Chapter 42
Daisy
Istare at the radiant goddess in front of me, her palms outstretched as she glides towards me. I smile softly, taking a step forward.
“I don’t believe I’ve been here before,” I say gently. “I’m Daisy.”
“I know who you are, my dear,” she replies, “just as someone else.”
My smile falters, and I glance sideways at Korithax, but his face mirrors my confusion.
“May I?” She asks, gesturing to my hands.
I nod and place my hands into hers. A gasp escapes me as her magic flows into my skin—warm and luminous like morning light through stained glass.
Images flash behind my eyes, all moving way too quickly to decipher.
Scene after scene blurs past, but each one pulses with power, and some deeper part of me seems to respond.
Elyistria releases my hands slowly, blinking as she smiles. “Yes. She truly has returned. Fascinating.”
Her eyes—blinding silver-blue with golden flecks swirling through them—lock onto mine.
The power in her gaze soothes every raw edge in me, like a balm poured over my fractured soul.
I blink rapidly, blinking away the spell that her eyes seemed to place me under, and turn toward Korithax, hoping he can take the lead because I have absolutely no idea what’s going on.
He reads my expression instantly and clears his throat.
“I don’t believe we’ve officially met. Allow me to introduce myself and my wife. Korithax, Heir to the Throne of Hell. And this is my beautiful Queen, Daisy Sandoval.”
Elyistria smiles softly, then turns and floats back toward her throne, each step trailing light like floating petals behind her. She’s tall, statuesque, the very embodiment of divine serenity.
Her platinum-white hair cascades like silk over her luminous ivory skin. Her layered robes mirror the ones I wear—white silk and translucent gossamer embroidered with golden runes of fate. A crown of golden branches tipped with glowing pearls rests gently atop her head.
“I know your bride well, Korithax,” she says, seating herself elegantly, looking like one of those Greek goddess carvings. “And I’ve heard many stories about you, Child of Ruin.”
Korithax bristles beside me, his hands not so subtly curling into tight fists. “How can you know my bride,” he growls, “if she’s never set foot in your realm? And who told you that name?”
Oh gods. I widen my eyes at him. He was really using that tone with the literal Goddess of Magic.
His rage makes my palms sweat, and my pulse quicken.
But also… godsdamn, he looked hot doing it.
He’s the polar opposite of the realm surrounding us.
A smudge of dark, terrifying power against such light.
I can’t help but stare at the behemoth of a man standing beside me.
A pool of heat floods straight to my core as I watch the ruthless man I’ve come to know not give a damn about who he releases his anger on.
As if he could read my thoughts, his gaze snaps to mine.
His nostrils flare once, and a small smirk pulls at his lips.
Shit. Right. He can smell when I’m turned on.
Think of spiders.
Think of taxes.
Think of the time my tampon string snapped, and Ezra had to hold my hand whilst Talia went into my hooter all gloved up to retrieve it.
The heat in my belly simmers down, and I lower my head to hide the blush that’s blooming across my cheeks.
“Answers will come in time, Heir of Hell,” Elyistria says calmly. “But rest assured, when you return from Noxthrallia, you will need my aid. And I will offer it—if your queen remembers this…”
I lift my eyes to find her staring directly at me, her irises glowing faintly. “I failed to stand beside you the first time, and I will not repeat that mistake. I am with you now, Daisy. When your hour comes, I will be there.”
I blink at her, smiling stiffly. Why is everyone in the celestial hierarchy always so damn cryptic? Is that part of the job description?
Essential Goddess Skills:
A) Be devastatingly beautiful.
B) Speak exclusively in vague riddles.
C) Offer help but never explain how or when.
Still, I manage a polite smile and bow my head. “Thank you, Elyistria.”
“You do not yet understand,” she says gently. “But you will. And when the sun rises from the ash, I will stand at her side.”
“What is it with you divine types?” Korithax mutters under his breath. “Maybe the Divine Six should recruit you and make it a solid seven. You’d fit right in with the rest of the cryptic assholes.”
I shoot him a look, my palms damp again. “I apologise for my husband,” I say sweetly through clenched teeth. “Clearly, he needs a nap.”
I watch as his face turns into a devilish grin, clearly unbothered by the way he’s behaving. I scowl at his reaction, only making his grin grow wider.
“What?” He murmurs. “I just love hearing you call me husband. Say it again later, when I’m nine inches deep inside you.”
My eyes go wide as my mouth goes bone dry. I whip my head toward Elyistria, praying to any higher being listening that she didn’t hear that.
