He slid his hands into his pockets and shrugged, looking up at the ceiling. “I’m ruthless, lethal, lacking in empathy. I don’t hide my flaws or lie about what I am, so that’s no secret. I’d murder a mortal woman if it got me what I wanted.” He met my gaze. “But I didn’t burn a mortal woman to death in the Osborne Woods. I’m not morally against the concept, it’s just that it wasn’t me.”
Either he was really good at lying, or that was the truth. As I stared at him, I felt my chest unclench. “Okay.”
His eyebrows rose. “I take it Shai told you that I can’t kill her.”
“It did come up. She’s not actually a psychopath, by the way. She just used that to get you to agree to the blood oath.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Hmm. Finding another person you care about that I could kill would be the easiest way to bargain…”
“That’s not really what a bargain is. That’s a threat, Orion.”
He shrugged, his expression cold. “Well, clearly, it would be the easiest option, but it won’t work. From what I understand, you don’t actually care about anyone else. Shai is your only friend, and your family is dead.”
I swallowed hard. “That’s a depressing summary.”
“How about a new bargain, then? You get me what I want, the truth about what makes the king weak, and I’ll help you find your mother’s killer. Once I get what I need, you’ll get what you need.”
I bit my lip, staring at him. This all came down to a single question—did I actually believe him? It was hard to say. But since I didn’t have many offers of help here in the City of Thorns, I’d accept for now. “Fine. I’ll take this deal before you come up with something worse.”
“And then you’ll need to leave the City of Thorns as soon as we are finished. Every hour that you’re here is another hour that you risk ending up in the fire pit.”
He turned and pushed a button to make the elevator move again. We started rising, and within moments, the elevator doors opened into the penthouse apartment.
Holy moly… It was like nothing I’d ever seen—a pool inset into a marble floor and towering glass windows that opened onto a balcony. Beyond the balcony, the sea glittered under the stars. A balmy breeze rushed into the apartment, toying with the demons’ long, silky gowns.
The king stood on the other side of the pool, martini in hand. Subtly, people swarmed around him like moths to a flame, eyes flitting to him, fingers reaching out to touch his arm. But his attention was locked on Lydia and one of the dukes.
When my eyes met Nama’s, my pulse started to race. She wore a long white gown that matched her wavy hair, plus earrings that looked like dripping icicles. But despite the delicate beauty of her outfit, her lip was curled, exposing her teeth like an animal about to attack. She pulled her gaze from mine, then smiled at Orion. When he didn’t seem to notice her, she stalked over to him. “Hello, my duke.” Her voice sounded shaky, angry.
Orion seemed to be looking right past her. “You again, is it?”
When a server crossed to us with a tray of cloudy purple cocktails, I plucked one off for myself and took a sip. This one was gin, lemon, and the faint hint of violets.
And as I surveyed the room again, trying to catch anyone’s eye, I was starting to get the impression that people were ignoring me on purpose. This was a demonic cold shoulder.
No one wanted a succubus duchess here. The demons had tried killing me in the woods, and when that didn’t work, they’d try a social freeze.
I pretended I wasn’t listening as Nama started talking to Orion again, but I absolutely was.
“Your new succubus friend reminds me of a mortal sometimes,” she said, as though I weren’t standing right there. “The way she moves. Her slowness.” Her jaw tightened. “You know the fear that mortals have, since they were our prey for so long? I sense that in her. She was wearing something strange in the woods, and she smelled like animal piss. What’s she so afraid of?”
Nama was a twat, but she was a perceptive twat.
Orion flashed her a taunting smile. “She’s afraid of me, I should think. And you should be, too.”
Nama pouted at him, then lifted her chin. “But we’re going to be great friends, you and I. We are alike. Do you believe in a soul bond?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have a soul, Nama,” said Orion. “I’m divine on the outside, I know. But I’m absolutely empty inside.”