The hallway was a blur of black silks ruffling as the Empress, Kizari dragged Zaliyah toward her private wing.
But as the heavy oak doors of her chambers slammed shut, the violence vanished as quickly as it had arrived.
She released his hair, and instead of a blow, she offered a sharp, ringing giggle.
"Stand up, little lotus," Kizari commanded, smoothing her own impeccable robes. "You look quite pathetic on the floor."
Zaliyah pushed himself up, his purple eyes flashing with a mix of confusion and lingering fear. "You... you aren't going to kill me?"
"Kill you?" Kizari arched a thin, dark brow.
"And ruin such a pretty face? Oh, no. You're exactly my type. I'd much rather see you thrive than watch Malachi break you too fast. He has no subtlety."
Zaliyah stared at her, stunned. "you dragged me by my hair through the cold stone Hallway just to tell me this ? I am the one who was just forced into your husband's bed!"
"Oh honey," she teased, circling him like a beautiful shark. "We'll need to teach you royal etiquette first. Disrespecting the King and Queen on your wedding day? It's just not the way things are done." She reached out, caressing his white hair with a surprisingly gentle touch. "You could leave this palace if you wanted to. You could even teleport out of here, if you actually practiced your craft instead of acting like a helpless victim."
Zaliyah rolled his eyes, his old fire returning for a second. "Great. Now I'm a pet to both the King and the Queen."
"Careful," Kizari warned, though her smile remained. "I like you, so I'll send a tutor to teach you how to draw your powers out-the art of opening portals to different realms. But for now, you look like a mess. And you didn't even know his name, did you?"
Zaliyah stiffened. "The tanned bum? Why would I know his name ?a visible look of disgust plastered on his face .
"The 'tanned bum' is a Sovereign, dear. Did you really flirt with a man without knowing his status?"
"I didn't flirt with him," Zaliyah sneered. "The Empress need not lie to make a point."
"What do you call that rendezvous in silence back at the residence?" Kizari countered, her blue eyes dancing. She sighed dramatically, turning to the shadow by the door. "I'm a little tired, so my head guard, Ryuna, will handle the introductions."
"Introductions?" Zaliyah asked, baffled.
"I wasn't done talking!" Kizari snapped playfully.
Beside the door, Ryuna-a woman , with a short mohawk, dark brown eyes, tanned skin, sharp bat-like teeth and a lethal aura-hissed toward Zaliyah.
She looked ready to obliterate him for his interruptions.
Zaliyah shivered in disgust, but Kizari waved a hand. "Calm down, Ryuna. He's new. He doesn't know the laws yet. If he dares to breathe without my permission later, we can turn his head into a wall ornament for one of those lowly concubine. For now, take him to his quarters."
Ryuna led Zaliyah through corridors that felt like the bowels of a beautiful hell. "Well, this is worse than the human world," Zaliyah muttered.
They arrived at a grandiose chamber that reeked of ancient royalty. The floors were polished copper green, and the bed was draped in silks the color of a bruised twilight.
Huge arched windows looked out over a sky that remained a permanent, haunting noir.
Waiting for them were hundreds of maids carrying trays covered in fine silk-jewels, oils, gold , diamonds and perfumes. The sight hit Zaliyah like a physical weight, reminding him of when Karas would return from trips and fill his room with gifts until Riru whined about it becoming a warehouse. But there were no tears left to cry. He was on his own.
"The Empress feared you could barely do anything on your own," Ryuna said, her voice like grinding stones. "She has gifted you two personal chamberlains."
Two figures stepped forward: a man and a woman who were clearly twins. The man, Harun, was pale , tall and chiseled, his face was graced with sharp facial features. His hair, a messy fringe . The sister, Iruna, had long, brown hair which complimented her darkskin, her eyes were grey just like her brother's, she had softer facial features, a full burst and willow-thin frame.
"Are they related?" Zaliyah asked.
"Twins," Ryuna replied. "Harun used to be a knight in the King's Ghostly army. Now, he is your shadow."
"A demotion?" Zaliyah mocked. "From a knight to a babysitter? Is he satisfied with that?"
"His life is a debt to the Empress," Ryuna said coldly. "He dares not disobey. His sister, Iruna, is poison-resistant and possesses impeccable powers. She is your eyes and ears."
"So the Queen put talented spies in my room," Zaliyah rolled his eyes.
"Do not sully her name! You are unworthy, yet the Queen is drawn to you," Ryuna barked. "These two have soul-binding ties to you now. If they betray you, their souls will shatter into ten thousand pieces. Their only purpose is to protect you."
"And what do they get in return?"
"They get to see you every day," Ryuna said, before bowing stiffly and leaving.
While Zaliyah was bathed and stripped of his wedding filth, the news of the "Human Consort" spread through the Demon Realm like a plague. In the lower markets, three-eyed demons and winged harlots gossiped shamelessly.
"A human? In the King's bed? Surely his blood tastes like sour milk!" one cackled.
"I heard he has hair like a dead man and eyes like a witch," another whispered. "The King must be cursed to touch such a creature."
Back in the palace, Zaliyah was finally dressed in light, white robes-his true color.
His golden lotus pin was back in his hair, and his gold earrings caught the dim light. A thin veil covered his face-an explicit order from Malachi to keep his face hidden from the court before the royal banquet.
He walked graciously, Harun and Iruna following like silent ghosts, until they reached the stasis chamber.
He arrived just in time to witness the horror.
The sorceresses were gathered around a struggling human prisoner-a common thief caught in the human realm . As they chanted, a brilliant, terrifying cord of golden light was ripped from the prisoner's chest and forced into Karas's still body.
Karas's corpse jerked violently on the ice.
His skin flushed for a second, then went pale again as the magic settled. The prisoner slumped into a pile of gray ash, and the sorceresses filed out, their work done for the day.
Zaliyah rushed to the dais. He fell to his knees, his veil fluttering as he caressed Karas's face. "Karas... please," he whispered, his voice thick with a memory.
"Do you remember the day you found me? You thought I was a goddess. You promised we would see the world beyond the walls. I'm in that world now... but you aren't here to see it with me."
He leaned down, his forehead touching Karas's. "Wake up. I've sold everything to keep you. Don't make me live this nightmare alone." A single tear hit Karas's cheek before Zaliyah wiped his eyes and stood up, his heart turning to stone.
In a separate wing of the palace, Lady Ailla stood amidst the ruins of her bedroom.
Everything was in flames-the tapestries, the bed, the vanity. She had been the one to hunt Zaliyah, thinking she would deliver him as a trophy and gain the King's favor.
Instead, he was now a Consort, untouchable and elevated.
"How?!" she shrieked, her face contorted in rage. "He was a stray! A half-breed!".
Her chamberlain stepped through the smoke, untouched by the heat. "Calm yourself, My Lady. This is better for us. He is no longer hiding in the human world. He is right under our noses. In this palace, accidents happen every night. Being a Consort just means he has a prettier grave."
Ailla stopped, a slow, toxic grin spreading across her face as she watched the fire consume the last of her silk. "Yes... a very pretty grave indeed."