Before the queen could continue her inspection, Sanguine interjected, “Oh, she must be on her way back to Olympus. We wouldn’t want to anger Artemis.”
Desmerada erupted. “Sanguine, I don’t give a fuck about angering some bitch on Olympus with cobwebs in her pussy.”
She stormed away from me. I took a breath and wrestled my magics away from the surface. It was a struggle. Desmerada’s presence made my skin crawl, and I itched to torch her. But it was too soon. Though the queen would be gone, I wouldn’t make it out alive. There were too many soldiers posted in this room and likely throughout the keep. I had to be patient so the plan Faren and I worked out could unfold. He needed more time. The board was set, and the pieces were moving. I could only stay silent and hope I’d wagered correctly on the queen’s next moves.
Desmerada climbed the steps and sank back down onto the throne. The queen smiled, her eyes alight with glee as she admired Paris within the silver cage. “Let’s have a celebration to welcome our returning king.”
Sanguine snorted in derision.
Desmerada waved a hand. “Take him to the great hall. I want my people to look upon their enemy and watch as I take his head. Sad that he will turn to dust. I would rather have liked his skull as a trophy. Too bad. Do it now. Summon them all. The sooner we’re rid of this garbage, the better.”
I had guessed correctly. The great hall, all the nobles and soldiers in one place to witness Desmerada’s shining moment. Desmerada didn’t even realize she had just fallen into my trap.
“And Artemis’s maiden?” Sanguine asked.
“Pay her half the bounty and do with her what you will, Sanguine. I’m done with her.”
“Come with me, my dear.” Sanguine offered his arm.
I hesitated. It wasn’t part of the plan for me to leave Paris’s side. I assumed I would be given a seat at the celebration of his capture, as was custom. Instead, we were being split up. On top of being evil to the core, Desmerada lacked any semblance of manners.
I wasn’t in a position to negotiate. I needed to make sure all the pieces were set before the final move. With Shildreth’s and Faren’s help, it would be one that would live in Underworld lore for millennia to come. But, first things first. Faren and his soldiers needed more time.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get your gold and more,” Sanguine whispered in my ear.
I fought my gag reflex. With a deep breath, I took Sanguine’s arm and turned my back to Desmerada. I forced myself to giggle at his words, playing the maiden. It worked. Sanguine smiled down at me, his fangs lengthening.
I didn’t chance a glance at Paris, but I could feel his eyes on me as I walked.
Desmerada said, “Angry that a female delivered you to your doom, little king? Just wait until you see what I can do. Guards, take him!”
The chained woman caught my eye and mouthed one hour at me. That was the remaining time allotted for Faren’s sneak attack. Did the woman somehow know? Was she a threat? Even if she was, I was powerless to do anything about it. The woman winked again and settled back against the column, as if pleased with the turn of events.
“Don’t mind her.” Sanguine pressed my arm into his side. Even through the fine fabric, I could feel his coldness. “Liatra’s supposedly the Oracle of Delphi, but she hasn’t been able to give Queen Desmerada an intelligible message since she got here. We kidnapped her, you see, after the queen’s usual seer met an untimely end.” He glanced back to the shriveled body at Liatra’s feet. “But her readings were no better. Just kept on and on about thorns and dragons. Nonsense.”
Kidnapping Apollo’s Oracle was no small matter. The queen must have been desperate to take such a powerful servant of the gods. It was akin to taking a bone from Cerberus. A lethal no-no. Apollo would come for what was his.
Sanguine and I continued out of the cavernous throne room and into the hall. He took a different turn from earlier, leading me into another wing of the keep. The high walls glittered with precious stones, though every so often there would be an overdone painting or sculpture of Desmerada. Always with the crimson.
“Are we going to get the gold?” I asked, though I was well aware Sanguine had no intention of letting me go so easily.
“Yes, my lovely. But first we must stop at my chambers for the key to the vault, you see.”
Of course we must. “A vault? Oh, I bet that’s wonderful.”
“It is. The kingdom is flush with wealth, especially after Desmerada raided all the former nobles’ stores. And this was after she inherited Priam and Hecuba’s jewels. We are well stocked, I can assure you. Ah, here we are.”