Chapter 31 #2
The room is quiet, still bathed in the ever-present dusky glow of the realm.
The strange clock on the wall now reads nine a.m..
I honestly don’t know how I managed to fall back to sleep this morning.
Korithax had climbed into bed beside me after once again drying my hair, no chattering teeth needed this time.
However, instead of wrapping me in his arms, he simply said goodnight and turned over, leaving me to stare at his large, tattooed back, his wings vanishing once more.
I studied him for a while, not being able to drift off easily after the way he had kissed me in the shower.
The second we left the bathroom, it was like everything went back to normal, like he was barely tolerating my existence.
His constant personality flips had me thinking I’d agreed to marry Hell’s version of Dr Jekyll.
I laid awake for what felt like hours, wondering if his body filled with butterflies the moments our lips touched like mine did, or if he was simply just showing me how it felt to truly be kissed.
A soft knock taps against the door.
“Yes?” I call gently, sitting up in the large bed, pulling the covers up to my chin.
The door pushes open, and a tall, willowy woman enters, her skin a pale silver hue, kissed with violet undertones.
Her long dark hair sits braided with threads of glowing crystal strands.
Her eyes are utterly mesmerising, flickering like candlelight trapped in glass.
She’s wearing a robe of midnight blue, the fabric billowing like mist as she bows her head politely.
“I’m Serya, one of Lord Kaelith’s chambermaidens. I have been asked to assist you in preparing for your next journey.”
I blink at her, enthralled by how ethereal she is.
She’s as captivating as the sky outside.
Her aura radiates in a soft green glow around her.
I wasn’t entirely self-conscious about my looks, but the women in these realms were of a whole other level.
I looked as plain as paper compared to them all.
Hopefully, immortality makes me look slightly more interesting.
She steps further into the room, smiling softly at me. “Lord Korithax asked me to inform you that he is awaiting you in the throne room with King Kaelith. I believe you have your outfit in your pack, yes?”
“Right,” I murmur, brushing the sleep from my eyes. “Let me just go get it.”
Serya helps me dress, and I can’t help but be flawed yet again by Lyvia’s choices. The outfit is absolutely stunning.
A sundress in gold and soft yellow, milkmaid style, cinched at the waist with a corset bodice and straps over my shoulders lined with sunstone crystals.
The skirt ends just above my knees, swaying as I move.
Tiny golden vines twine along my calves, all the way up to my thighs, attached to the golden shoes on my feet—simple, yet beautiful.
Serya carefully braids my hair into two long French plaits, weaving delicate golden threads through them to accentuate my already sunshine coloured hair.
My eyes are dusted with shimmering gold eyeshadow, and my lips painted with a luminous, clear gloss that has specks of gold leaf in.
She slides a metal cuff up my arm to sit in the middle of my bicep.
The piece is gold, vines poking from the band in all directions before meeting in the middle with Korithax’s sigil.
This is the most I’ve looked like myself since agreeing to be queen, yet at the same time, so far from myself that it makes my head ache.
These were the types of dresses I would wear in summer, and the yellows and golds screamed Daisy Sandoval.
But this dress, this makeup, was far more elegant than anything I would’ve worn back home.
“You look radiant,” Serya says softly, blowing a handful of golden dust over me that clings to my skin, making my pale complexion shimmer.
“Thank you.” I blush, offering her a small smile.
She escorts me down the twisting corridors of the mountain palace until we arrive at the towering door of the throne room. The air feels colder here, making goosebumps prickle along my arms. Serya bows and leaves me at the threshold, wishing me a safe journey as she saunters away.
I step inside, my eyes scanning the vast room. It’s impressive, yet cold. Whereas Fjellheim Heights’ throne room was radiant, this room truly lacked any personality other than a few shimmery crystals. It’s also empty—save for Kaelith.
“Ahh, Daisy,” he says smoothly, rising from his throne. “Please, come in.”
I hesitate, glancing around nervously. “Where’s Korithax?”
He waves a hand casually. “He said he was on his way to you. You must have just missed each other.”
