Page 138 of Hateful Prince
“I don’t think, Chaos, I know. But it’s cute that you believe your threats hold any weight. I’m glad to see that ego of yours hasn’t been impeded by your latest change of address.”
Tingles built in my fingertips, and I could all but see the dragon hurtling through the sky as Malakai gave himself over to his nature.
“It’s happening,” I squealed, clapping my hands gleefully. “Get ready to give your newest roommate a warm welcome.”
“What are you doing with us all, Hel?” Chaos asked, his tone gruff and filled with impotent rage.
“That’s my little secret, handsome. But I’ll tell you this much: I can’t wait to play with you.”
“The last time you played with me, you ended up heartbroken and cut all your hair off. Are you sure you’d like to try that again?” One silver brow arched as Grim sat in the corner of his cell, one knee bent and his other leg splayed in front of him. Casually cool, as always.
I hated him.
No, I loathed him. Hate was too close to love. But sadly, I needed him.
Chaos grinned at his brother. Seeing any of the horsemen smile was a bit like feeling the edge of a dagger run along your skin. There was no kindness in the gesture. No actual joy. Though even I had to admit the effect was staggering. He really was a pretty male. They all were.
The fuckers.
Before I could go down that particular rabbit hole, the cell across from Grim shimmered as reality warped and my next prisoner materialized.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” Sinclair groaned as he pressed his palms against the cell’s wall and took in his surroundings. “I was in the middle of something.”
“Oh, great. Stop the presses. Fucking Famine is here. He’s going to suck the life out of every single being in the room because he just can’t help himself.” Chaos frowned as his eyes remained focused on the newest horseman to join us.
“People will be looking for me,” Sin said, his gaze cutting to mine. “The Apocalyptic Unicorns’ frontman can’t just go missing.”
Grim snorted. “They’re not even relevant anymore. When was the last time you toured?”
Sin shot him a dirty look. “They care. My fans are still rabid. They’ll wonder where I am.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. You had to love the narcissist’s confidence and self-importance. It was the only way they could get ahead. “They’ll write you off as dead and mourn you. You’ll become immortalized in their pathetic little hearts. Either way, not my problem. And it’s not like anyone is going to find you. You’ll be nothing but a husk when I’m through with you.”
That parting shot caught all of their attention. They may not like each other very much, but nothing brought them together like a threat. In that, they were very much like me and my sisters. While not tied by blood, we were united in purpose, our ties forged by the centuries we roamed this realm. We could bicker and pick at each other all we wanted, but the second someone else interfered... well, it was the last mistake they ever made.
Let me tell you, being the sole recipient of three of the horsemen’s undivided attention was truly something. I think I might have been a little afraid. Or I would have been if I wasn’t the one so clearly in control.
“One left. One final piece to collect. That’s all I need to win this game.” Grinning, I strolled around the space, stopping in front of Chaos’s cell first. I touched the magically reinforced glass and felt his power. “The heart of a beast.” I walked to Grim’s cell next and trailed my fingers over the clear barrier. “The will of a god.” Then I stopped in front of Sin’s and sighed happily. “The soul of a dragon.” Tapping my chin, I flicked my gaze to the last remaining cell. Empty, but not for long. “Now all we need is the whisper of a devil. That’s when the fun really begins,” I said with a conspiratorial wink.
Grim snarled and got to his feet as I laughed.
“Now you get it, don’t you, Grim?”
“You don’t actually think you can harvest our power,” he sneered.
“I can and I will. I’m going to start this apocalypse, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop me.” Feeling like an absolute badass, I spun toward the door and gave the three fuming men behind me a cheery wave. “Toodles.”
Chapter
Forty-Two
MOIRA
About an hour earlier
This fucking place gave me the creeps. You’d think after attending Ravenscroft Academy and then doing my post-grad work at Ravenscroft University, I’d be used to the Gothic spires and gargoyles and, you know, looming air of doom. I sure thought I was, but something about Blackwood made my skin crawl.
It’s what my grandmother would have referred to as ‘restless’ and my wife would have referred to as ‘haunted.’