Chapter 29
Daisy
Terror roots me to the spot.
I’m sitting on a large stone platform that juts out at the mouth of a cave carved into the mountain, my body aching and blood growing sticky on my face. I press a hand to where the creature dug his claws into my waist, my fingers instantly coated with the warm crimson that seeps through my dress.
Pale crystal columns line the platform edge like signalling lights, each one flickering, casting iridescent light into the darkness.
A figure steps forward from the shadows, and my mouth gapes.
His skin is the colour of burnt ember, a dark, ashy grey flecked with silver.
His eyes, gods above, his eyes contain the entire night sky, constellations shifting and rippling within them.
From his temples, faint aurora-like wisps drift like smoke from a dying flame.
His long, obsidian hair that has streaks of metallic silver almost seems to float gently down his back.
And a circlet with a shining opalite crescent moon rests upon his brow.
He’s tall, lean, carved like stone with veins that seem to glow faintly in shades of purple and green.
A cloak made of galaxies and starlight billows around him, the sight of it utterly breathtaking.
Beneath the cloak, he’s layered in wool, leather, and fur.
I can’t seem to peel my eyes away from him.
He’s beautiful in an ancient evil kind of way, breathtaking to look at, but at the same time, terror rakes through me at the sight of him now starting to tower over me.
“Kaelith?” I whisper, pain making my voice wobble as my blood continues to trickle onto the stone flooring beneath me.
He pauses mid-step, genuine shock flashing across his stony features. “And how would a mortal like yourself know a man like me?”
His accent is strange, almost British-sounding.
He strides closer, kneeling before me whilst placing a single finger under my chin to tilt it up.
The touch is so light it catches me off guard, making my breath catch at the eerie stillness in him.
It’s like the entire realm holds its breath when he’s present.
“You are a pretty little thing, aren’t you?” He smiles, the sight utterly devastating. “Tell me, what’s your name?”
I swallow hard, lifting my chin even higher, pulling away from his touch, despite the tears gathering in my lashes. “Daisy,” I say, trying my best to hide the quiver in my words. “The future Queen of Hell.”
Kaelith’s entire facade fractures, his eyes widening. I swear the stars inside them stutter as the colour drains from his face. He whirls towards the creature that dragged me here, so fast his hair whips me in the face. The anger pouring from him is so intense I can physically feel it.
“You fucking fool,” he yells, storming toward him, his voice echoing throughout the cave. “Do you understand who you have brought to me?”
The creature stammers, shrinking into himself. “She is no future Queen of Hell, your majesty. She is but a mortal.”
“And yet,” Kaelith seethes, “have the whispers not told us of Korithax preparing to marry a mortal, you insolent prick?”
The creature no longer looks like the arrogant beast that stole me into the night. Instead, he looks like a quivering servant, terrified of the man in front of him. What kind of man was Kaelith if a creature as vile as that feared him?
Kaelith’s eyes flick back to me, panic rushing into his voice. “My dear, I am—”
He stumbles where he’s stood, a thunderous boom shaking the mountain, causing the platform beneath us to tremble.
Several of the crystal lights lining the platform shatter as a form crashes down like a meteor from the sky.
Cracks web across the stone around him as he lands in a crouch, one knee touching the floor.
His wings are flared out and still twitching, the curved spikes at the end of them glinting under the light.
“Korithax,” I breathe, so quietly I barely even hear myself say it.
He lifts his head slowly, his chest heaving, sweat lining his brow.
The look in his eyes steals the breath from my lungs.
They’re entirely black, utterly devoid of any of the white that used to reside there.
Raw fury rolls from him in waves, the heat that emanates from him hitting me even from the other side of the platform.
He’s covered in a black substance that’s mixed with dried, flaking blood.
His hair hangs limply around his face, slicked with sweat and gods knows what else.
He looks like he’s just torn through an entire army.
The creature that took me tries to flee, scrambling backward with a gaping mouth.
“Not so fucking fast,” Korithax snarls. In a blur, he grabs the creature by the throat and lifts him into the air with one hand. I see his nostrils flare slightly, his jaw clenching so tightly the veins on his neck bulge.
“You took something that belongs to me,” he growls, “and you smell an awful lot like her blood.”
“I… I am so sorry, Prince—”
The creature’s words cut off in a scream as black fire explodes from Korithax’s fingers, burning his throat under his touch. The smell of his scorching flesh makes me gag, and I push my hand over my nose to evade the smell.
“You’re very lucky that I don’t possess my full magic,” he hisses, before crushing the creature’s neck in his grip.
Korithax holds the lifeless body in his hand for a few more moments, his chest heaving before letting go.
The creature’s body hits the ground in a crumpled heap, smoke still wafting from the fresh corpse.
I’ve never seen Korithax use any other power except teleporting. He’s utterly terrifying, the true embodiment of a demon King. My king. My soon-to-be-husband. Gods above.
He turns to Kaelith next, prowling forward with an animalistic look on his beautiful face.
“Ah, Prince Korithax,” Kaelith begins, hands slightly raised in a defensive position.
Korithax punches him clean in the face without hesitation, not even deigning to speak to him as he pushes past the stunned ruler.
His eyes are set solely on me as he drops to his knees in front of me.
Korithax’s hands are gentle as he wraps the torn cloak around my shoulders.
He scans me from head to toe, nostrils flaring at each cut and bruise he spies across my body.
“Little flower,” he breathes, cupping my face in his hands. “Are you alright?”