That feels… unlikely. Still, I step forward slowly despite my apprehension. I didn’t want to come across as rude, even though I didn’t have the kindest of welcomes when I arrived.
“Please, sit.” He gestures to a plush velvet seat placed beside his glowing throne.
I move reluctantly toward it, perching on the edge of the cushion, not daring to make myself too comfortable. Something about this feels very wrong.
“I am so unbelievably sorry about what happened when you arrived in my realm,” Kaelith says, folding his hands in his lap. “I am truly appalled at the way you were treated.”
“You didn’t look so appalled when I was bleeding on your floors,” I say quietly. “Not until you knew who I was.”
“Yes. My mistake.” His smile tightens, irritation flickering across his features.
Something about that look made me realise that Kaelith probably wasn’t used to having people talk back. I saw the way that creature had reacted when Kaelith was angry. I was starting to see through his facade of warm smiles, calming British-like accent, and cosmic eyes.
“I do hope my healers did a good job. I see they did wonders on that beautiful face of yours. Not a scratch remains.”
He reaches over and strokes a thumb over my cheek where the creature had sliced my face.
I flinch at the sudden contact, pulling away whilst forcing myself to smile.
What the hell did he think he was doing?
Was it a weird custom here that they felt like they could touch whoever they pleased, whenever they pleased?
“They did fine,” I mutter.
“You know,” he continues, clearly ignoring my discomfort as his star-kissed eyes slowly drift down my body. “I had wondered what could have possessed Korithax to take a mortal as his bride. But now, I fear I understand. You are… lovely to look at.”
He inhales deep, and I suppress a shudder. “And you smell absolutely divine. Fruit, lavender, with a hint of spice.” He slowly licks his lips.
“Thank you,” I mutter, rising from the chair. “I think I’ll go find Korithax now. Thank you for your hospitality, Kaelith.”
I bow my head slightly and turn, but as I go to take a step, his hand lashes out, grabbing my wrist and tugging me back.
The sudden force causes me to stumble backwards, causing me to awkwardly fall into his lap.
I instantly try to stand back up, but he wraps an arm around my waist, holding me securely to him.
“You, my dear,” he murmurs against my ear, trailing a hand up my thigh, “are a prize I am not so sure I want to return. Would you prefer to stay here and be my queen instead? I can give you anything. Power. Wealth.” He drops his voice an octave, his voice almost rumbling.
“Incredible sex,” he mutters against my ear, placing a cold, soft kiss beneath my lobe.
“I bet I could make you scream so loud they’d hear it across the cosmos. ”
I suppress a shudder from the feel of his cold lips against my skin. His hand pushes under my skirt, slowly trailing higher and higher until I feel his fingers brush against my panties. I squirm against him, trying to release myself from his grip.
“I strongly suggest you take your hands off my wife before I cut them off and burn them to ash, Duskwalker.”
Kaelith jolts, and I lift my head to see Korithax standing in the entryway, his face an unreadable mask of fury. He releases his grip on me, quickly shoving me to my feet. I stumble forward, just catching myself before I land straight on my face.
“Korithax, it’s not what it looks like. She came on to me.”
My head whips to him as my mouth drops open in disbelief, but I can’t get a word out fast enough.
“She kept saying she wanted my realm, not yours,” Kaelith adds hastily.
Korithax laughs, the sound booming through the chamber, cold and sharp.
“Kaelith, I know my queen. And I know that despite how pretty your realm is, she loves the dark and corruption that comes with Hell. Not pretty stars and obnoxious rulers. And most importantly,” his eyes travel to me, “she loves me.”
A scream tears through the air, and I turn my head back around to Kaelith. My eyes go wide as I watch as fire crawls up his legs, a black flame lashing up his body.
“Since a verbal warning did not suffice,” Korithax says coldly, “I hope this does. Next time, I will kill you, Kaelith. I warned you not to take my words as a bluff.” He steps forward, extending a large hand to me. “Come, Daisy. It’s time we took our leave.”
I place my hand in his, his grip punishingly tight as he escorts me from the throne room, Kaelith’s screams following us on the way out.