A Throne of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 2)

I moved on, picking the healthiest leaves and pulling and dropping those that were losing their luster.

“Don’t get me wrong, I like the rest of you, too. How dare the faeries call you weeds, am I right? Nyfain’s ex planned to mate for the privilege of having you at her disposal! And they call you weeds? Fuckers. They’re just jealous. If I had my way, I’d rub your awesomeness in their faces and withhold you until they gave you the respect you deserve.” I paused in thought. “I wonder if they even get you anymore now that the demon king has hidden us with the curse. Nyfain is the one who looks after everything. He wouldn’t willingly help the demons, and even if he was forced to help unwillingly, he doesn’t seem to put anything to the side for the demons to take. Though I suppose…” I filled two trays and started working on the third. “The demon king wouldn’t want to give the faeries access to a healing plant. He’d prefer to thin the herd, so to speak. Though I’m sure they figured something else out. Besides, there are dragons in the wolf kingdom—one of the wolf kingdoms, anyway. I can’t remember if Nyfain said which one. I wonder why they are there and not here? Seems strange. I have to go digging through the library to see if there are any recent histories or anything. The queen would probably want a book about her homeland. Or maybe the king wouldn’t let her…”

Third tray done, I picked one of them up and headed off to the shed. I didn’t have the strength Nyfain did. I couldn’t carry two at a time.

“Crazy about a dragon’s dick size, am I right?”

Are you talking to me? my animal asked.

I shrugged. I had always talked to myself when working gardens and plants and things. It was nice to break the silence. Having someone who actually heard the thoughts was a new thing.

“Sure,” I said.

Great goddess, you’re weird, she replied.

New, but not necessarily great…

“Nyfain is huge. I don’t think I could handle any bigger. Fitting him in my mouth is a trial. And he’s just a little above average for a dragon? Can you imagine the monstrosity of a big-dicked dragon?”

My animal stretched in delight, clearly picking and choosing the parts of my speech she cared about. Namely, fitting Nyfain in my mouth.

Lust sparked down deep, because now I was thinking the same thing. Soon the feeling turned into an uncomfortable knot of longing as I remembered him earlier, all snuggly on the lounger, reading. He’d looked content in a way that bespoke many hours in that exact spot, his little reading nook. And now, because of me, he was reading a new genre, a genre I hadn’t known many men to enjoy. Not even Hannon read my books. It was so…sweet, a word I wouldn’t normally associate with him.

I missed the letters we’d exchanged when we were apart. If we could just communicate that way, maybe things would smooth out a little.

Then again, I missed touching him, also. Kissing him. Letters wouldn’t be enough. It had only been a day, and the longing ate through my middle. His very presence was an aphrodisiac, and being at odds with him dampened my spirits.

Stupid brooding, moody men prone to hysterics. He was messing with my mojo.

A hoarse scream rang through the night. I paused halfway to the workroom with the tray in hand, tilting my head to listen. Another scream, followed by a shout to stop.

I set down the tray and jogged back out, listening. At the next shout, I was running. It sounded like Hadriel, and it was not because of pleasure.

“No, no, no, no, please!” he yelled, blind terror in his voice.

Around the corner, I saw the issue. Hadriel was leaning backward out of a third-story window, held by someone. If that someone let go, he’d fall. Given he’d be falling headfirst or near enough, he wouldn’t survive.

“No, please! I’m just taking a night off. I’ll be back to shame-fucking tomorrow, I promise,” Hadriel said in a clumsy string of words, fear slurring his speech.

Demons, then, not pleased about the change in status quo.

Fire rolled through me. I increased my speed to a sprint for the back door. Once inside, I ran through the castle, straight for the stairs and up. I’d never been to Hadriel’s room, but I could gauge his location from where I’d seen the window. Down the hall and around the corner, though, and his shouts were all I needed.

Two men and three women crowded the hall outside his room, looking frightened and wringing their hands. Their faces were vaguely familiar, but I hadn’t officially met them. They clearly didn’t plan on helping.

I slowed to a stop just outside of the room, breathing heavily.