18. Rozronuuk
Chapter eighteen
Rozronuuk
The Winter Court
“ W ho do you choose to perform at the celebrations of our ceremony?” Thea lifted her chin boldly, daring me to pick another siren over her.
It would never happen. Not with song, nor beauty, not with anything.
The concerned wrinkle on her brow made me want to lick every inch of her skin and bury myself to the hilt into her welcoming body. Push all her worries away as I’d push into her welcoming dampness.
“I’m afraid I may be stone deaf.” I shrugged. “They all sounded the same to me.”
She coughed out a laugh and promptly squished her lips together.
“Perhaps your sister would like to choose?” I asked, surprising Thea if her pretty eyes widening were anything to go by.
“Yes, Melanie, why don’t you do the honor?” Thea agreed.
Melanie pointed out the one siren I’d struggled against the most. It didn’t surprise me. Her sister held a bucket load of rage hidden inside her. From what I’d overheard, it appeared she wasn’t happy about Thea choosing a mate, but from the amount of rage the woman held within herself, it had to be more. To say I didn’t like her sister was an understatement, but then again, I barely knew her. Apart from the fact she looked identical to Thea. That was where the similarities ended. If looks alone were what made Thea my mate, then Melanie would also be my mate. A fated mate was more than superficial beauty. It was the one whose soul complemented and challenged yours. Thea’s soul did all that.
“Very well.” Thea rose, her gown swishing about her like a sea of living blood. “Continue the preparations for the ceremony for the night of the yellow moon.”
I dipped to my knees. “Your majesty, it would be my great honor to escort you to the Winter Court for a celebratory feast. It is customary for demons to present our mates to the Demon King.”
Thea squared her shoulders. A sign I’d thrown her with my request. What I’d said was true. There was no time frame for when it should happen, but I was eager to get Thea out of her court because, like her, I sensed darkness coming for her. Everywhere I looked in the Autumn Court there appeared to be shadows lurking, waiting to pounce.
“When?”
“Tonight,” I demanded, then remembered to amend the way I spoke to her in front of her subjects. “If that would please my majesty?”
Her eyes narrowed for a split second as though she was struggling to figure out my surprise request.
“Very well. My personal guards, Arine and Raefa, and my handmaiden, Raelin, will accompany me.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” I clasped her hand in mine and brushed my lips over the back of her hand.
Melanie stepped forward. “Is that wise? What if the demons want you dead?”
I resisted shooting her a glare. Demons had never wanted to kill sirens. Quite a lot of us enjoyed their company. I may have enjoyed an encounter a time or two when I was younger myself, not that I’d admit that to Thea. Her jealousy might get the better of her and I wouldn’t put it past her to rip off my dick even if she enjoyed it immensely.
“I can assure her safe return,” I said.
Melanie turned with a huff and strode from the room, her billowing white gown a falsehood to her purity.
“Rise, Beast,” Thea said. “Let us make preparations to visit the Winter Court.”
I rose and threaded my arm through hers before escorting her from the throne room. I heard the almost silent footsteps of Raelin a few steps behind us as well as the boots of her personal guards. Thea relaxed with my arm on hers, her body soft in my embrace.
“Would you like to pack anything?”
“I thought you said it was for a feast?”
“I did, but our feasts go all night. Demons party hard.”
Thea smiled. It was like my slice of demon heaven when she smiled at me like that.
“As do sirens. Very well. Raelin, be a dear and pack me an overnight bag. I shall change gowns first too.”
“You look like a true queen already. Why mess with perfection?”
Thea giggled. “My charming demon.”
I tugged her into my chest and claimed her lips in a scorching kiss. Backing her up against the wall of the stairs, Thea clung to me as I ravished her mouth like the way I wanted to feast on her body.
“I want to take you on these stairs,” I whispered into her ear. “Bend you over so you’re the right height for me to rail from behind.”
She gasped and then moaned as I devoured her mouth once more.
A throat cleared from above us.
“Your majesty, your bag is ready,” Raelin said.