I nod, the tears now spilling over at the sound of his voice, the warmth of his touch against my frozen skin. I fling myself forward without thinking, arms wrapping around his neck as I collapse into his chest.
He grunts slightly, and I pull back on a gasp. “I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?”
He gives me the softest smile I’ve ever seen grace his face, the sight making my heart flutter. “It’s okay. I’m okay,” he whispers.
He glances once more at my wounds, then, without another word, scoops me effortlessly into his arms. He turns to Kaelith, his voice deadly, “I suggest you find us one of your finest rooms immediately. I want your best godsdamn healers there before we arrive. And maybe, if they heal her to absolute perfection, I’ll consider not reducing your realm to a pile of ash. Do you understand me?”
Kaelith nods his head once in obedience, not bothering to wipe the violet blood that trickles down from his nose. “Please, follow me.”
The room they bring us into is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
It’s carved into the side of the mountain, the walls smooth and gleaming with veins of crystal that pulse softly with light.
Massive windows stretch across the far side, revealing the endless stretch of night sky with the northern lights dancing to a symphony only they can hear.
The glass is curved and pristine, giving the illusion that the stars and galaxies are within arm’s reach.
A roaring fireplace of black stone crackles gently on the side wall, casting a soft golden glow that flickers across the ceiling like fireflies.
The bed is enormous, sitting beneath an arch of natural stone that’s carved into the wall.
The blankets look impossibly plush, layered with furs and deep violet silks that look heavenly.
Everything seems to glow faintly, as if enchanted by the very magic of the realm.
And by the bed stand several healers, already waiting just like Korithax demanded.
Korithax gently places me atop the soft furs on the bed, my cloak being peeled away by one of the younger looking helpers.
A gasp escapes me when they begin cutting the dress away from my body, revealing my black laced bra and matching panties beneath.
I burn with embarrassment, but Korithax doesn’t look away.
Instead, his eyes track down my body slowly, his jaw tightening visibly, a muscle jumping beneath the surface.
“Is she allowed no modesty?” He growls.
“Sorry, sire. We need to access the wounds,” a healer responds.
I scream when the healing begins, gripping the bed sheets as my back arches off the mattress. The pain is excruciating, my ribs feeling like they’re splintering, the gashes along my side igniting with searing heat.
“What are you doing to her?” Korithax bellows, storming forward and grabbing a male healer by his robes.
Another one of the healers raises their hands in a calming gesture.
“Sir, we are healing her. Our methods are different from those in your realm. We fix everything with our hands, not healing tonics. She has a broken rib and deep wounds along her waist. We are making the bones and wounds knit themselves back together.”
“Can’t you do it in a way that doesn’t hurt her?” He asks, concern lacing his tone as he drops the young male.
“Unfortunately, we do not have the time to sedate her. The wounds are serious and must be addressed immediately. It shouldn’t take much longer.”
I listen intently, whimpering as they continue to move their hands over the wounds on my body. My eyes fill with tears as I feel my bones physically moving inside of me. The sensation is so horrible that I lurch forward, vomiting over the side of the bed and coating the dark stone flooring.
I look up to see Korithax dragging a chair over, placing it beside the bed where I just threw up.
I cringe at how close he is to it, but he just ignores the pile of vomit, taking my trembling hand in his as he sits.
With his other hand, he gently brushes the damp hair from my face.
I lay my head back on the cool silk pillow, scrunching my eyes closed as the pain continues to wrack my body.
“Look at me, little flower.” He whispers. I keep my eyes shut tight, trying to breathe through the agony. “Daisy, darling. Look at me.”
His voice is so soft that it makes me open my eyes. I turn my head slightly to meet his gaze, his eyes boring into mine.
“Good girl,” he whispers, looking into my eyes, keeping a tight hold on my hand. “Tell me your favourite movie.”
“What?” I croak.
“Tell me your favourite movie.”
“Um… Me Before You.” I pant out through gritted teeth
“What’s it about?” He asks.
I scream again, Korithax gripping my hand in his as I dig my nails into his skin. A loud crack sounds across the room, and I know one of my ribs has just fully crunched back into position.
“Focus, sweetheart. What’s it about?” He murmurs, stroking his thumb over mine.
I take a small breath, trying to focus on what he asked me. “There’s this girl, and she looks after a man who’s disabled. He’s a bit of a grumpy ass. Kinda like you.” I laugh weakly, then hiss from the pain.
He frowns, living up to the grumpy ass label. “I’ll let that one slide. Continue.”
“They fall in love. But he still chooses to die because he’s unhappy. It breaks her heart, but she supports him.”
“That sounds… fucking awful.” He replies, scrunching up his face.
“Oh, it is. I cry every time.” I smile despite the agony I’m in.
“So, why do you love it so much?” He asks, confused.
“Because it’s a beautiful story.”
He stares at me for a long moment, something unreadable in his gaze. “Then, when this is all over,” he says quietly, “we’ll watch it together.”
“I thought you didn’t want to watch movies with me, Kori.”
He flinches slightly when the nickname passes my lips, but the soft smile that follows is unmistakable. He likes it when I call him that.
“I think you’ve earned the right to torture me with one of your mortal movies after today, little flower.”
A gentle smile plays on my lips as my eyes begin to flutter closed, the pain slowly dissipating. “I’m tired, Korithax.”
“I know, my queen. You can rest now, they have finished.”
I realise that he’d just distracted me entirely through the last of the pain as I let myself drift, my body already feeling lighter. My eyes close fully, and sleep takes me.