Page 25 of Of Realms and Chaos

The group of us all looked to him at once, but it was me he stared at, his gaze alight with vengeance and violence. Merely looking at him told me I would not like his idea. In fact, it sent waves of nausea through me.

“What, pray tell, would these so-called better options be?”

My voice was full of pent-up rage and fear, the rasp dangerously close to a growl. Finnick, despite his history of success upon the battlefield and the centuries of life he had lived beyond me, flinched. It took an immense amount of self-control not to flash a smug grin his way.

“The fae royals want their ward—their princess. While I would not dare suggest sending her back to become their weapon—”

“As you should not,” Lian hissed, Noe shaking with anger beside her. I did not move, did not remove my eyes from his. If I did, I might separate his head from his neck.

“—I would suggest that we rid ourselves of her while simultaneously sending a message.” The group went silent, eerily so. We all waited, hanging on to his every word. Waiting for him to dig his own grave. “Imagine the blow it would be to the fae if we returned their princess to them in bloody pieces. If we spit on them by taking their greatest advantage out of the equation? If we—”

Finnick did not have the opportunity to continue. I lunged for him, knocking over a small table that had held refreshments, wine and glass hitting the floor with a crash only moments before the gray-haired demon did.

I was atop him, my hands around his neck as I smashed his head down onto the hard stone below. Once, twice, three times, I shoved him into the ground, his skull cracking upon the final blow. He wailed in agony, the pain likely excruciating.

Not enough. Never enough.

My hand lit up in black flames, the fire somehow both hot and cold. Finnick’s screams amplified as I shoved my hand into his chest, ripping free his heart with ease.

Abruptly, the male went silent, his eyes and mouth opened wide in terror. I stood, holding his still beating heart in my hand—blood dripping to the ground to mix with the glass and wine below. With great satisfaction, I leaned down and spit on his corpse. Then I turned to face the still-silent group. Horror filled the eyes of all but Noe, Lian, and Damon. It had been a long time since I had acted so unstable.

I squeezed his heart one final time before slamming it onto the model of Alemthian, blood splattering all of our faces. Noe cursed while Lian scoffed in protest, but the rest of the council flinched and remained silent. I slowly moved my eyes across all of them, making sure they each saw my coming threat for the truth it was.

“I will paint the world in blood before I allow anyone to touch the princess—my princess. She will be your queen, at my side for the remainder of my life. And, when the day comes that the late Queen Solei’s obsidian crown rests upon her head, you will all bow down to Asher Daniox.”

Chapter Ten

Stassi

Something could be said for the way these creatures lived and fought and loved. A madness that I would never be able to understand, and a chaos so beautiful that it captivated me.

My magic hummed here. I could feel the way it built up, the strength of it far surpassing anything I had ever experienced before. It was as if this world was full of sin and virtue, ripe with it. Their bellies had consumed so much lust and hatred, so much joy and innocence, that they were bloated with it all, leaking it into the air as they breathed and laughed.

I felt drunk on the sensations of it all; a high I wanted to continue bathing in.

Sadly, I had work to do.

Lying was beneath me, so if I was being honest with myself, I had taken my time looking for them. I knew he wouldn’t be happy, nor would he feel I was being fair.

Yet how couldn’t I explore this place where I found strength like never before? I was so used to being the weakest of us all, never fitting into the mold that had been crafted for me.

Yes. I could get used to this.

The fae were a particularly interesting breed. They claimed that this power of theirs came from Eternity, a blessing of sorts. Knowing how the demons came into their magic, I was not quick to dismiss the idea. Their strange abilities couldn’t be explained with magic, so why not suggest it was a gift from the one thing no one knew a single fact about?

It was logically illogical. I liked it.

From across the room a crash sounded, screams following not far behind. Ah, yes, perfect timing. The male who had been thrown to the ground was begging now, the other male above him raining punches down and flinging blood everywhere.

So very exciting.

“Please, Edmund, I am sorry! You know I would never try to touch Kay that way. I do not know what came over me!” the one on the ground screeched, his voice broken and muffled as he choked.

He might not know, but I did.

I laughed, the sound soft in comparison to the hectic voices filling the tavern. Edmund didn’t stop, didn’t show mercy. Didn’t hesitate to pummel the male below him until he was a mess of flesh and bone and blood.

Dead. Excellent.

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