Chapter 29 – Malice #2
We’ve all pretty well ignored Davick still writhing on the floor in misery. Fae truly are cold creatures. Well, except for our sweet fae. She’s absolutely precious. I can’t lie—the murderous intent in her eyes makes me hard as a rock.
I chuckle, giddiness and excitement warring inside me. I’d like to see her really fuck their world up.
Maybe I do have a few slightly psychopathic tendencies?
I’m a demon, not a sentinel. I hold no shame over who I am.
“I’m not a threat to anyone who isn’t a threat to me.
” Ali’s magic echoes in her words. “I owe a few of you retribution, and I’ll have it.
” Her hand raises and her fingers pull toward her body.
The three responsible for Aryndia’s attack are also the three involved with the bracelet that drained and poisoned her over the years. Well, along with Davick.
“Uh oh. It seems your crimes have caught up to you,” I taunt the assholes currently having their life force drained by my sweet mate.
“Do you think that will negatively impact the babies?” Hex asks. “Because we can just rip them to shreds, if that’s a possibility.”
Ali gives him a soft smile over her shoulder. She brings her free hand to her middle. “We’d never do anything to harm our children. Not for retribution, nor to protect my sister.”
“We know, love,” Silence-the-suck-up says, stepping over and wrapping his arm around her.
I’m fairly sure it’s completely her magic in control, but she still wiggles back into him with a look of pure contentment.
“I’m not afraid of your magic, either,” I say petulantly.
Atlas snorts.
“We know.” Ali smiles brightly.
I look at Aryndia. “Do you know they intend to off you and your mates? I believe the unification with Spring Court through Reighton made them significantly more likely to act, and sooner rather than later,” I tell the queen and her consorts.
“Ali, you can’t...” Aryndia frowns. “You can’t kill them.”
“She most certainly can,” Atlas says, crossing his meaty arms over his chest. “And if she doesn’t, then I will.”
“That’s against our laws,” Triton says.
“Her magic has always fallen outside of those, anyway,” Hex deadpans.
“Release them.” Aryndia raises a hand at Ali. “Now that I have knowledge of who is to blame, they will be punished.”
The writhing is a bit dramatic, as those who remained standing fall to their knees. I reinforce Ali’s magic, feeding them images of their treachery as she sucks out their life.
“I think the point is, Alinelle is tired of being hunted,” Silence says pointedly.
“I’ll be returning to the human realm with my mates,” Ali says, her voice echoing with her magic.
“If I’m bothered again, I won’t stop with just one soul.
” Her fist clenches. Black veins break out over Davick’s skin, and it doesn’t take thirty seconds before his shell falls to the floor, completely lifeless.
“That was hot,” I tell her, trying to focus on how inappropriate it would be to get a hard-on at the moment.
Ali raises her hand, stretching out her fingers, and the other members, who were previously dying, now simply choke and cough.
“Did she just?”
“Murder the High Chancellor? Yes, she did.”
“Queen, she must be taken into custody.”
“Shut up,” Aryndia hisses. “Gods, Ali, why would you do that?”
“He not only planned to murder you and your mates, but also your children ,” I scoff. “He wouldn’t have offered you any mercy. She’s clearly the only one with any sense.”
Triton’s jaw clenches as he surveys the room.
Aryndia blinks, like her brain isn’t processing what was just said.
“The others? Were they involved?” Korso asks. Finally, someone with some intelligence.
I nod. “Yes, but not the mastermind.”
“I’m happy for you,” Ali says, swallowing thickly. “That you’ve been able to live and build a family. It makes me happy knowing my sacrifice had a purpose.”
“Gods,” Hex mutters, cursing at the ceiling. “She knew that bracelet existed. Was aware that it would drain you, while poisoning you.”
“But she didn’t know it ever made it into Ali’s possession.
She’s a shitty queen, with no control of her court, but she’s not the villain.
Not today, anyway.” I roll my eyes at the look on Aryndia’s face.
“You might eventually be able to take control of your people, but my advice would be to listen to why they don’t want a single joint-ruling family in the first place. ”
“I’m tired.” Ali sighs. “I don’t harbor any ill intentions toward you, but let me make myself very clear, in case the times I’ve said it have failed to sink in.
” She turns to face the council. “Leave me be. I won’t give grace the next time my friends and family are attacked.
Forget I exist. Claim you murdered me after I killed the High Chancellor.
I don’t care. But I’m going home and focusing on my future.
Anyone who stands in the way of that won’t like the outcome. ”
“Ali,” Aryndia starts, but she tapers off when her sister spins to face her.
“As I’ve said, I want nothing to do with you or this realm. My feelings on the matter might change after a few hundred years, but I’m still very bitter and raw about the way things played out.” Her head tilts back, shaking at the ceiling, and Hex immediately pulls her into his arms.
I take that opportunity to latch on to Aryndia and her mates.
Time gets slowed down for them as they repeatedly relive Ali’s version of their wedding day and the events that led to her ending up in Haven.
Over and over again, I force her agony into their minds.
The exhaustion she felt settles into their bones somewhere around the seventh or eighth time.
Play scenes consistently enough, and some of the weaker beings will even forget it’s not real.
I’m quite tempted, but that may be because I’m spiteful.
“Malice,” Ali says in a slightly exasperated tone. “Don’t torture my sister.”
“Torture,” I scoff, siphoning to her front.
It’s bright where she stands, but I’m topped off with more than enough energy to manage the trip several times over.
Hex still holds her with his arms wrapped around her from behind, but I hug her from the front.
“I’m only allowing them a little insight into what you’ve endured. ”
Aryndia gasps, staggering forward. I block my mate. She doesn’t seem interested in rekindling their relationship.
“We had no idea,” Korso says.
“How convenient,” Silence muses. “I’m more disgusted that not one of you came for her in Spring Court after seeing how badly she was injured saving Aryndia’s life.
You truly believe you’re worthy of leading your people?
That’s not the type of character I’d want in my ruling family.
Let that sink in while you’re lying in bed late at night.
” He glares, his disdain evident. “I’ve wanted to say that for twenty fucking years.
We’d like to be returned to Haven. Now.”
“Please don’t go,” Aryndia sobs.
Ali’s head shakes. “I can’t stay here. I don’t want to.”
Korso clears his throat. “I’ll open a portal.”
“You’ll do well to remember what I’m capable of,” I inform the room.
They hit their knees again, and I soak up the pure terror and horror at what they’re being forced to remember. Beings are so simple. They could avoid this torment by not being shady fuckers.
It’s the Unseelie Court.
It’s practically a self-fulfilling prophecy for most of them.
The portal opens. I’m overly full from feeding from the remaining council members. It makes it easy to wrap up Ali and my packmates. Aryndia reaches for her sister, but my mate’s panic rips through the bond. She’s not emotionally prepared for physical contact with her sister.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got you, kitten.” As I drag us through the open portal, my sweet fae climbs me, and it’s not because of fear. She plants a tender kiss on my lips, and it distracts me so completely that I forget to brace with my shadows.
Luckily, Ali lands on top of me, so I’m able to fully cushion her fall. I groan, praying my spine is intact as Hex and Silence land in a heap on top of Atlas. It’s a mess of bodies and limbs.
“They’re alive,” Arsyn says, leaning over our crumbled tangle of extremities.
“Barely,” Atlas groans. “Get the hell off me, you tubby fuckers.”
Ali snorts, burying her face in my neck, and full-on giggles.
I blow out a breath of pure relief, running my hand over her back.
Thank fuck. She’s clearly not tormented by what her magic did.