Chapter 52
MAE
Asmo extinguishes the flame and the connection with the osseris dies. He stands, staring at me like I’m a scared animal that might run away.
Who are you?
Every instinct in my body is telling me to flee. “What is this, Asmo?” I demand, fighting the way my voice shakes—fury, fear, horror, I don’t know.
His eyes don’t move from mine. “What he said was true—”
I cut him off. “I know. Don’t waste time trying to lie. Tell me the truth.”
“Years ago, Thera came to visit me in my dreams, just like the Mother visited you. She told me a tale, just like the one the Mother told you. She told me I had a mate, and that we were born to rule together.” His gaze cuts to the candle, where the osseris just was, then back to me.
“She also told me that Marik and I were created to rule Hell.”
My pulse slams in my throat, which now feels too thick and my skin itches and my feet beg to run far, far away.
“You asked me once why I was even participating in your courting. My parents urged me, but so did Thera. I said no, and I told Marik to say no. But I guess Cora and Thera got to him. He agreed. I came to your court to keep an eye on him. He had changed in the years prior, but I didn’t realize how much.
” He takes a deep breath. “Mae, I…I didn’t expect this—” he waves his hands in the air “—to happen. I didn’t know Marik would do what he did. ”
Truth, truth, truth. All of it is the truth. “So, you…you knew? You knew about Cora? This whole time?” My voice breaks. I don’t care.
He winces, but he nods. “Kind of. I knew some things about the prophecy. My parents have been spewing this bullshit for years. Cora was not a new face to me. She had been working with my parents. But I didn’t know she was pretending to be your aunt, and I didn’t know that Marik killed the royal family.
I had my suspicions, but…I was looking into it.
” He rubs the back of his neck, drops his hands to his sides.
“I had no clue who she truly was, Mae. I promise. I had no clue that any of this would happen.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Any of this?” I whisper.
His face falls. “Because I knew there was a chance you’d reject the bond if you knew who—what—I truly was.”
Heat flushes through my body and I ball my hands into fists, clenching the fire that rises. “That should have been my decision to make.”
“Mae, if you had rejected the bond, we wouldn’t have been able to defeat Cora.”
“That should have been my decision to make.”
He grips his hair. “See? What the fuck was I supposed to do? Sacrifice your choice or take the chance that you’d reject it and destroy the kingdom?”
His words feel like a slap to the face. He feels like a stranger to me. “You think I would have thrown away the fate of the kingdom because I was pissed at you? I swore an oath to protect this kingdom. You should have talked to me. I’m your mate. Or is that some lie, too?”
His chest heaves as he stares at me with wild eyes. I’ve never seen him like this. “I have meant every word I’ve ever said to you,” he bites out.
“Because you know I can detect your lies! It’s all the unsaid, Asmo. Now answer the question. Am I actually your mate? Or was it a lie?”
He places his hand to his chest. “It was never a lie. I am your mate. You are mine. That will never change.”
If it’s the truth, why does my chest feel like it’s about to explode? Why does my heart feel like it was just twisted and drained? Is it because I thought I escaped a monster, only to find out the haven I thought I had was actually the lair of another nightmare instead?
“So, what now?” I spit at him. “What’s next in your little plan that only you know? Or are you secretly fucking Thera, too? Is that what the Serpent Princes like to do? Seduce poor, unsuspecting Mae, while they’re fucking some ancient deity behind my back?”
He closes his eyes. His jaw clenches. “No, Mae. I’m not. Like I said, I wanted nothing to do with this. But fate had a different plan for me.”
I snort. “You let some goddess dictate how you live your life. You’re a fucking coward.”
He breathes through his nose. “I deserve that.”
“I’m going back to the castle. You can come or stay here and rot. But if you come, you will pretend like nothing has happened. We have to figure out what comes next. I still have a kingdom to rule.”
I don’t wait for him. I funnel back to my wing, trying to untense my muscles as the clay walls fade and the familiar living room materializes. I storm out the doors, desperate to avoid being caught here alone with Asmo.
Ivan is in his office, reviewing weathered parchment as he paces the cramped quarters. “Your Highness,” he says with a smile.
Even though my world just crumbled, again, I can’t help the smile. It feels full circle to see Ivan in this space again. “Ivan,” I say warmly. “I’m really sorry for the change, but would you mind gathering everyone, including Levana, to meet in the throne room? I’d like to discuss what comes next.”
He sets the parchment down. “Of course.”
“Thank you.” I turn and leave, walking through still empty hallways.
My footsteps echo through the throne room as I walk toward my rightful place, its branches and berries as familiar to me as the back of my hand.
The High Crown floats above the throne and I summon it, plucking it from the air and placing it around my antlers.
Like before, I cast a subtle glow around my features.
Despite the blood- and sweat-stained leathers I still wear, I feel like a High Queen again.
The doors part open and I turn, ready to compliment Ivan on his speed. But it’s not him.
It’s the stag.
His warm brown eyes stare at me as he walks toward me.
Mother, I could fall to my knees and weep right now.