Thea grinned against my lips. “Guess you’ll have to hold that thought until later.”
I thrust my erection against her body. “Like you will too.”
Her hands lifted as though she was about to grab my horns. I clasped them in one hand and waved a portal with the other before she created an even hornier beast.
“Come on then, time to meet my family.”
Thea’s hands trembled a little in mine.
Was she scared to meet my family? After the fierce siren queen image she portrayed, was there a softer side to the woman?
“But my dress…”
Her words cut off as I hauled her through my portal. We landed in the Winter Court outside the castle. Snow littered every inch of stone and country. Thea shivered. Raelin rushed forward and placed a cloak around her shoulders. Thea nodded her thanks in a tiny dip of her regal head. I tugged her closer to me and raised the fur-lined hood of her cloak. Tiny white flakes of snow dotted her lashes. She seemed soft and ethereal in the snow-kissed landscape.
We walked toward the imposing white stone walls. Our footfalls crunched the snow beneath our feet, but other than that, it was eerily quiet compared to the Autumn Court.
“Where is everyone?” Thea whispered as though it scared her to fracture the icy silence.
“Inside where it’s warm.”
“Humans have it so wrong that demons live in the fiery pits of hell.”
I chuckled. “Shh. Don’t give away our secrets.”
She stepped closer to me as the doors creaked open and two guards stepped out in black leather fighting gear with twin swords strapped over their backs.
“Who goes there?” a guard yelled.
“Kar, I haven’t been gone that long,” I grumbled.
“Beast.” He chuckled, stepping forward and clasping my arm in a warrior embrace. “Just doing my job. Your brother would have my balls if I didn’t ask that inane question.”
I slapped him on the back. “How is our royal highness?”
“He’s looking forward to meeting your mate. As are we all.” He ran his gaze over Thea. “I never thought a siren would accept a mate, let alone with a demon, but here you are.”
I shoved her behind me. “Keep your lurid eyes off my mate.”
Thea giggled behind my back. Guess she thought my jealousy was amusing.
Kar barked out a laugh.
“Did you doubt my skills?”
“At fighting in the trials, no. At winning over a siren…” He shrugged. “Seems like you did it quickly, too.”
“Come on.” I tugged Thea behind me knowing her personal guards would be right behind her and no demon would get close. Not that Kar would test me. We went way back, and he knew how hard my punches were since we’d sparred many times.
We swept into the castle with a fluttering of snowflakes littering the deep burgundy carpet. Inside, every demon imaginable was partying with goblets of demon brew. Some had dabbled in witch’s tonics already and were buzzing with an unnatural high. Oh well, no chance to ease Thea into the Winter Court shenanigans.
“Don’t touch the witch tonics,” I demanded.
“Is that right?” She stepped from behind me. “I believe we had this discussion before.”
“Right,” I drawled. “Your majesty, it would be in your best interest to not drink the witch tonics.”
“Better, Beast.” She patted my arm, but then she snagged a potion from a passing pixie server wearing a gauzy see-through lime green dress carrying a tray of witch’s tonics. Thea drank the liquid before I could stop her. Damn, she was fast when she wanted to be.
I shrugged like I didn’t give a damn. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Raelin peered at me from behind Thea. “What did she drink?”
“Nothing dangerous,” I assured her.
Raelin stared me down. Perhaps she possessed more backbone than I first believed.
“It’s an aphrodisiac.”
“Wait, what?” Thea grabbed my arm. “Why didn’t you say that?”
“I attempted to.”
She swallowed. “So, um…”
“You’ll be horny as hell before too long.” I laughed at the horrified expression on her face.
At long last, I’d well and truly ruffled the siren queen’s feathers. I enjoyed seeing her out of sorts and loved ruffling her feathers even more than I already had so far. They were such spectacular feathers, too.
“You better meet the king before you try to hump him.”
She gasped. “I wouldn’t.”
“We’ll see.” I firmed my lips. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman slept with me to get to the mighty demon king, but I never blamed my brother for the woman’s actions.
