Page 110 of Not Today, Satan
“What, Your Majesty?”
“Yes, that. What happened to ‘Your Highness’?”
“‘Your Highness’ is how to address a princess. ‘Your Majesty’ is how we address our queen.” Attero bends at the waist. When he raises his eyes to mine, he winks. “I told you we all wanted you back, Dev.”
Snow melts across my tongue as I gape at them, but I don’t close my mouth. I’d prepared for their hatred and disgust at who I am. But it appears even being a half angel who helped a sinner escape isn’t as awful as being Ferus.
They still want me as their leader—and for once in my life, I won’t disappoint those who are counting on me.
Swallowing, I cup my mouth with my hands to overpower the storm. “Gather the rest of the troops and get as many shadelings as you can back to their lots and lock them in.”
They nod their assent and split to tackle—literally—the rogue shadelings in the storm.
“Keep them on track,” I say to Attero. “And let me know if you need me. I’ll be in the throne room.” I burst off the ground and soar toward Dominus before he can hear how loudly my heart smashes around my chest.
I soar as high as possible, far above the lots so that I’m not pulled in by their distortion of time. What took Nate and me an Earth year to traverse on foot takes me less than an hour to cross by air.
Good thing Mom stopped me from cutting my wings off.
When I reach Dominus, I descend and sink onto my toes.
No one guards the halls or tries to stop me as I tiptoe to the throne room and peer into the doorway. By now, they’ve gotten my instructions to capture the loose shadelings.
Ferus isn’t so much sitting on Father’s chair as sprawling across it. He’s reclined sideways, one leg draped over the armrest, propped on his elbow.
My stomach drops at the sight of him. I’m going to have to have that chair steam-cleaned after I get his underqualified ass out of it.
A souldier stands beside him, rigid as stone, eyes forward. He’s not wearing his helmet, and my breath hitches when he comes into view.Diripo.
I gnaw on the inside of my lip. He was kind to Nate and me when he caught us that first day of our escape. Hopefully he’s not still upset that we borrowed his uniform. I could use him on my side again.
Ferus reveals his plethora of teeth as I enter, pushing himself up and slinging his long legs over the front of the chair. “Princess! I wondered if you’d come running once I noticed Attero was gone. Figured the little wuss went to find you. You’re too late, though.”
“Ferus,” I growl, pulling my mom’s sword from my hip. “You’re in my seat.”
He leans forward, one hand between his knees and the other beneath him. “See, that’s where you’re wrong, Princess. This throne belongs to whoever wears that pretty gem of yours. All I need is that ring on my finger, and the chair will officially grant me the title of ruler. Your father told me so himself. Though he insisted you’d need to give it to me of your own free will.” He sneers. “What is it with magical beings and all that free will crap?”
My fingers tighten into a fist. I’ll be as damned as the souls down here if I giveanythingto Ferus freely. “You can’t have it, Ferus. You don’t deserve it.”
“Disappointing, but I figured as much.” He hops off the throne and grins. “And to be honest, Princess, I’m relieved you aren’t giving it up easily. It’ll be more fun taking it.”
Planting my feet in the carpet, I clasp the sword in front of me. “Good luck, Ferus. I fought my way through Hell. You’re nothing.”
He tsks, the tip of his forked tongue raking his teeth. “I don’t know why you’re being so difficult. You’ve told me for years you don’t want this. I’m doing you a favor. You give me the ring, and you can go back to Earth and live happily ever after with that pathetic human.”
For a moment, I consider his proposal. I could go home and say I tried. Spend the rest of my days, however many I have, with Mom and Nate.
Then I remember the night Nate stole into my room, the fear in his eyes as he pleaded for his freedom. I swore no one else would ever go through what he did.
“No.” I edge between the empty seats, my sword raised to the level of his chest. “This place doesn’t belong to you, Ferus. I’ll take it from you if I have to.”
A laugh bubbles from his chest, echoing off the crystal walls. “What do you plan to do, Princess? I’m immortal. You’re a little small to carry me to the Ignis River.”
“Why don’t we try it and find out?”
My sword glows white, and his eyebrows drop as he studies it. “Oh, the princess is fighting with angel weapons now. Where in the Underworld did you score that pretty thing?”
“My mother.” I circle him slowly, and he turns with me, one arm behind his back. “I now know why Father kept her a secret. She’s an angel.”
