Page 93 of To Dwell in Shadows
Sam opened his eyes and rubbed his temples, trying to recall the events of the past eight hours. After the souls of his victims had nearly driven him to madness, he had blacked out. He vaguely remembered Vanthee carrying him up to the palace gates, his bodyjostling over her shoulders. Then Blight had run up to them, yanking him from Vanthee’s grip and forcing him to stand.
Vanthee had hurriedly told him that Selene had stayed behind in the maze to communicate with the spirits so he could escape. Panic surged through him, and he’d tried to turn back for her. But his legs couldn’t hold him, and he collapsed. Blight hauled him up, but Vanthee was already sprinting back toward the maze, shouting over her shoulder that she would take care of Selene.
“Who won the Maze of Endless Paths Trial?” Sam rasped.
“Why, you did,” Queen Lamia said. She gently rubbed his shoulder. “Just rest now. We will see to all the details.”
“Listen here! Events like this take planning,” Empusa said, smacking the top of her cane. “We need time to spread the word across the realm. And invite demons working in Gaia back home for the coronation, if they wish to come.”
Queen Lamia looked thoughtful. “Yes. We must summon all the demons back, not merelyinvitethem. Sam must start his rule with all subjects pleading absolute fealty.”
“What? No,” Sam said, panic rising.
Asmodeus stamped his hoof three times. A few seconds later, a trio of imps swooped into the state room. When they appeared, he commanded, “Send word that all demons must return home for their new king’s coronation at once.”
The imps nodded and buzzed out of the room.
Sam placed his palms on the table, trying to steady himself. “What’s going on?”
Lamia gazed at him fondly. “The trials are over, and we have found the Dark Sovereign. It’s you.”
Sam gasped. “No, I didn’t win.” He tried to shake his head, but the motion made him dizzy.
“That doesn’t matter,” Lamia replied. “We went along with your games to placate you, but now they’re over. Ultimately your father and I have final say, and we’ve decided that you will rule.”
Sam tried to stand, but the after-effects of so much trauma lefthis legs leaden. “It’s not my destiny. It must be Vanthee. She is the one who deserves to rule. She completed all the trials?—”
“Pit-spawned foolishness,” Mammon interrupted with a snort. “My daughter doesn’t have the intelligence to possess a toad.”
“No, she competed as Nyrah. The prophecies?—”
“I have an astonishing idea!” Mammon’s slippery voice cut through Sam’s words. “Every king needs a queen. Why not combine Samael’s coronation with a primitive yet sentimental tradition… a royal wedding?”
“You want him to marry ahumanat his own coronation?” Blight asked incredulously.
“Not Selene,” Mammon purred, his tone sickeningly smooth. “If Vanthee was truly one of the competitors, as he claims, he could marry her.”
When Sam moved to grab Mammon by the throat, the demon quickly added, “Selene can serve as your mistress if you’re that attached. Vanthee won’t mind. I’ll see to it. And Drath can be your Royal Chancellor. Oh, this is coming together so well!”
“I said no!” Sam said desperately. “If I marry anyone, it will be Selene. And there won’t be a coronation because I’m not the Dark Sovereign.” He clumsily leaned toward his mother and gripped her hand. “Please, you have to listen to me. In the library, Selene found the bo?—”
“Shhh,” Queen Lamia interrupted. She straightened the collar of Sam’s tunic. “I know you’re nervous about your new role, so let’s not complicate it with a wedding so soon.”
“Perhaps we can have a wedding once Selene becomes a demon,” Asmodeus said.
A ripple of delighted murmurs spread through the room from everyone but Mammon. Sam dropped his head into his hands as a cacophony of coronation plans began to take shape, voices overlapping with excitement.
The weight of his situation crashed down on him like a warhorse at full charge. Arguing with them was pointless. Hisparents would never listen. Even if he showed themThe Sovereign’s Reckoning, they might choose to ignore it. His wishes would never be respected.
There was only one solution.
They had to flee the Underworld and return to Aurelia.
Tonight.
Sam lifted his head, pulling himself together as best he could. Slowly, with false excitement, he said, “Can we have cinnamon sweet buns served at the coronation?”
Queen Lamia beamed. “Of course!”
