Shadow's Seduction(76)

She could do everything from orchestrating an ambush to constructing a trebuchet—in theory.

“You have three innate advantages that are even more valuable,” Nïx said. “You can read and write his language.” Among many others. They came easily to her. “You developed mental blocks against mind reading when growing up.” For protection at the insidious fey court. “And you are his mate.”

Shock gut-punched Lila. Mate??? She reeled on her feet, latching onto the balcony railing. “No way. There’s no way fate would connect me to one of those monsters.” The thought arose: Maybe my fascination with Pandemonia isn’t so curious. But she quashed it.

“You’re the Devil’s Own’s own,” Nïx said, her eyes glimmering. “You’ll go to hell and use that connection to garner information from him—plans for upcoming battles, details about his alliance, and so on. I’m especially keen to learn about Orion, the Møriør’s leader.”

Go to hell? Reading about and visiting were in no way the same.

Saetth said, “As soon as you’ve uncovered weaknesses, we will extract you.”

Lila’s palm sweated through her opera glove as she gripped the dossier. “You want me to be a spy? This mortal realm is bad enough, but at least I’m not damned.” And mated!

How could fate have screwed her over like this? Lila’s tiara must be on too tight. She’d cut off circulation to her brain or something.

Saetth’s lips thinned. “When I first heard Nïx’s plan, it sounded as if I’d be sending a lamb into the lion’s den. But the demon will be compelled by his instinct to protect and care for you.”

“And also to claim me.” Nausea churned at the thought.

Nïx said, “I’ve assured Saetth that the demon cannot and will not hurt you. Abyssian’s tender feelings for you will make it easy to coax secrets from him.” She tapped her chin with a pink claw. “Of course, you might have to encourage those feelings. . . .”

“Encourage? You want me to seduce a monster, one among a group of them that I’ve hated and feared my entire life? This just gets better and better!”

“You don’t have to go all the way.” Nïx winked. “Just a great deal of the way.”

Aghast, Lila asked Saetth, “You wouldn’t mind another male’s hands all over me? A Møriør touching your future queen?”

He exhaled, as if he found her attitude tiresome. “Perhaps if I were a demon myself. But I’m better than that. I know this is the only logical course, and I’m not ruled by primitive instincts.”

Nïx collected more cotton candy for the bat. “Speaking of instincts, Abyssian might be turning a jot more demonic of late. But with the Accession coming around, who isn’t—am I right? Just be sure to stay feisty with him. He’ll like that.”

Feisty? At times, Lila nearly choked on her rage toward the Møriør.

Saetth said, “If there were any alternative, I would undertake it.”

Nïx’s gaze flashed to him, and Lila could have sworn a spark of . . . animosity lit the Valkyrie’s eyes.

It passed so quickly, Lila thought she’d imagined it. “I just wanted to come home,” she said, though the opportunity to plot against the bogeymen did hold some appeal.

When she thought of the endless nightmares she’d had about them—waking to her own scream, still feeling the fey-slayer’s arrow in her chest—fury surged.

And Saetth shared much of that blame. He’d sent her to the mortal realm with only a few belongings. No ID, no money, no way to contact him.

Early on, she’d rationalized his behavior: My parents did try to kill him.

But lately, she’d decided to call a dick a dick.

“Accomplish this mission,” Saetth said, “and you will come home. As my queen.”

Lila had three pie-in-the-sky dreams: to live safely in Sylvan, to be the queen, and to start a family that would also live in safety. A distant fourth was the hope that she’d fall in love one day.

Saetth could make three of her dreams come true. He was a means to an end.

All she had to do was give up any sappier hopes. As a calculating fey royal, I should have no problem doing that.

“You know we will do well together,” Saetth said. “With your ingenious mind and my ruthlessness, we will be unstoppable. Which means Sylvan will be unstoppable.” Gazing down at her, he said, “We’ll celebrate your success with a wedding. You’ve always wanted your own family. You could welcome our babe before the year is out. We’ll get started on that upon your return.”