Page 23 of Courting Envy
If she would just show up...
There was a noise at the main door, and I frowned to see that Reon had entered and was waiting for silence as if to announce Rava.
Hewasannouncing Rava. Of course.
"Please welcome Queen Rava." With a flourish, he stepped to the side and revealed her. Suddenly, I was standing, though I didn't recall how it had happened. I had to plant my feet on the ground and force tension to flood my body to stop myself from going to her. Why wasn't anyone else on their damn feet. She looked fucking stunning in that golden dress, though there seemed to be less fabric to it than a dress should have. My fingers twitched, itching to slide between the mesh and touch her skin again. Or drape her in my coat to keep her body from lustful gazes.
"Stand for your queen," I hissed at the others, my voice tinged with the princely tones that always elicited obedience, even in those who didn't much like me. Everyone else got to their feet, and I swallowed the relief at that. Now I didn't look like a fool, someone who couldn't control themselves around the woman they'd claimed as queen.
As the others rose from their chairs, I tried to see them as she might, an assortment of monsters and ghastly figures lining the long table. The foods here would be unfamiliar, Hell, everything was. It was the first time I’d stopped to really think about that, to consider her wants and needs, and I felt like a complete asshole for not making that leap of intuition before.
Rava stood at the door for a moment, not a flicker of concern on her face as she began to walk. Reon slithered beside her, escorting her to the table. He reached to pull out the chair to my right. My fingers itched to push him away and take that job myself. But I had to remember that I was the prince. I could not appear weak to any of those gathered at the table because I knew that each and every one of them would steal the throne given half a chance.
Once she was seated, everyone else returned to theirs, though the chatter didn't start back up. It was like no one knew what to say now that she was here. I scanned the table, taking in each of them. The hunger was clear. Rava was a beautiful thing, a shining, glinting gem in this hall and they all wanted her.
But she wasmine. I had claimed her. It was my emerald that shone within her chest. The light of it seemed to dim, as if reminding me that she wasn't really mine just yet. I had to earn her. Show her that she could trust me. That I was genuine in my feelings for her.
She glanced my way, raising an eyebrow as if to ask whether I was okay. I forcibly unclenched my jaw and gave her a small nod.
It was a lie.
I didn't want to share her with these beasts, not now, not ever. The way that Ragnar looked at her was driving me nuts. I could practically smell the lust coming off him in waves.
Pressure against my thigh. I looked down to find her hand against my leg, squeezing it. Letting me know that she was there.
The realization hit me like a titan. Rava was too good for this place.
And it was my fault that she was destined to a life in Hell.
Chapter fourteen
Rava
Lucienlookedsick,butI didn't know why and now was definitely not the time to ask him about it. I knew this meal was important. Knew that I needed to play the role of his consort and show that there was strength between us.
It was hard when he was so stiff though. Hard, when every set of eyes was on me.
I scanned around the table, trying to take in the others, but my eyes were having a hard time deciding between looking at the platters of strange food, and the strange beings that crowded the table. Thank goodness Kyveli had warned me there would be others.
Kyveli.
The shadowy woman was here. The tendrils of her darkness caught my gaze and I turned to her, trying not to smile in pleasure. She dipped her head at me in acknowledgement, but no more than that. Was she trying not to let it show that we had a... thing?
"Why don't you introduce me to our guests?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at Lucien.
"Oh, I'm sure he would never do us justice, my queen."
I turned to face the demon who sat opposite me. He looked like the kind of hell-spawn that humans normally depicted in fiction. Red skinned, cloven hooved, satanic horns, with a jaw so sharp you could slice ham on it.
My stomach rumbled noisily. No wonder I was thinking about ham. Food. Any food. I had no idea what the courtly expectations were here, but obviously no one was going to be saying grace, and I had to assume that Lucien wouldn't have a spread laid out that would kill me. I reached out and grabbed a bone with dark meat clinging to it. I waved it at the Satan looking guy to indicate that he should continue, before I bit into the meat.
It was so moist, succulent. I didn't want to ask what it was, didn't care. It tasted good and I needed more.
"I am Ragnar," the demon said with a flourish. "Leader of the armies of Envy."
"We have armies?" I asked, surprised. I'd been under the impression that each circle was its own domain.
"It never pays to be unprepared," Ragnar said, glancing at Lucien in a way I could only interpret as scornful. "One day, a Prince will want to take all of Hell, and when that time comes, we must stand our ground or fight for the main throne."
