Page 43 of Madness of Her Mages

“Of course,” I answered, hoping I could root out at least one demon who would expose Thorin.

The crowd dispersed and returned to unpacking while Blaze and Nikkos chased the girls across the bridge. Malvolia hooked my arm through hers, walking me toward the edge of the battlements, motioning toward the sprawling city below. “Well, Niece, what do you think of Thebes?”

I forced a smile. “It’s beautiful here.” But I didn’t feel the connection here that I felt with the tranquil solitude of Abyssus.

Malvolia sucked in a hiss as if I’d spit at her feet. “It’s more than beautiful,” she said haughtily while releasing my arm. “It’s magnificent.”

Drae cleared his throat while giving me a dark look. “It is.”

“Ahh, yes.” Malvolia winked at my mate. “You have always had pleasurable stays here.”

I bristled, glaring at him when he blushed.Pleasurable stays?

Not as pleasurable as they will be with you,he answered back.

Hmm.

“I will have the servants show you to your rooms,” Malvolia said to me. “Freshen up first, and then you and your mates will join me for supper in a few hours.”

“What about the girls?” I asked as Nikkos and Blaze chased them back toward us.

I grunted, nearly stumbling back when the girls slammed against my legs with excited squeals, trying to hide in the folds of my skirts when Blaze and Nikkos cornered them. My mates quickly backed away, bowing and mumbling their apologies when Malvolia gave them a sharp look.

“The servants can watch them until we find a nursemaid,” she drawled, sounding far too disinterested while leering down at the girls beneath her lashes. “I believe we have a nursery somewhere in the castle.”

I grasped the girls’ shoulders when they pressed against me, looking up at Malvolia as if she was a creature of nightmares. “They won’t feel comfortable with strangers.”

Her eyes flared. “Children aren’t allowed at court.”

“They’re not?” I asked. “Don’t you make the rules?” She was queen, after all.

She turned up her chin, giving me a challenging look. “I do.”

I refused to back down. “And you can’t make an exception for your grandnieces?” I would’ve thought she’d want to presentallher family at court.

Nikkos cleared his throat. “I’ll stay with them. You, Drae, and Blaze can go to supper.”

I curled my hands into fists, upset and confused by my aunts’ treatment of the girls. Didn’t she like them? If so, how could she not? I gave Nikkos an imploring look. “But I want you with us.”

“It’s no bother.” He shrugged, his wings drooping behind him. “I’m tired from my flight.”

I noticed the dark circles framing his eyes, and I realized he hadn’t slept much the night before. Then again, neither did any of us. Fatigue was also weighing down on my bones.

“Then it’s all settled.” Malvolia clasped her hands together. “Most of the court nobility will be there tonight. This will not be your official coming out party, but you will dress in proper attire befitting a princess.” She looked me over as if I was dressed in soiled rags. “I will send my lady’s maids to dress you.”

“Yes, Aunt,” I mumbled. Yes, it was settled—I was going to hate it here.

OUR ROOMS WERE MOREmagnificent than our quarters back at Abyssus. We had a grand sitting room that led to a wide garden terrace with a pretty fountain that drained into a pool. I didn’t look forward to trying to keep the girls out of the water. Luckily, it didn’t appear to go higher than their waists—just deep enough to be too tempting. The round wooden tub in the bathing room was big enough for three people. I couldn’t wait to try it with my mates. And the bed, oh it was so unusual, suspended from thick ropes at least an entire story in the air. The high walls on the sides made it look like a hanging cocoon. Convenient for my mates who could fly to bed whenever they needed, but not so easy for me. If I had to use the toilet in the middle of the night, I’d either have to climb down the flimsy rope ladder hanging from the side or wake up one of my mates. The one good thing about the bed was if we were having intimacies, the children couldn’t see us from below, unless Aurora teleported into our bed. I’d have to go over some teleporting rules before bedtime.

The servants bustled about the room, fluffing pillows and stirring the embers in the hearth while a cool wind blew in through the open double doors, bringing with it the pungentsmells of the sea that permeated everything here. My mates fixed themselves drinks and stood on the terrace, leaning against the marble banister and talking animatedly while looking at the bustling city above and below. How happy they seemed here. It shouldn’t have bothered me, but it did. I wanted them to hate it here, to long for the tall trees and beautiful mountains of Abyssus and the quiet solitude of just our family and, of course, our staff, some like Mrs. Euphemia and Crispin, I considered family, too. I couldn’t forget the way those pretty Fae protruded their breasts and batted their eyes at Drae. I feared that was the real reason my mates had missed Thebes, but then berated myself for my jealousy. They wouldn’t pine for other women now they’d found their fated mate, would they?

No sooner had the servants shown us to our rooms than they were wheeling in tea and cakes, much to the girls’ delight. We set them up at a cozy table by the hearth where they devoured their cakes and slurped their tea. Ember cried out when she spilled her tea all over her dress while trying to give some to her doll, and before my mates or I could help, a bustle of servants whisked into the room and cleaned up the spill. I was slightly unnerved by their presence. Had Malvolia stationed them outside our door?

I sat in a cushioned chair between the girls after the servants had left. “What do you think of the castle?”

“It’s big,” Ember said while dabbing her doll’s lips with a napkin.

“Where are the tarts?” Aurora asked.

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