Chapter 174

Chapter 174
Aeron
The goddess hidden in the corner of our balcony has kept Isla's attention for months now. Whenever I'm home, which is often these days, she'll draw the curtain so the entity outside won't see se us.
Then these are times, when my bride is feeling particularly vengeful and cruel, that she'll open the curtains and let Persephone watch us. Isla has taken orgies lately, nothing inbluding other men, and she's always looking at Persephone, her gaze fixed on the goddess, as if she's taunting her.
It's not healthy. It's not kind. It's not normal. And there's nothing I can about it, because Isla is an adult, and if she wants to taunt to an ailing goddess with her thriving sex life, who am I to get in the way of that?
Some days, she will feel pity for the creature she's keeping here, other days it's hatred, but it's never apathy.
Today, it's pity. True, brutal and painful pity. "Is there a faster way to kill her?" Isla asks.
"I thought you enjoy enjoyed torturing the fae goddess, after all the suffering she wrought upon this world. I believe your precise words were, 'even if she has to sit there for two centuries, watching us enjoy life, it still wouldn't be enough.'"
"I did say that," Isla agree. "I just don't want to be that person. I can't learn? I can't grow?"
I laugh softly and kiss her. I know exactly when to stop. When she's so wet I can smell it on her panties, and her breath is racing past her lips like a hurricane.
Tonight, it's just the two of us. No audience. No extra women.
I know vampires who'll do anything to have a bride who'll adapt this fast to being a vampire, but I am not a fan of how quickly she's embracing her new life. I'm selfish. I want to enjoy her, keep her to myself, a little longer before I start sharing her.
Hand in hand, we walk from the room. I am hyper-aware of Persephone's eyes on me, and I don't care as much as I should. I really ought to move the ailing goddess to the dungeons, perhaps the atrium for a little sunlight every so often, but Isla won't let me.
The fae goddess did nothing to my bride, not as far as I can tell, but for whatever reason she feels the need to make Persephone suffer. When I ask her about it, she's elusive and just says that Persephone is getting what she deserves.
Valeria is waiting for us in the throne room. Washed, hair braided in the style of her people, wearing a beautiful silk gown befitting of a queen. Her territory is only a few days from here. I am lending her my best horses, my best carriage, and my second-best guards. The war might be over, but there are still people who want me dead.
"I solemnly swear to be loyal to you and your kingdom, King Aeron."
I nod curtly. "I expect nothing less. Nicolette will stay with you for a while." I look over my shoulder who approaches us with a mean, sarcastic little smile. "Once I am satisfied that you can be trusted once more, she may return home."
"I am in need of a new bride," Nicolette quips. 'My last two were... bitter disappointments. What are the humans like in the East?"
"You will find them to your liking," Valeria says.
Isla snorts softly. "Nicolette has high standards. It's unlikely that she'll find anything you have on offer to your liking."
She's in a mood tonight. We all are, but Isla is in a particularly dark place. It will be good for her to visit with her son. She bonded with him in way I never could and never will. I loathe him as much today as I did a year ago before he became vampire.
"Take some guards with you," I tell Isla. "And preferably one of my brothers. Michael, perhaps, and go visit with our son." I glance at Michael who is scowling at me like I just murdered his puppy. "Michael will decide if Morvahn is ready to leave the dungeon or not."
"Why not me?" Isla asks and pulls her back straight, jutting out her chin at the same time.
"You are his mother. You hare biased. That is to be expected. It is known," I say.
"It's true," Nicolette answers. "Even me... with my diluted blood bonds... when it comes to my children, I am not full to be trusted fully."
"Fine," Isla gives in, but I have a feeling it's not fine, and later she'll be giving me an earful over the way I undermined her in front of everyone.
As soon as they're all gone. Valeria with her escort, Nicolette who is too young, with her bride, Michael with Isla, and it's just me, my father, Hakon and Samuel left in the throne room, I turn speak of Persephone for the first time. "She's just hanging out here, living on my balcony," I say.
"Vladimir came here with her," Samuel says. "Maybe he's wants to save her."
"No." I sit on the dias and spread my legs wide. "No, I get the distinct feeling that he's afraid fo her. That he fears she'll use him to bring these... creatures into being."
"Can he even do such a thing?"
I shrug. "We have to assume that he can."
Einar sits next to me, tapping his teeth with a knife. He's been in a batter mood these last few weeks. He doesn't swell on Idun as much as he used to, and he's taken himself a human companion. I often see them walking in the garden together. "The festival of Saturnalia is coming up," Einar says.
"We haven't observed it for centuries. Too many deaths. Our human stock is simply too low."
"But it is when the planets align. My best guess is that it would be the day she works her magic."
My father is right. The druids and mages gather. When the planets align the magical forces are greater and it's when those who need it will gather to perform their spells.
"If I were you," Einar goes on. "I'd move her to the dungeon. At least until Saturnalia has passed."
I nod in agreement. "It will be good for Isla too. She spends every waking minute with the old goddess."
Hakon slaps my leg. "She will die soon and all this will be over."
"You don't know that," I counter.
Hakon stares into the distance, as if he's looking at something in the future. "I do know, brother. The end of all of this is in sight now."