A Throne of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 2)

No one walked on the stairs. Not a soul, not even demons, dotted the corridors. Dolion had cleared the way for us. That couldn’t be good news.

Nyfain’s staff waited with grim expressions in front of the room where Nyfain and I had dined a few times before, the first of which had been our date. I really didn’t need those memories tarnished, but…what choice was there?

This time, the table was set for four guests, one at either end, plus the seat beside each head of table position. But who was the fourth?

I lifted my eyebrows at Nyfain as he led me to the right, the place we’d always sat before. He jerked his head from side to side. He didn’t know. It would be a surprise. Lovely.

He pulled back the seat at the head of the table for me and took the place beside it. Even here, when his enemy would be present, his rock-solid confidence held true. He didn’t need to take the head of the table to ensure others realized he was alpha. He could sit in the corner on a dunce chair and still draw every eye in the room. He radiated his status and position just by being present.

A demon with horns curling from her head and glittering black scales made her way down to us. She wore the classic black button-up shirt and black trousers with pleats. Her hair was black as well.

“Dragon.” She jabbed a finger in the air at Nyfain. “You sit at the end.”

He leaned back and to the side in the chair with a little grin, like a rich playboy with no respect for authority. He didn’t comment.

She visibly bristled. Prickly power curled through the air, scraping along my skin.

Nyfain laughed and held out his hand to me. I filled his palm with mine.

“She is attempting to scare us into complying,” he told me conversationally. “But she lacks the power to compel us. Just like her master. They sneak in through back doors and corrode kingdoms while the residents are sleeping, pillaging all they can in the shadows. Like cowards. His stolen riches are the only reason the other leaders suffer his presence at their tables.”

“Big words from a prince sitting on a crumbling throne.” Dolion sauntered in wearing a tuxedo. His powder-blue skin looked sallow in the candlelight.

“You took advantage of an ailing and grieving man.” Nyfain didn’t turn to face him. Nor did he pay attention to the demon woman gesturing for him to stand in the presence of her king. “I merely got sucked into it.”

“That is true, of course. It doesn’t change your predicament.”

“No, it doesn’t. Regardless, my crumbling throne doesn’t negate your cowardice. How you have retained power this long is beyond me. Surely the other kingdoms are tired of your maneuverings.”

“There could be worse on the throne than me.” Dolion stared at me sitting at the head of the table. “You’re not hiding your affection for the girl?”

“Obviously.”

His eyes narrowed. He was clearly wondering if it was a trick. It wasn’t. Nyfain couldn’t be bothered with his presence. It was as though a fly were buzzing around the table. Even hindered by the curse, Nyfain’s power was clearly a match for that of the demon king. His arrogance trumped Dolion’s tenfold. This kingdom had been at the top once, and Nyfain’s disregard for Dolion showed it.

“Well, then. Shall we start?” The demon king moved to his seat. The woman held the chair for him before pouring his wine, then walked down the table to pour ours.

Glancing at me, Nyfain minutely shook his head. Don’t drink it.

“I have a few questions,” Dolion said.

“And you will get no answers,” Nyfain replied.

“You know, dragon, that I am aware of the status of things.”

“I do. What I don’t know is…what is the point of this dinner? Let’s fast-forward to that, yes? Your company is tiresome.”

Through all the décor on the table, I could just see Dolion tilting his head. Likely in anger, though I couldn’t see his eyes to make sure.

“What is the point of sitting all the way at that end?” I asked Nyfain. “We have to basically shout down to him. I can’t even see him.”

“It’s symbolic. He wants you to know his status. This setup shows his ignorance of how these things are done, however. What he should have done is place us to his side.”

“You seem a lot less worried about your kingdom than you did on my last few visits,” Dolion said as a basket of bread came out. Nyfain didn’t reach for it, so I didn’t either. Clearly we wouldn’t actually be eating.

“I have other things on my mind. My chief concern is holding my dragon at bay so he doesn’t kill you where you sit.”

“And kill the kingdom with me.”

“Exactly, yes. We all know the score. Just to be clear, though, while I might graciously defer to Finley when I see the need, my dragon will not. Nothing will stand in his way if he decides to tear your head off. Not the curse, not you, and not her.”