Epilogue
Rayven
With my undead tree perfectly trimmed and every decoration in place, it was finally—finally—time for the ball. I couldn’t be more excited.
Christmas in the Hells was more perfect than I could have ever imagined.
A live band of skeletons dressed in waistcoats and nothing else dragged their instruments into the large hall and set up in the corner farthest from the bone thrones. They struck up a dark tune that filled the space, accompanied by the haunted ornaments singing from the undead tree.
The tree itself was the center of attention, glittering as the light caught on the bobbles and teeth draped over the branches. Even the ballsacks looked undeniably festive.
When everything was ready, the doors opened to welcome a spill of spirits, demons and ghouls inside. They were dressed in elegant clothes—though, some of them moth-eaten—from gowns to three-piece suits.
The large room was filled with music and dancing, happy chatter and brilliant lights fitting of Hell’s first Yule ball. Suits of armor, also festively decorated, clanked as they took up their positions around the edge of the room—added security after the last celebration had gone awry.
As I watched the party commence from my throne, my chest warmed with pride. It was everything I’d dreamed.
I dragged my eyes over to the Lord of Bones sitting on his throne beside me, waiting for everyone to pay their respects.
He’d shift into his lesser form before we danced; I knew him well enough to know that.
But he would never miss an opportunity to assert his power, his authority as the Lord of Death in his full regalia of bones and brawn.
Skeletons and bodies in various stages of decomposition added gifts to the growing pile at the base of the tree before approaching their king and queen to show their respect. Then, they moved on as the haunting music picked up its pace.
When movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention, I looked up to see Belial standing there in his lesser form with his hand outstretched. His bare face looked so handsome in the blue flamelight from the candles decorating the Yule tree.
“Would you like to dance, my queen?” His deep timbre had a shiver rattling down my spine, and I took his hand eagerly.
As we crossed the River Styx together, there was a beat of hushed acknowledgement as eyes whipped in our direction. I should have been used to it by now. Still, the attention had heat creeping into my cheeks. Belial was entirely unbothered, watching me carefully with his silvery eyes.
“Should we tell them?” I whispered as he spun me around to face him. My chest bumped his, and my heart slammed against my ribs.
Now that I’d told Belial my little secret, that there would be an heir to the throne of Limbo, I didn’t want to keep it bottled up any longer. I wanted to tell everyone that would listen; I wanted to scream it from the rooftops.
“Not tonight,” Belial said, one hand curving around the small of my back while he took my hand in his other.
He took the first step, guiding me slowly across the floor.
“Tonight is all about you, my treasure. You’ve kept this secret to yourself for so long; let us keep it between us for one more night. ”
I nodded. “We can keep it between us for as long as you like.”
It was a nice chance, being able to see all of his smile without the mask to hide away his marred features. “Very soon. But tonight, everyone will speak of nothing more than my queen and her Christmas.”
We danced, getting lost among the other twirling bodies. I lost myself in the music and the decorations and the warm tingling sensation spreading through me.
Before I knew it, the corners of my eyes were filling with tears.
“What troubles you, my treasure? Is this not everything you dreamed?” Belial asked, stopping abruptly in the middle of the floor.
His finger came up to lift my chin, and I blinked hard to chase away the stinging sensation.
A single tear escaped, and he lifted his mask just enough to kiss it away.
“What more can I do? How can I make this Christmas more special for you?”
I chuckled, but it nearly came out as a sob. Even after making it snow, decorating the castle from top to bottom, and bringing my Christmas tree back from the dead, my demon king was still convinced that I wasn’t happy. That he hadn’t done enough.
“You can’t.” I shook my head and squeezed his hand. “There’s nothing else to do; everything is perfect.”
“Then why are you crying?”
My lip wobbled and I choked out a laugh. “Because I’m happy. Is that so hard to believe? You’ve given me everything I could have dreamed. More than I ever knew I wanted. It might also just be the hormones…”
His lips pressed into a gentle smile as he pulled me close, guiding me in an even slower dance that didn’t match up to the music. It didn’t matter; we were moving to a tune no one but us could hear.
“Do you hope it’s a boy?” I asked, keeping my voice impossibly low. Belial’s eyes flicked to mine at the question.
“My hopes aren’t based on things so trivial as gender.” He dipped low to whisper into my ear. “I hope that no matter what, they are intelligent and fierce; a force to be reckoned with.” He pulled back to meet my gaze. “Like their mother.”
A blush flamed my cheeks. “What would you name him? Belial junior?”
At that, he threw his head back and laughed, earning us a few curious glances from dancers nearby. “I’ve never thought about it, considering I didn’t think children were an option for me, but I’ve always loved the name Alaric. It means ruler of all.”
“Alaric,” I repeated under my breath, my stomach fluttering. “That’s pretty. And for a girl?”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” he asked with another laugh.
I shook my head. “I’m too excited.”
“As am I,” he said, squeezing me tighter. “What would you call her?”
“Desdemona.” The name flew out of my mouth without a second thought, because I’d already thought about names for weeks. I’d made lists and narrowed them down, only to start all over again, but that one finally stuck. “Des for short.”
“Des,” he muttered thoughtfully. “Princess of the Nine Hells. I like the sound of that.”