Page 74 of The Crown of Nyx

He was one of the few people I’d ever admitted to that I’d once had problems with eating. And I wasn’t going to lie and say that the idea of eating in front of hundreds—thousands—of other creatures didn’t make me want to puke. But I’d worked on it years ago thanks to Thea’s support. We’d both overcome similar issues, but only because we’d had each other.

I knew Orion probably had no idea that I’d worked those problems out. He’d been seriously worried when I’d told him, but seeing him in action, trying to help…

It warmed my heart and twisted something dark inside of me. The storm that had been raging since reuniting with him came back in full force. The push and pull of whether to forgive and accept him back into my life, or stand by my reservations and feelings of betrayal, created a tug of war within me. My bond and magic understood why I wanted to keep my distance, but both yearned for connection. Wanted to feel his touch. Needed what his bond offered.

I hated it.

I felt like a dumb whore suffering from body betrayal syndrome. If I gave in to him, then I gave up my convictions. But if I didn’t, I weakened myself.

I sat back on the throne, sighing under my breath as he appeared between the throngs of people. Somehow, even outside of Oberon Academy, he had an air about him that saidtouch me and you die. The other creatures managed to keep a healthy, safe distance from him as he made his way through the crowd.

Glancing up at Maeve, I said, “You need to feed.”

She drew her eyes off the Fae prince and met my stare. The red wasn’t nearly as obvious as it had been before, but there was still a hunger within. “I don’t feellike I’m going to lose control,” she said with a frown. And through the bond, I believed her. There wasn’t the same hunger from before I assumed all of Greer’s power.

I looked down to Adrian, who nodded, as if hearing those thoughts. “We should all start feeling some…changes, now that Ivy is at full strength.”

“Except she isn’t,” Rowan said, eyes on the crowd. “She still needs to find her final mates. Until then, none of us are strong enough.”

My stomach bottomed out. He was right. I wasn’t really at full strength, and I wouldn’t be until I finished the rest of my mate bonds. Hawk was an ever, darkening presence looming in the back of my mind. I didn’t want to mate him, not if he didn’t want the same. And I still couldn’t quite see him as a mate, even though my magic claimed him as one.

And then there were the others. The ones I didn’t know about yet.

“We won’t be here long,” I said, hands gripping the arm rests of the throne. My gaze flickered to Damon. And as if feeling my eyes on him, he looked up. “Tomorrow, we leave for the Old World.”

“The chances of you finding your mates there are slim to none, Angel,” Elias said from behind me. “I know you feel like it’s the best option?—”

“It is.” I tore my eyes off the demon king and looked over my shoulder at Elias. “It has to be.”

I wasn’t sure what I would do if I was wrong. But maybe, just maybe, it would all come together. Like Nyx wanted.

Elias pressed his lips into a firm line and bowed his head. Behind him, Hawk stood sentry, eyes on the crowd. He didn’t join us like a bonded mate would. Granted, hewasn’t one, but it still looked…odd. He appeared more like a bodyguard than a future knight of Avalon.

I looked away, filing it underdeal with lateronce we weren’t surrounded by thousands of creatures celebrating the union of the Elysian King and the Queen of Nyx.

I shuddered when Orion returned with a plate sectioned out with four different things for me to eat. His brows were furrowed, but he didn’t hand it over right away, instead shifting to stand beside me, holding the plate low enough so that I could reach it.

My throat tightened unexpectedly. “Thanks,” I murmured.

Ry’s eyes dropped to mine, the violet of his irises darkening. “You’ll like all of it.”

Adrian turned where he sat at the foot of the throne with raised brows. His eyes met mine briefly as if to sayseriously?But he didn’t voice it, just shook his head in disbelief.

For the rest of the night, I picked at Orion’s offerings—one was a roasted meat, boar apparently, which was succulent and had a pretty unique flavour to it. There were some root vegetables that had also been roasted, one of which had a nutty flavour and a name I couldn’t pronounce. But I couldn’t go wrong with the bread, which I ate slowly, as the night wound down and the festivities turned more…demonic?

Well, demon friendly, I supposed.

Once the House Lust representatives announced they were taking the festivities to the next level, I had to bow out.

Damon approached the throne with a wicked smile curving his dangerous lips. “My Queen,” he said, bowing his head. “I hear you are ready to retire.”

My eyes burned from exhaustion, and I barely suppressed a yawn. “It’s certainly time for us to go up,” I replied, blinking up at him. “But enjoy the rest of the festivities. You appear to be in your element.”

At least there was a small silver lining to the whole evening: I never had to spend an ounce of time at his side. I’d just been allowed to sit at the front of the hall and look pretty. Any other day, I would have been uncomfortable with it, but tonight I welcomed it with open arms and a sigh of relief.

I couldn’t, however, deal with anymore from the lust demons.

Damon’s jaw ticked, but he nodded once, offering me his hand. “Then let me escort you.”

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