Page 42 of Madness of Her Mages

“He likes you.” Malvolia gave me an appreciative smile while rubbing his snout. “Mortimus is a good judge of character.”

Mortimus let out an excited neigh, and Malvolia led him toward two servants who nervously eyed the monster horse while gripping big wooden buckets with whitened knuckles. The servants set down the buckets and quickly backed away. One ofthe buckets was clearly water, for some of it had splashed on the tiles beneath the horse’s hooves, but the other bucket had bright red blood dripping down the sides. Mortimus attacked that bucket like a dragon on a lamb.

A big win for you,Drae’s voice echoed in my head. If Mortimus trusts you, so will his mistress.

I gave him a funny look. His wide grin hinted at mischief and something else I couldn’t pinpoint. Was that smile for me, or had those pretty Fae put him in a good mood? “You seem different.”

“I’m just happy to be back.” He shrugged, his wings ruffling with the movement. “Thebes was like a second home to me.”

“Oh?” I was unable to keep the jealousy from my tone. “What’s so special about this place?”

He looked at me as if I’d grown a second head, then swept an arm toward the city. “Many things.”

He was right, of course, but for some reason I was still bothered. Perhaps it was because he should have had all he needed back at home, namely me. “I like Abyssus better,” I said, regretting that I sounded like a petulant child.

He had the nerve to smile. “So do I, but it’s nice to have a change once in a while.”

I crossed my arms. “Hmph.”Nice to have a change?I stepped back when he reached for me.

He frowned, his dark voice projecting into my head.What’s wrong?

Who were those Fae?I nodded in the direction the pretty girls had gone. They’d already disappeared down a dark stairwell.

Those Fae?He cast a glance over his shoulder then looked back at me.

I wasn’t falling for the mock surprise in his eyes. Scowling, I jutted my hands on my hips.The ones with the boobs.

Oh.His cheeks reddened.Nobody important.

Then why did he blush?They seemed to think you were important.

He shrugged.They mean nothing to me now.

I gave him a cool look.But they did once?

He released a long sigh.The only woman who matters to me is you.

I rolled my eyes as I remembered how he’d said he was happy to be back, how it was nice to have a change. Fool that I was when he reached for me again, I didn’t pull away.

“Look at me, Shiri.” He cupped my chin, smoke swirling in his dark eyes. “No other woman will ever compare to you, my fated mate.”No other woman.His words echoed in my head, so forceful, they made my heart pound like a drum.

As long as you remember.I resisted the urge to melt into his strong arms, my lips involuntarily parting when he wrapped his wings around us and bent his head toward mine.

He slanted a devastating smile.How could I forget?

The moment his lips brushed across mine, I felt the spark that quickly spread into a raging inferno, boiling my blood and sending shock waves all the way to my toes, and the sounds of shouting mages and bustling servants faded into the background as there was only Drae, my powerful lord mate, and me.

“Niece.” Malvolia waved to a mixture of Fae behind us, some in servant’s uniforms and others in fine clothes. “I need you to test the castle for demons.”

I let out a groan of frustration when my mate quickly released me, my aunt’s booming voice like a cold bucket of water splashed over my libido.

My aunt called everyone to form a line, a variety of people from servants who looked part human/part Fae to what appeared to be Fae nobility dressed in ridiculous finery with wide hoops, ugly pale wigs, and tight stockings.

A gust of wind took that moment to overtake me, billowing my skirts, whipping my braid, and bringing with it the pungent smell of briny air. It was wrong to compare, but I preferred the smell of Abyssus’s cool, musty air infused with pine to the smells of the sea. I missed everything about Abyssus compared to this overwhelming, bustling city, and I hoped we would return to our Inferni home soon.

I commanded any demons to come forward, breathing a sigh of relief when the line didn’t move. I looked over at my aunt. “All clear.”

Her shoulders sagged in relief. “That is good to know,” she whispered in my ear. “I will have you repeat this at supper and at court as well as with my army.”

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