Well, stares were better than being stoned—a definite positive.
Quicker than I had been ready for, we approached the gates of the palace that housed King Adbeel Ayad, the leader of the demons. Unsure what to suspect, I allowed my power to wander, tasting the air and the minds that occupied the area. Two guards stood at attention, wearing light blue uniforms with the demon sigil in black, white, and silver at the center. It was the clothing form of the tapestry that hung in Henry’s chambers back in Haven, a sign of the Sun’s deep love for his realm.
Both guards were on high alert, eyes darting between Bellamy and I as if they were attempting to decipher what he could possibly be doing with me. I tried not to take it as an insult…and failed. My chin tilted up faintly, a gesture that I hoped would make me seem more regal and confident, though it was just as likely that it made me look foolish.
“Open the gates, now,” Bellamy ordered the two guards. A mere moment passed before the gates were spreading apart, groaning loudly, as if they were not often used.
We urged our horses forward, both blue-clad demons watching me closely. I fought off the urge to stick my tongue out at the one who glared slightly. Their job was to maintain the safety of King Adbeel, and I could not fault them for doing simply that.
Blue and gray stones made up the courtyard beyond the gates, looking as if a beautiful storm was attempting to overtake a bright, clear sky. White stone arches lined the outer walls, creating a covered area to roam beneath. Beyond that, the castle stretched at least six stories high, the top seeming to touch the clouds overhead. Those same green vines crawled up the stone, like claws gripping the looming structure.
A large blue flag with the demon sigil flew on each pointed tower, as well as many within the courtyard itself. A square of the brightest green grass lined with multicolored rocks sat in the center. Randomly placed were patches of dirt that housed large trees whose branches and leaves reached towards the ground, as if weeping at the beauty of it all.
Bellamy still had that smile plastered on his face, dimples on full display. He quickly dismounted his horse, practically leaping off, his eagerness contagious. A stable hand ran to retrieve the reins. I watched as she offered Bellamy a swift curtsy and a small smile. He tilted his head down, a gesture no fae royal would have ever granted anyone in Betovere. Her scarlet blush made me smile.
That charming bastard.
Then he was making his way to me, lifting his arms to aid my own dismount. For no reason other than stubbornness, I attempted to slide myself off the other side, but Bellamy was there before my feet could hit the ground, catching me amidst a cloud of black shadows. The smell of cinnamon and smoke was heavy in the air, and I wondered to myself how anyone could live like this.
How did one survive love? It seemed desperate to take over my every thought, to throw out my inhibitions and bring me to my knees in submission. A position I would gladly spend all day in for the prince in front of me.
It had been one day since we admitted our love for one another, and already I was losing my gods damned mind.
“If you keep looking at me like that, Princess, I will be forced to take you here in the courtyard,” Bellamy rasped into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I did not take you for an exhibitionist,” I remarked, smirking up at the demon.
He laughed, a deep sound that heated me to my core. “For you, I would be anything.”
His sly grin was the only warning I got before his lips were on mine, the heat of his tongue tracing the seam of my mouth with fervor, like an attempt to memorize it.
Eagerly, I opened, tasting the rich flavor of the neem twig he had used that morning to clean his teeth. Moments passed, and he was lifting me up, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me through the palace doors.
A rough cough sounded from the left, and we quickly parted to see an amused blue-clad guard watching us. Bellamy chuckled, but I hastily wiggled myself out of his hold and stepped away.
I was so used to hiding, to feeling an overwhelming amount of guilt for sneaking around with The Capital guards and visiting vendors, that being open about my affections terrified me, and I did not know how to take this last leap into the beginning of my new life. Into my future.
Fortunately for me, the demon prince was far from dismayed. Bellamy grabbed me by the arm, grip firm as he tugged my body into his. His other hand moved to my throat, a ringed thumb pressing under my chin to tilt my face up.
Then he devoured me once more, tongues and teeth clashing, his hunger never quite satiated. Bellamy’s hand traveled up my bicep, which had become far more toned in our weeks of traveling and training, and then began sliding at a tantalizingly slow pace down my back. At the base of my spine, those wicked fingers just grazing the top of my trousers, he pulled away.
“You are too incredible to continue hiding. Your mind, your heart, your soul—they are rare and beautiful and worthy of being seen. Do not hide, Princess. Do not cower. Bless the world with yourself, and watch as we all fall to our knees before you,” he whispered, placing a kiss to each of my cheeks. Then he pecked my forehead, my chin, my nose. Finally, he offered a soft kiss to my lips, so much love poured into it that tears pricked my eyes.
I nodded, unwilling to speak for fear of falling into a fit of sobs. I had never felt so loved, so unconditionally treasured. If he was aware of the effect he had on me, Bellamy did not show it. He merely smiled, his dimples poking holes into his cheeks.
The guard in blue was not afraid to watch us, to bear witness to our affections. It seemed no one was, the demons walking around clearly unbothered but not uninterested. Servants were bustling about and courtiers were conversing, all eyes flitting our way every so often.
Do not hide. Do not cower.
Our hands entwined as we followed the guard through the palace, weaving past brilliant white corridors that were decorated with paintings. Some I recognized as Bellamy’s work, while others I could tell were not. It was as if his pulled my eye, begging me to notice the way the brush strokes moved, the play on colors, the often eerie look of doom and sorrow. Beside me, Bellamy said nothing, not even sparing his art a glance.
Greenery was everywhere, the air tasting clean and fresh from the abundance of plants. I took note of the lilies of the valley, so many that I wondered if they held significance to the residents of The Royal City, to the king, or if they were just a favored local flower.
Gorgeous blue runners lined every hallway with differing patterns woven into them in silver, white, and black. The bleached wooden floors below are a perfect complement to the colors. Crystal chandeliers sat above, reflecting rainbows from the demon light in a similar way to the one above Bellamy’s piano forte in Haven. The thought of the all-white room with the stunning black piano at the center brought a soft smile to my face. Maybe one day I would be able to play it again.
Light blue accents had been added anywhere they could be, flowing seamlessly with the white walls and abundance of plant life. Seeing the decorations that represented the pride of their realm was astonishing. Somehow, King Adbeel managed to showcase his love for Eoforhild without overindulging in the colors, choosing instead to sprinkle them gracefully.
Every demon we passed had the same breathtaking light blue tied into their outfits in one way or another. A startling sight, seeing as only the royals and the guards were allowed to wear gold in The Capital. The color of the fae sigil, of the palace and the center island itself, was reserved for those with a crown atop their heads. Here, it was worn by all who wanted to show their love for the realm that saw them come into this world and would one day watch them leave it.
