Page 20 of The Catacomb King
Hades’s back against my cheek was like stone. “It’s none of your business what I want to do with her.”
“You have three days, Your Lordship,” the beetle-godling said. “Three days for whatever depravity you have planned. Why you would want to fuck a human, I can’t imagine, but I suppose I should expect no better from you.” Hades’s rock-hard body vibrated. “And then I send the armies after her.”
“You have no authority.”
“I have your father’s authority.”
“No.” Hades whispered softly. “Ihave my father’s authority.”
The beetle-godling said nothing. Then he said, “Three days.”
Silence from Hades. Then: “Fine. You are correct. She must be sacrificed, and sooner rather than later. Three days.”
The beetle-godling smiled. He inclined his head. He stepped aside.
Hades threw me over his shoulder like a wet towel and began to stride away from the lake. We entered, then crossed, the throne room. I sensed the beetle-godling entering the throne room behind us, lingering at the throne. Watching us.
When we were almost gone, the beetle-godling called, “Oh, and, Your Lordship.”
Hades did not turn, but he slowed.
“I suggest you edify her,” said the beetle-godling. “Considering that you, as she so concisely put it, ‘kidnapped her.’ It seems to me that at the very least, she deserves to know what to expect when she is drowned.”
“Supercilious motherfucker,” Hades muttered. He kept walking.
The beetle-godling called louder, “Three days.”
It was a parting shot.
This time, Hades did turn.
But the beetle-godling was already vanishing into the black cave-mouth behind the stalagmite throne.
Elke
Hades carried me back through the tunnels. My skin was still cold from the air around the ice-cold lake, except for the places where his hot hands touched my skin. When we had traveled a while, I dared to ask, “Who was that?”
“The Vizeking. The King’s right hand.”
“You’renot the King’s right hand?”
“No,” Hades bit out.
“Aren’t you the Prince?”
“Yes.”
“What did he mean about drowning me in that lake?”
“I should think it would be pretty self-evident. Do you always ask this many questions?”
“Only when my life is at stake.”
“You might find it would belessat stake if you shut your mouth once in a while.”
“My mother encouraged an inquisitive mindset,” I retorted. This was true. As a child, every time I had asked her something, she had always asked back,What else? What else?
Hades didn’t answer. Then he said, “Must be nice.”