“Beast.” She grabbed my hand.
I curled her delicate fingers with mine. “I got you, mate.”
Her eyes widened at the word. I loved seeing the way she reacted to the name when I said it, like she enjoyed the word as much as I did saying it. We weaved through the crowded castle and into the ballroom. As I expected, my brother was on the dancefloor twirling a woman around. The brunette in a slinky purple dress flicked her hair back and laughed. I folded my arms and waited for the song to finish. Rexan noticed me and winked. I placed my fingers in my mouth and gagged. His lips spread into a wide grin. The song ended, and he kissed the woman’s cheek before sauntering over to us.
“Ron.” The Demon King hauled me into his embrace.
“Ron?” Thea giggled.
I shot her a glare.
“I see you’ve dabbled in the tonics too, Rexan.”
“Who else?” Rexan asked, his eyes shining glassily under the glow of the chandelier.
“My mate, Thea.”
Rexan hauled her into his arms and hugged her. “Welcome to the family.”
“All right, get off her, you big lug.” I tugged Thea out of his arms and tucked her under my arm.
“Why is she still wearing a cloak? Take it off, beautiful siren, and let your new brother-in-law welcome you to the demon fold with a dance.” He clicked his fingers at Thea’s handmaiden. “You, take her cloak now.”
Raelin bristled but did as my brother ordered.
Rexan gathered Thea into his arms and waltzed her onto the dance floor.
I scowled, but knew Thea was safe with the Demon King. My brother may be a drunk ass, but he wouldn’t cross the line.
They danced for the duration of the song as the band of merry water sprites played their instruments, then they fell into step for the next song. Thea’s smiling face flashed past me as he twirled her around the dance floor. She seemed to have fun, so I let her be. It didn’t seem like she partook in much fun in her court.
A feminine hand slid around my waist, and a familiar shock of black hair rested on my arm.
“Tay,” I greeted my sister.
“Your mate is beautiful.” She sighed.
Tay maintained the insane notion she wasn’t beautiful and nothing I or Rexan said would convince her otherwise.
“She is,” I agreed because telling her she was beautiful too didn’t work. We’d learned that long ago. Instead, I kissed the top of her head between her horns.
The song ended, and Thea stomped over to us. I couldn’t help but smile at the rage pouring from her.
“So much rage.” Tay shivered in delight.
“I think it’s aimed at us,” I whispered out of the corner of my mouth.
Thea crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me.
“What?” I cocked an eyebrow at Thea.
She huffed and smoothed her hands down her dress but said nothing.
“Tay, this is Thea, my mate.” I dropped another kiss on Tay’s head.
Thea glared even harder.
I smirked. “Thea, this is Tay, my sister.”
Her glare fell along with the rage pouring from her as my words sank in. I almost laughed at her jealousy, but something told me to bite my tongue.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Thea said.
“Likewise.” Tay snuggled into my side more. “I was never happy fate paired him with a siren.”
“Tay,” I scolded. “Keep your opinion to yourself.”
Thea bristled, her glare back on her face. “What do you mean? How do you know I was his fated mate?”
“Didn’t he tell you?”
“Tell me what?” Thea asked.
“Enough, Tay. No, I didn’t tell her I saw her when we were both too young to even contemplate the word mate.”
“You’ve known I was yours most of your life?”
I dipped my head.
Tay stepped out of my arm and closer to Thea. Thea’s guards stepped up beside her, but she waved them back even though they didn’t listen to her directive. I was glad Ailine and Raefa had her back, but they didn’t need to be here in the Winter Court. In the Autumn Court perhaps, but here the only threat was from my brat of a little sister.
“You take care of my brother.” Tay pointed a finger at my mate.
Rexan swooped in and placed his hand over Tay’s hand. He dragged her onto the dance floor until she kicked his shin and stomped away.
I folded my arms. “I should talk to her.”
Thea placed her hand on my arm. “Allow me to ease her worries.”