For once I was going to fight for my kind. Duh, maybe... I still have some doubts, but I might as well find out what is really going on. I was already where I was supposed to be anyway.
The thought about Armand will come later. I still need to get away from this realm and figure out what I was going to do with my kind.
Is saving them still an option? It should be, right?
*****
I was dressed in royal clothes, I was presentable and I looked royally beautiful. Though I don't feel as beautiful as I used to, not like the royalty I once had before, not without my wings. Beings were watching me as I was led down the path inside the palatial walls by Nicodemus, some looked at me strangely and I know right away that they were all wondering about my wings.
In all of my life, I've never felt so judged before, the thought of losing my wings never put me in such a situation. And I did not like it, and I told Nicodemus so.
"They're just looking at their future queen, you don't know how long they've been waiting for this day to come." Nicodemus must've felt my uneasiness, so I just nod and keep on walking.
"Save yourself!"
"Don't do it, princess!"
There were shoutings from the assembly of the concubi demons. I could hear Nicodemus growling beside me, telling me to ignore the crowd.
"Maybe they don't want me as their queen?"
"They will be taken care of." Nicodemus turn his head and then silently signaled a couple of his male warriors standing by the demon crowds. A couple of those demons were yanked away with protest and led to the other side of the tower, probably the dungeon. I made a mental note to myself to check up on them, they were the older demons. Maybe they know something cause I was desperate for any kind of information, false and true.
When we reached the royal court that was when I saw the so-called elven king. He was tall, with hair so fair I wonder if he had ever seen a battle in his life. A female elf was at his side, looking like she didn't want to be there. And obviously, Justus and Cato were standing a couple of feet away from the king's throne.
"Ah, there she is, the beautiful Basilea of the concubi kingdom. You are as lovely as your succubus parent, please accept my compliment." The elven king said as he descend from his throne and walk towards where I was standing. I refused to come to him, and Nicodemus had given up nudging me closer without showing that he was pushing me against my will. Nope, that wouldn't look good for his future queen, wouldn't it?
"King Elegast Ingalfur, I present you Princess Basilea of the great Concubi kingdom."
I almost flinched at Nicodemus' introduction for me, the incubus didn't even mention my title correctly but I was not going to correct him. Cause there wasn't any concubi kingdom that I represent and this was all had been such a pleasant joke that I couldn't wait to go home to Armand's. I was about to protest when the king put his hand on my shoulder and welcome me to his side.
The urge to deny him was too great, but I stop my words when he said that he had something of interest to me. "I know you wouldn't make yourself take the throne as my queen, willingly, but I do believe that I have something that will make you change your mind." He paused dramatically, and it took all of my effort not to roll my eyes at him. Luckily, the king continue and I decided to keep my mouth shut. "Your magnificent wings are preserved, they are kept somewhere in my kingdom. And I will let you reunite, only if you play nice with me. Be my queen, and I will give you what you most desire in this whole damned realm."
I watched him carefully, studying his facial expression. Anything I could do to spot his lies.
"You don't trust me?"
"Should I? I watched them burn in front of my eyes." I challenged, but the king was calm as he fill my head with his words.
"How old were you? How in shock were you after having your limbs brutally chopped away from you?"
Even his words still make me wince and my back twitched to the phantom feeling of losing my wings.
"Just as I thought." He smirked annoyingly and I hated myself for not keeping my feelings to myself as his words sunk into my mind.
Did I really see my wings or were those truly not mine and he was telling truth? There was nothing I could do but feed my curiosity. I was on my own, I had no one to get myself out of this clutch.
"Alright."
He was taken aback by how easily I was to accept his offer.
"Don't be so shocked, you already know I wanted my wings back." I spat my words and I could see from the corner of my eyes that Justus and Cato were watching my interaction with their king.
Damn them. Damn them all.
"Wise decision. Justus and Cato will take to your chamber to wait for our ceremony."
"My wings."
"Of course, they too will show you your precious wings."
"Show?"
"Please," the king laughed as if I was demanding something ridiculous. "Don't take me for a fool, you will get your wings back once you're wedded to me." His eyes darken, I could see his predatory expression already and I refused to let myself be judged poorly. I still have my worth, I am still Basilea, and I'm still my own demon.
I know he wanted to mate me for his acceleration to greatness and I needed the truth. I will wait for my wings. I will take care of the rest after I see my severed limbs and think of ways to get out of this mess. I decided to nod and accept my defeat, for now.
"Very well," I replied and he looked pleased with himself, while the female elf beside his throne looked at me like she wanted to end me by throwing the small daggers attached to her royal barely-there attire.
Minutes later Justus and Cato ushered me to my chamber, leaving Nicodemus back at the royal court still talking to the elven king. The incubus demon looked pleased with himself.
Cato left me with Justus who was stationed to guard me from inside of my chamber and told me that he was to guard the other side of my door.
"Tell me, how do you feel after meeting your kind?" Justus asked I assumed trying to dismiss the awkward silence.
"I'm here for my kind. Any elf can fuck themselves." I replied with such emotion that I wished I didn't. I didn't want to create any more problems and enemies than I already have. Cause I did see the look on the elves standing together with the demons. They were not happy about me, they probably thought that the dagger bitch with the thin material that she wore was going to be the perfect queen for their king.
I know the elven king was doing this for his benefit to which he spins it off as if he was rescuing me and rescuing my reign by merging our two kingdoms. I predicted that he wanted more, I just need to make sure he believes my compliance.
If I could save the demons from under his reign and all while getting my wings back it'll be a good ending for me. That is if those demons wanted me to rescue them. I still need to find out the truth about the situation that I'm facing.
Then after everything is done I will go back to my Armand.
The plan was good, now I just need to execute it.