrist, digging in proprietarily. An icy burn blossomed beneath his touch. Kadeesha finally jumped. He hadn’t felt so glacial when they’d shared a night together. His fingers—and every other inch of him—had blazed with warmth. With an unyielding fire, even, that ran as scorching as her aether flames. As Malachizrien hauled her against his side, she wondered if it was the undiluted power blasting off him or the very darkness and shadows that skimmed along his frame that altered the way skin-to-skin contact with him felt. She heaved a breath in relief when he released her wrist. But the reprieve was short-lived because now his arm locked around her waist as tight as bodyirons and his hand gripped her hip. If her dress wasn’t so dreadfully thin, it might’ve offered some buffer against the bitter cold of his arctic touch. Or then again, maybe not. The glacial cold seeped further into her bones,her soul, in a way that made Kadeesha instinctively know nothing could be used as a barrier to block it if Malachizrien didn’t wish it blocked. She clenched her teeth against the subzero chill, refusing as much as she could against being so affected by the full brunt of Malachizrien’s void magic.
As his frightening power continued to dominate the room, his court knelt before him. Kadeesha spotted Nychelle and Trystin in the crowd near the foot of the dais. The queen mother and grand duke kneeled as well. But they were the lone two in the room whose eyes weren’t cast at the ground. Nychelle looked on at her nephew with clear pride. Trystin grinned lazily. Kadeesha’s eyes shifted to the king beside her and his stare was locked on his cousin’s irreverence. Malachizrien’s lips twitched before shooting daggers Trystin’s way … except she noticed the heated look held no real malice. Kadeesha marked how truly close Malachizrien and his cousin must be. He’d said earlier that he and Trystin had been raised like brothers, and Nychelle had said the same thing in the throne room. However, that detail could’ve meant many things. But from the small exchange she’d just witnessed, it was evident Malachizrien and Trystin held a close enough affection for each other that the latter would be completely at ease needling his king during a time when he was displaying the sheer dominance he held over their court.
Between one breath and another, it was as if Malachizrien had cast some spell that he’d then decided to shatter. The agonizing cold eating into her hip vanished. So did the shadows clinging to myriad places around the room. The darkness swirlingabout Malachizrien dissipated too, and the exact magnitude of his power could no longer be detected. It all must’ve been some silent ritual of the Apollyon Court, because the courtiers rose at once, again without Malachizrien voicing the command.
With his hand remaining a possessive brand on her hip, Malachizrien addressed his subjects. “The Apollyon Court indulges in our moonlight revels each full moon, as has been our way since the Apollyonfolk have existed. Tonight, we shall especially dance and feast for we have much to celebrate. Today, we struck a hefty blow against our enemies. The Hyperion king aims to invade our lands, to exterminate the Apollyonfolk, and to make this territory another one of his dominions. I will not allow it to happen. That bastard will fail!” He grabbed Kadeesha’s hand and raised it, twining his fingers through hers. “I’ve brought back a most lovely war prize after hobbling both the Aether and Hyperion Courts today!” he cried. “Standing here is the archprincess of the Aether Court! Her father, the Aether king, is dead. So too are the nobles of influence among the Aether and Hyperion Courts. The Hyperion king and the remaining monarchs of the Six Kingdoms are next! They will all know Apollyon wrath and feel the might of this court brought down upon them for their roles in the murder of our former king and queen and for the unforgivable offense of preparing an invasion of Apollyon lands. When it is done, there will be no more Six Kingdoms. There will only be one kingdom, one court: the Apollyon Court.” He looked about the room, seemingly locking eyes with everyone at once. “And there will only beoneking, a high king from the north:
“Me.”
Surprise rippled through the courtiers to such a degree it was apparent Malachizrien hadn’t formerly shared these plans with anyone. Nychelle and Trystin were the only two whodidn’t display astonishment. The shock quickly gave way to an eager energy that took hold of the courtiers.
“To vengeance!” a male among the crowd bellowed, raising his goblet in the air. It set off raucous cheers from the rest.
Kadeesha cut her eyes to Malachizrien, who’d known full well that this was the entirety of his plan when he strong-armed her into aiding him. His amused gaze locked with hers and she projected what she couldn’t say out loud at the moment:If you come for my kingdom or my throne, I will eviscerate you.
The bastard winked and turned away, entirely unbothered. He called out to a servant holding a silver tray nearby. Malachi plucked a wine-filled goblet off the tray when he approached. He raised his cup in the air. “To the sun setting on the Six Kingdoms and us Apollyonfolk ushering in an endless twilight where the Apollyon Court reigns supreme!” he called, and the response to that was deafening.
Chapter Nine
THE CHEERS DRAGGED ON. MALACHIZRIEN STOODstill through it all. When they died and the revelers returned to dancing and feasting and drinking, he settled onto the throne he’d stood in front of. Kadeesha stiffly remained standing beside him. She shot daggers at Malachizrien as he made himself comfortable with wine in hand.
“What?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Am I really to stand all night?” she asked. Even Sylas treated his concubines better than that.
Malachizrien took his time taking a swig from the goblet before responding. “You are welcome to make a seat at my feet, Princess.”
Aether flames sparked beneath her skin. “I am not a dog. I may be acting as your war prize, but youwilltreat me as more than a pet.”
Malachizrien’s taunting expression didn’t change. He slouched in his seat, spreading his long legs wide. He patted his lap. “You can make yourself comfortable here, then. Is this a suitable seat?”
She let out a sound of disgust. “It’s an abominable choice.”
He raked her with a look. “Really? Because I seem to recall you enjoying straddling my lap and riding me quite thoroughly, while enjoying this seat quite thoroughly, just a night ago.”
Her skin burned hotter. “I’ll stand,” she ground out.
Malachizrien shrugged. “As you wish, Princess.”
Stop calling me that!
But she bit her tongue against snarling the order. It was an absurd demand. It was her title, after all. It just didn’t sound like an honorific the way he said it. Each time he uttered the title, it was full of derision and haughty superiority. And after his recent proclamation, both chafed to a degree that set her blood boiling. If he thought he was conquering her lands and her people …
“Aether queen,” she snapped at Malachizrien. “Thatis my rightful title now, and I will formally claim it soon.”
He barked out a laugh. “Did you not hear my speech? There will be no more kings or queens among the Six Kingdoms in due time,Princess. But if you behave like a good girl, I’ll let you keep the title of archprincess as a mark of my graciousness.” He swirled the contents of the goblet, then smiled cruelly. “Matter of fact, you might consider beginning to show some capitulation now and earning my favor. Your people are already used to kneeling before a so-called high king, so perhaps you should …”
“Fuck you.” The low growl flew out of her mouth before she could curb it. Not that she wanted to take it back. The male before her was an asshole.
