Page 24 of The Demon Court

“Because you wanted to make her more comfortable and forgot to announce to the kingdom that you’d found someone who was important enough to put at your side?” It reached up a tendril, slowly stretching toward his knee.

He moved. “Stop it, Affection.”

“Just a taste.”

“There is no affection between myself and that lying little witch who has hidden in her room since the moment we got here. She is an enigma I am trying to understand, and a little lie between myself and the High Sorceress. That does not mean she will be queen!” He slammed a hand down on his desk, nearly breaking it with the force. “Why didn’t I see they would try to force my hand?”

Theo cleared his throat. “Well... I should let you know that the entire kingdom is waiting for an announcement.”

“An announcement?”

“They are expecting to at least... meet your bride.” Theo shuffled his feet and then tucked his hands behind his back. “My apologies. I thought this would be a happy occasion, not one of strife.”

“It’s not your fault,” he ground out through his teeth. “It’s the monstrous fools I allow to stay in their Tower while the rest of my people work for their food.”

He had to figure out a way around this. Minerva had played her hand already, and he hadn’t expected her to turn his entire kingdom against him this quickly. If he didn’t show off his new bride, then he would look as though he was trying to hide her. And why? The rumors would fly, soon becoming a wave that he could drown underneath.

But if he fell into the sorceress’ trap, then he really would be forced to marry her. He couldn’t take Selene out into his kingdom and introduce her to his people, only to then say she wasn’t a good enough fit. Minerva knew this.

Of course she did. The old woman had more guts than he’d given her credit for.

The only person who could help him get out of this was Selene herself. She knew what her people were planning. She knew how to get around them as well, he had a feeling. All he had to do was trap her in the right way. Get her to be uncomfortable enough to tell him anything he wanted, and he knew just the way to do that.

Glancing down at the mountain of paperwork he was about to leave, Lust sighed and stood from his desk. “Send for the woman. Have her delivered to my private quarters.”

“My lord?”

“I’ll answer no more questions, Theo.”

Lust stalked from the room, back to the same damned place he’d just left. This couldn’t wait, though. He had to nip these rumors in the bud, which meant he had to throw another fucking party after he’d just finished up the festival circuit.

Could he not rest? Or catch up on all the work he’d gathered along the circuit?

He couldn’t contact his brothers. They always made sure the other kingdoms were still doing well, or at least well in the way they wanted to run it. He still had to connect with all of them to...

Fucking hell. He wouldn’t be able to sleep for a month if he wanted to get all this done on time.

Lust made it to his rooms and picked up a pillow from the floor. Shoving his face into the soft, decadent fabric, he screamed into it until he got himself under control. At least a little more than he was moments ago.

He needed his wits to battle with the sorceress he’d foolishly let underneath his own roof.

In the time it took her to arrive, he’d made sure everything in the room was in place. Everything from the thick cushions near the fireplace, the plush carpets covering the floor, to the desk in the corner where he sometimes worked late into the night. He closed the door into his bedroom. No need for her to see that just yet, and then he lounged on the cushions before he heard the tell tale clacks of her shoes.

Those damned heels would be the death of him. Just the sound of them made him want to know what it would feel like if she put them on his throat. The gentle pressure, the knowledge that all it would take was one twist... He hissed out a low breath.

No. He was not going into this fight already wanting her. He refused.

The door opened and a lilting voice from the other side called out, “My lord. The lady Selene.”

Lady. As if she was worth the status of that title.

“Enter.”

If he made sure that his body was laid out a little more comfortably, that was only to ease his muscles before they tensed. Not because he wanted her to see him from his best angle.

She walked through the door like a fucking nightmare. Those heavy woolen skirts that must be too hot, even for this late in autumn. The wide square neckline that both covered everything and somehow made her throat all the more exposed. She wore long gloves that even covered her fingers. Even her hair was severely smoothed back from her head and twisted into that awful bun.

She glanced around his room, unaffected by the splendor, and instead focused her attention on him.

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