Page 108 of Beauty At Stake
“The verdict?” I shifted my stare from the entranced female crowd to my husband.
“Are you still working for him?”
“Yes, of course.”
My men shared unreadable looks.
“What?” I asked as I reached for Miri. “Come here, little girl. How do you like Thailand?”
Miri cooed and smacked my face.
“That's my sassy girl.” I chuckled as I nuzzled her.
“We thought you might be done with him,” Raza said. “Since you discovered his treachery.”
“Treachery?” I laughed. “Wow. That's harsh.”
“Do you not find it treacherous that he manipulated you to manipulate us?” Sever asked.
“How many times do I have to tell you to stop whining?” Star drawled as he came up to our group.
The vexes, perhaps feeling the tension, drew back and quietly abandoned us.
Sever spun toward Star, knocking a side table with his wings.
“You see?” Raza waved at the table while Killian steadied it. “Wings.” He shook his head. “They're no good in cramped quarters.”
But my attention was on Sever. Because with his anger came a burst of Twilight Magic, just as it used to happen with me when I first received my Fey magic. And yet, Sever wasn't me. He was unique like me but in a different way. Instead of a burst of lavender sparkles—harmless and pretty—the tattoo of thorny vines on his left arm came to life and shot off his arm. The glossy green vines burst into flame and wrapped around Star's throat.
People screamed. Sever's wings spread wide, pushing everyone, including myself, back. The midnight feathers shone with a dusting of sparkling lavender, and Sever's eyes lit up, glowing in a similar color. Simultaneously, Star gasped and choked, blood pouring down his crisp white shirt to turn it bright red. His elegant hands went to the fiery vine and gripped it, unharmed by the flames but wounded by the thorns. All around the room, the King of Hell's guards vanished in embers, two of them were close enough that they didn't have to lalek—they were on Severriel before I was. But Sever simply knocked them away with his wings.
I handed a shockingly calm Miri to Raza and shot forward to grab the fire thorns. Uncrossing Magic pulsed out of me, but the vines weren't an enchantment. They were an attack. Star met my stare, his eyes holding a warning. If I didn't get Sever under control soon, he'd have to defend himself.
If it had been anyone but my husband, I would have used Light to burn those thorns. But since they had manifested fromhis tattoo, I was hesitant to do that. What if the Light traveled up the vines and killed Sever? No, I couldn't take that risk. So, I simply grabbed them with both hands.
Sever's stare instantly shifted to the blood that fell from my fists. Seeping out from between my fingers. He flinched, shook his head, and drew back his magic. “Seren!” He reached for me.
I pushed Sever away with my bloody hands, fury rising inside me, and went to Star as I shouted, “Are there any healers here?”
All of my vast power and yet, I couldn't heal. With my hands around Star's and our gazes locked. I felt that lack more than ever. His guards circled us and helped their king to a chair. I went with them, keeping my hands in place. Blood kept flowing.
“Move aside!” Leo shouted.
We parted for him, and he knelt beside Star.
“You need to let go, Your Majesties,” Leo said to both of us.
Star immediately let go, his hands going loose beneath mine. But I held on and had to force myself to draw my hands away from his throat. When I did, I nearly screamed. Star should have been healing. He was immortal and the King of Hell. He had incredible powers of regeneration. And yet, the wounds were jagged and fresh.
Blood gushed down Star's throat and Demons cursed. Leo, however, dove for Star's neck.
“What the fuck?!” Sallales shouted and reached for him.
“No!” I shoved her back. “He's a blood drinker. He can heal wounds with his saliva.”
Sal gaped at me. “That shit is true?”
“Honestly, I didn't think it was until now. I'm just guessing.” I took Star's hand as I watched Leo lick the multitude of wounds that circled Star's throat.
