Page 9 of On a Pale Horse
She kissed him, this time thoroughly. Her tongue slid into his mouth, laying claim, laying siege.
He felt that kiss in his toes and almost cried out when she released him.
“Lots of favors,” he whispered. “We can do an old-fashioned court appearance, and everyone will think I’ve lost my mind.”
She chuckled and swatted at his chest. “Let’s get this over to Katherine and have a brief chat. See what they think.”
He sat back on his heels before standing. “Did you ask yourself what they really think? Do they allwantto be human?”
It had been stuck in his head since the idea was first brought up to the group. Some of them he didn’t doubt would give up their powers forever, but others…
Bianca’s brow furrowed in that cute little way he loved. “I don’t know, but no one is going to force anyone to do something they don’t want. It’s not like we’re going to gang up on each other and strip away everything like the old gods.”
He should take offense to that assessment of his kin, but from her, he couldn’t. And couldn’t imagine anyone trying to force Scarlet into anything, well besides Tyr. She had a soft spot for him the entire world could see. “But if Scarlet is human, how will she be able to stay with Tyr, a god? Same with Katherine? Arwan is a hellhound, there is no cure for that.”
She shrugged. “It’s something we need to figure out before we go through with it all. For now, though, keeping Hel from ending the world because she wants her toy back might be worth the sacrifice.”
He considered her words, and what he knew about the other horseman. “Do you ever wonder if there is a greater part you play in destiny’s game? Or that maybe you’re to let it all unfold without interrupting?”
She shook her head. “I try not to consider deep philosophical questions like that. It hurts my head. For now, I’m alive, I’m a queen, I’m your wife, and Victor’s girlfriend. That is enough for me.”
The idea she was genuinely happy in his home, in their home, warmed his heart, or what was left of it at least. A few years ago, he would have never thought to find himself happy as well. Content for the first time in eons.
She patted his cheek gently, which made him growl. “Let’s go, big guy. You’re getting mushy today. I might have to beat that out of you tonight.”
She picked up the flask and headed toward the mirror in the back of the library. He followed close on her heels as he would for as long as he lived. He’d follow her anywhere.
Many considered him brutal, even by fae standards, but his queen made him into something else. He’d rip anyone to shreds who got in her way. And then kneel at her feet and worship her. Thankfully, she was the kind of woman who would start the rending and let everyone else finish it up. He loved that about her too.
“Bianca,” he said from behind her.
She stopped and turned to face him. Concern etched around her eyes. “You never call me Bianca.”
He swallowed. And he asked because he needed to know. “Do you wish you could become human too? Do you want to give all this up and return to a human existence?”
She licked her lips and leaned up for a kiss. He had to meet her more than halfway to allow it. Wrapping his arms behind her back and drawing her into him completely. Once she released him, she lingered and whispered, “No. I just told you that, idiot. Why would I want to go back to that when I have all of this? When I have all of you?”
She nipped his lower lip with her teeth before continuing with her mission. To be fae had its own set of rules and responsibilities, to be queen even more so, and he’d chosen his queen well. He’d die before someone took her away from him. And he’d kill anyone who tried. Even if that someone were a Horseman.
Five
Hades
Bianca stood outside of room number nine in a tuxedo cut tight to her body and a black domino across her face. Her hair fell down to her butt in a black curtain. As Hades approached, he smiled. Women like her helped draw prominent members to the club. Even if they would never get to touch her, it helped to have such stunning individuals walking around the place. Drew them back with hope every time.
He opened the door and stepped into the room with Bianca on his feet. “So, what’s the plan here?” she asked, closing the door, and twisting the lock on the knob.
He spread his hands wide. “I’m going to entice Cloris to have her way with me.”
As for other ideas, he’d run out of them a long time ago. No matter what he tried, Cloris always pushed him away. Citing his own mental health as the reason. But that card wore thin, as did Hades' patience.
Bianca stared at him wide eyed for a moment before doubling over and laughing. “You’re going to what now?” she gasped between bouts of laughter doubled over.
He waited until she stood again and lifted the edge of her mask to wipe at the tears. “Are you finished?”
She smiled. “For now. But did you think you might just tell her you want to take her to bed? I mean… We all know you two have been dancing around this for like a century. I honestly thought you’d done it already.”
He let out a sigh and loosened the tie at his neck. “Well, I keep trying and she keeps resisting. I think she thinks I’m not ready. At least that is what she keeps saying every time I try to instigate things. Honestly, it’s chaffing my ego.”
