22. Rozronuuk
Chapter twenty-two
Rozronuuk
The Autumn Court
A fter bathing and dressing, I’d walked up to Thea’s bedchambers, but her personal bodyguards wouldn’t let me in saying the queen would take a lot longer to prepare for the ceremony, so I’d wandered the grounds. The castle had become unusually quiet considering they were preparing for a claiming and coronation ceremony. I’d watched a couple of giggling sirens run flowers into the courtyard. Nothing sinister emanated from those two. I’d moved on to the guards. Their tight lips were impossible to pry open either with my charm, threats, or posturing. They were loyal to Thea. This was a good sign as far as things were progressing in the Autumn Court, but one couldn’t be too sure.
I’d ended up in the castle’s heart. The kitchen. There the cook had taken me under her wing and fed me thanks to my shameless flattery of her cooking. As soon as I’d mentioned Thea’s father, she’d clammed up and shooed me out of her kitchen, claiming she had a feast to cook for tonight’s celebrations.
I was always hungry, so I’d eat again later even if the gleaming gold tunic highlighted with silver stitching along the trim clung to my massive chest. The matching pants were as equally tight. The clothes were a tighter fit than the other outfit made for me here.
Was it deliberate or an oversight of the seamstress?
It was a tad thrilling to think Thea asked for this outfit to show my strength, but also so she could gaze at me in admiration. And she would. She already had many times. The stubborn woman hadn’t admitted it yet, but she was just as obsessed with me as I was with her. Perhaps she’d be even more enamored after multiple orgasms tonight.
I stepped around a corner. Arine and Raefa stood at ease in the hallway as though they were waiting for me.
“This way, Beast.” Arine nodded.
“I need an armed guard escort to my claiming ceremony?” I cocked an eyebrow.
“No, sir.” Raefa smiled. “We’re happy for Queen Thea since she picked us out of the ranks to be her personal bodyguards. We have a higher status amongst the sirens, which is always helpful.”
“If you’re her personal bodyguards, shouldn’t you be with her?” I scowled.
“She sent us to you.”
“I know the way to the courtyard. You should check on her.” My senses were tingling.
“No, sir. We won’t go against our queen’s orders.”
I pinned them both with a glare.
They stared back. Their loyalty was unwavering. I threw my hands up in the air and kept marching to the courtyard. The sooner Thea was back in my sights and under my protection the better. Her subjects were absurd in their devotion.
The sirens had filled the courtyard with the flowers I’d watched them carry in. Many sirens filled the area, dressed in stunning gowns. Their beauty was a thing most men failed to resist, but none of them appealed. Not in the least. My mate was the only siren I was interested in.
I stopped under the flower-strung archway. Blooms of yellows, reds, and oranges fitting of the Autumn Court adorned the area. The priestess lifted her black hooded head and smiled.
“Saltine?”
She grinned. “How are you, big boy?”
I snorted. “You still calling me that from when I was a babe?”
“You were the biggest baby demon I’d ever seen. Not my fault your mother and father fetched you to me to see if there was anything wrong.”
I ignored her constant jab about my past. I couldn’t help it if I was a big baby. “What are you doing here? You’re a witch, not a priestess.”
“I’m many things, Beast. I wouldn’t miss today for anything. It’s a catalyst for what’s coming.”
“You and your seer riddles.” I shook my head.
She patted my forehead like I was her favorite dog. “I’ve never been wrong.”
I shook her off and folded my arms.
“Here comes your bride.”
I dropped my arms and faced the way I’d entered. A frown skittered across my face. The sirens oohed at the gorgeous gown draped over the queen’s body. She glided forward. Her smile stretched from ear to ear. Every sense in my body filled with rage. This wasn’t Thea.
She stopped next to me and held out her hand for me to take.
I snagged her throat in my grip and dangled her in the air.
“Where’s Thea?” I growled.
“I’m Thea,” she squeaked.
“Bullshit, you’re Melanie.”
“She can’t be Melanie. I’m Melanie.”
My head spun. A woman stood behind Thea, or the person impersonating Thea, an exact copy of Melanie. I let go of the woman in my hand. Who was she? Without a doubt, I wasn’t wrong. I knew who my mate was, and this woman before me wasn’t her.
She landed on her feet and rubbed her neck.
The guards rushed forward and wrenched my arms behind my back.
“What?” I glared between the two. “You’re not Thea. And you, who the hell are you? You’re not her sister.”
The Thea impersonator laughed. “Of course I’m Thea, and this is Melanie. Tell them, everyone.”
The sirens nodded in unison. Even Thea’s personal guards, Arine and Raefa nodded.
“No,” I hollered. “I’d know my mate anywhere. And you,” I hissed. “You’re not her.”
“Oh, my.” The Thea impersonator clutched a hand to her red throat. “To think I almost claimed you and made you king of the sirens. You’re mad.”
“Mad?” I bared my teeth. “You’ve seen nothing, woman. I’m a Rage Demon. My rage will annihilate you.”
It was the worst thing for me to say. The guards attempted to drag me away from the woman. I let my rage build to a boiling point. One blast of unfettered demon rage and I’d annihilate her. Saltine threw a potion over me. Glittery stars formed for a moment before darkness descended.