For a moment, I can pretend I’m in the past, when everything was normal.
When I was prancing the halls with Elle, when William was still beside me, before I found out that Willa and Marik weren’t who they claimed to be.
Before I learned I had a mate, who turned out to be like his brother—a liar and a manipulator. Oh, and a Prince of Hell, apparently.
I reach for the stag. He huffs a warm breath into the palm of my hand. “Hello, you,” I whisper.
He blinks in response and presses his muzzle into my hand. I fight tears, shoving them aside and straightening my spine. We walk to the dais together, and I perch on the throne of branches and berries. The stag takes his usual spot, right beside my feet.
It feels surreal to be back. The throne room is a different version of itself—the ancient hardwood floors replaced by cool, white marble. Black veins trickle through the marble, reminding me of Cora.
I inhale. Maybe I’ll keep the marble in reminder of all that I’ve overcome to get back here.
The doors open again. Asmo strides in, black hair perfectly in place and eyes cool as he stares at me. He’s silent as he strides to the throne. He doesn’t place the crown on his head.
He turns to me, his expression pained. “Mae, I—”
Ivan strides into the throne room, and Asmo’s mask of indifference slides back over his features. It takes everything in me to not crawl away in horror. He is as practiced in this as Marik is.
I was—I am—such a fool.
The rest of the Herd comes next, including Etta, Basil, and Amaris.
I force myself to look at each of them, to distract myself with memorizing their features, to ignore the anger that simmers below the surface.
Holly walks beside Elle, who twists her fingers together.
Barrett and August walk together, hair mussed and cheeks gaunt. Levana follows all of them, head down.
“Thank you for meeting with us on short notice. I know we agreed to meet in the morning, and I’m sure you all are exhausted,” I say as warmly as I can muster. “However, it didn’t feel right to rest while the fate of the kingdom hangs precariously.”
Murmurs of agreement sound, and August gives me an encouraging nod. I ignore the way that small gesture makes me feel. Like home. My throat burns, and I swallow the thick lump in my throat.
Ivan clears his throat, hands clasped together. “I would recommend ordering an increase in guard patrol and burning the witches’ bodies immediately.”
Asmo leans forward. I ignore the urge to turn toward him. “Are the witches in the dungeons?” he asks. Ivan gives him a firm nod. “Good. Ensure there are always extra guards there.”
Barrett clears his throat. Wisps of hair hang from his bun, framing his rugged face. “I would recommend a higher-ranking official watching, too,” he says.
I lean back in the throne with a sigh. “I agree, but I only trust us, and we all need to sleep.”
“I can sleep down there,” Barrett offers.
“Me, too,” August adds.
I shake my head. “You don’t have to. I’m sure there’s another way.”
“If there is, I’m too tired to think of it,” August admits. A still-healing cut marks his bicep, red and angry.
“Go home,” I order the both of them. “Send someone you trust from your courts in your place.”
They nod graciously.
I squeeze my knuckles as I think through what should come next.
I wish I could just ask Asmo, but I’m feeling too stubborn and embarrassed and prideful to do so.
“Hunt the witches in the remaining courts,” I say.
“They can either surrender and be placed in our dungeons to await their fate, or they can be sent back to Hell. Round up anyone harboring witches and toss them in the dungeons to await a trial.” I take a deep breath as I give my next order.
“Bring in Houses Serpent and Panthera for the same.”
August and Barrett wince at the order, but they don’t object.
Levana’s voice projects from the back. Like everyone else, she is covered in filth and her shoulders slump from exhaustion. “This battle is won, but the war is not over. Not yet.”
Amaris narrows her gaze, watching her with some mix of suspicion and interest.
I quirk my head. “What do you mean? Cora has been defeated.”
“Make no mistake, great progress was made tonight, Your Highness. But Thera will return to Hell and more witches and Cursed will be made. There is no telling what other creatures she will create. This will not end, not as long as she is still allowed to exist.”
A chill spreads through me, harsh and all-consuming. She’s right, whatever it means. The dream didn’t say anything about Cora. Just the Sister. Fuck. Why did I assume defeating Cora would be the end of this?
She takes a deep breath and looks at me. “Do you trust everyone here?”
I falter as I think of Asmo, but I say, “Yes.”
She nods. “You and your mates,” she says as she looks to Elle, “are the keys to defeating Thera. I’ve been alive a long time, long enough to have known your mother.
I have been aware of the prophecy for as long as it has been around.
The only way this ends is with you four uniting and vanquishing her. ”
Truth.
“But Marik…” Elle says.
“His soul is in Hell,” Asmo says.
I straighten in my chair. I wasn’t expecting this information to be shared, but okay then.
“I thought that might be the case,” Levana says gravely. “There is a way to get him back, but it will require someone going to get him. He cannot make the journey back alone.”
“Then we will bring him back,” I say with finality.
What other choice is there? Even if Marik went to Hell voluntarily, I would pull him out of there kicking and screaming. This must end. And I have the power to end it.
If what the osseris said is true, I’m the High Queen of Hell now.