She tuts softly. Yup. She definitely heard it. I resist the urge to groan and instead imagine stabbing Korithax with the nearest ceremonial spear. Would a wooden stake work? No, that’s for vampires. Holy water? Ezra already tried that. Didn’t work.
Despite myself, I smile. Because I know what Ezra and Talia risked for me by summoning him that night.
A pang shoots through my chest. It feels like forever since I saw them.
I need to visit when this is over. But the thought of watching them age, knowing I’ll live on for centuries?
Another pang. I shove the grief aside like I always do. Not now, Daisy. Later.
“Well,” Elyistria says gently, “since your husband seems eager to get you to bed, I’ll have my guards show you to your room. Please, enjoy your stay, and feel free to explore the realm if you’d like. It is yours to walk freely.”
We both nod our thanks and turn to follow the guard, the urge to stab my husband stronger than ever. Although, he’d probably like it.
“Oh, and Daisy?”
I pause and look back. “Yes?”
“I would like to speak with you before you leave tomorrow. Alone.” She eyes Korithax. “Breakfast, perhaps?”
I nod. “Sounds perfect. I’ll see you then. Thank you so much for your hospitality.”
With that, we’re escorted from the throne room, my heart pounding and my head spinning like a kaleidoscope of questions.
We’re guided through endless hallways and flights of gleaming white stone stairs. My thighs are burning by the time we reach the room we’ve been given, located in one of the northern towers of the palace.
A guard opens the door for us, one arm outstretched in polite invitation. “Here are your rooms. I hope you find them to your liking. If there is anything you—”
“Yeah, got it. Thanks,” Korithax cuts him off sharply, stepping inside and slamming the door behind us.
I spin on him with a glare. “Korithax, what on earth has gotten into you? You’re being more of an ass than usual.”
He just stares at me, a grin spreading across his face—dark and gleaming, bordering on sadistic. His obsidian eyes flicker as he watches me. Then I smell it. Burning fabric. I look down and shriek—flames are crawling up my gown, devouring the silken material.
I slap at them, panicking as I shriek, “Korithax! What the hell!”
“They won’t hurt you,” he says calmly, clearly amused with his shit eating grin.
“What?” I pant, my body stalling as the fire eats through the fabric… but leaves my skin entirely untouched. Unharmed.
“It’s my Hellfire. I told you, it won’t harm you.”
I stop struggling entirely, standing still as the flames finish their work, dissolving my gown into ash and leaving me in nothing but the black lace lingerie I wore underneath.
“You thought I’d burn you?” He asks, his voice quieter now, but I don’t miss the hint of hurt behind it. His gaze is molten as it travels slowly down my body.
“The way you’ve been lately—hot, cold, terrifying—I didn’t know what to think.” My voice trembles.
He growls low in his throat and storms towards me. I don’t even have time to breathe before his hand is wrapped around my throat, tilting my chin up.
“I have not, nor will I ever, physically hurt you. Unless it’s something you enjoy.
” His voice is gravel and heat. “And I promise you, from this moment until my last breath, I will make up for how I’ve treated you.
I am trying, Daisy. I don’t know love. I have only ever known pain and torture.
But for you… I’m learning. I will worship you like a queen, and fuck you like I hate you.
And you will love every fucking second.”
His grip is firm but not cruel, and I can feel his chest rising and falling as he stares down at me. He’s right. He’s trying, and it’s not fair that I keep throwing the past in his face. I was cruel to him, too, on Christmas Eve. Yet he’s never once thrown that in my face.
“I believe you,” I whisper. “I’m sorry. I should trust you more.”
He loosens his hold slightly, brushing his thumb along my jaw. “I understand why you don’t. And like I said; I can’t give you all of me yet. I won’t answer that soul call until you’re safe. Immortal. But once you are… you’ll never doubt me again. You’ll see.”
I turn my head slightly, pressing a kiss to his thumb that’s resting near my mouth. Then I open my lips and suck it slowly in, swirling my tongue across the pad before releasing it with a soft pop.
A growl rips from his chest, and that’s the only warning I get before he grabs me, one arm under each thigh, lifting me with ease as he strides across the room. He stops just before the wall, his eyes ravenous.
“Legs. Over my shoulders,” he commands.
“What?” I gasp.
“Now, Daisy.”
I obey, my heart pounding. I hook my legs over his broad shoulders, breath catching as he pushes me higher up and pins my back to the cold stone wall. A soft snap sounds, and I feel my panties fall away.