Vindicated by Bella Klaus
Chapter Eight
The Angel King rose from the left side of the table and called for a short break. A pair of enforcers came in through a door behind us, wheeling a tea trolley. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes and leaned into Fenrir’s side.
Everyone apart from us rose, making their way to the trolley, which held hot beverages in the kinds of tall silver pots that were a nightmare to keep clean.
Fenrir placed an arm around my shoulders and gave me a tight squeeze. “Cup of tea?”
I shook my head. “Just want to get this meeting over, so we can return to Logris.”
“Same here.”
“Did you ever get to oversee gatherings like these?” I turned to meet his turquoise eyes.
“Nothing quite so political,” he said with a huffing laugh. “But there were always one or two wankers in tribal gatherings who needed all the attention.”
“How many times a year did you get to leave the pocket realm?” I asked.
The Mage Queen reached beneath the trolley’s top shelf to extract a basket of muffins and a plate of Belgian cookies. As she rose, her huge blonde bun fell into her eyes, making me stifle a giggle.
“A few times before and after each full moon, and there were new moon gatherings, along with rituals for every major holiday in the year.”
I counted them off on my fingers. “Candlemas, Beltane, Lammas, Samhain and the four seasonal equinoxes?”
He tilted his head to the side. “More or less.”
“So, you got a chance to leave at least twice a month?”
“Often there was more, and I didn’t always step out to get the sacrifice.”
“Why not?”
“My sister always celebrates holidays with her demons or out in the Human World,” he said. “That was always a good opportunity to walk through the fire to visit my parents.”
“Right.” I rested my head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around his middle, giving him a brief hug.
The smash of a piece of crockery brought my attention to the tea trolley, where the Mage Queen stared down at the floor with her lips parted. As one of the enforcers rushed to her aid, the Fae King gave her a slow round of applause.
“How on earth are these people going to help us?” I asked.
He exhaled a long breath. “Let’s stop Marchosias from rising, safeguard the village, and do something about my sister’s attacks.”
My breath caught. Fenrir hadn’t even mentioned saving his father and stepmother. I would have asked why that was but half the supernaturals in the room had exceptional hearing. I wasn’t about to give King Hades or the Fae King ammunition to become an even bigger pair of dicks.
“It never ends,” I muttered.
He placed a kiss on my cheekbone. “As long as we’re together, we’ll face down our enemies and return home triumphant.”
The other members of the Supernatural Council gathered around the tea trolley, mixing their drinks as though it was cocktail hour. My lips thinned. I understood why the Angel King had proposed a break—the Demon King had gotten upset and looked like he was about to throw a tantrum. But why did they give a position of such importance to that wanker?
Valentine and Mera broke away from the group, carrying cups of hot chocolate. They chatted in low voices, while Mera drank her beverage. King Valentine just seemed to be ignoring his. When she drained her cup, he handed her his, and she dipped a piece of shortbread and gave it a stir. A laugh bubbled from my chest. That was actually really cute.
Fenrir gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I have only a few things to share with these people, then we’re leaving.”
“I can’t bloody wait.”
“Neither can I,” he said with a low growl that made my skin tingle.
Moments later, everyone returned to their seats, still holding their cups of hot drinks. King Hades had a tumbler of an amber liquid that hadn’t been on the tea trolley, and the Fae King sipped from a glass of champagne.
I wondered if the Fae King was copying King Hades or vice versa.
The Angel King cleared his throat. “Let the meeting of the Supernatural Council resume.”
“Good.” Fenrir leaned forward, placing his hands on the table’s surface. “Because I have something to say.”
“We take turns,” the Angel King said, his lips tightening with disapproval. “First, I give an update on events in Green Park, followed by the Demon King—”
“How many of you were under attack since the last meeting?” Fenrir snarled.
The angel reared back. “That’s hardly the point.”
Fenrir slammed his palm on the table, making the two women sitting opposite flinch. “Because Logris is facing one of the biggest threats in centuries, and you all want to talk about matters of no concern to the Supernatural World.”
King Valentine leaned forward. “Let’s hear your update first, then.”
I offered the Vampire King a grateful nod. At least one of the men sitting around the table seemed to have a lick of sense.
“Fine.” The Angel King gestured. “King Fenrir, you have the table.”
“Lunaris was attacked three days ago, but the wards held.” He turned his gaze across the tables, making sure to hold the eyes of every member of the Council. “What I want to know is how demons from the Sixth Faction are infiltrating the wards of Logris to reach the shifter village.”
The Angel King blew out a long breath. “We already told you—”
“As long as my shifters live within the wards of Logris, the entire city needs protection. Protection both from the outside world and from twats like the Demon King who allows invaders through the gates.”
A sharp breath caught in my throat, but I suppressed my reaction. Fenrir was quick to make judgements, and I hoped he was right, or the Demon King really would throw a tantrum.
King Hades spluttered. “From where did you pluck that ridiculous notion?”
“How did a group of hostile demons get through the wards set up by a team of qualified angels?” Fenrir turned to him, his lip curled with contempt.
The Demon King raised his shoulders. “Angel incompetence? Shoddy angel workmanship? Angel malice? The reasons are endless, and they all begin and end with angels.”
“Doubtful,” Fenrir said.
All gazes turned to King Hades, who scowled. “Why does everyone give angels the benefit of the doubt, when Heaven is just as corrupt as Hell?”
“Perhaps if you didn’t go around double-crossing people, we’d have more faith in your integrity,” said Mera.
“Did you allow invaders through the wards?” asked King Valentine.
“This is preposterous.” King Hades shook his head for emphasis.
“May I remind the Council that we have records of all movements in, around and within the vicinity of the wards?” said the Angel King.
“Fine,” King Hades snapped, his gaze turning to me. “Will my guilt provide you with a modicum of satisfaction? I know for a fact you’re not getting any from the virgin god.”
I raised my brows, taking the advice King Valentine gave Mera, and ignored the annoying twit. He could say whatever he wanted. Fenrir and I knew that it was he who wasn’t getting satisfied.
“The last time I spoke to the Council about working with my enemies, I said I would declare war,” Fenrir snarled.
“There’s no need for hostilities between shifters and the other supernatural races.” The Angel King raised his palms. “We will remove King Hades’ authorization from the wards of Logris. From this moment forth, the Council has barred him from entering the supernatural city without express permission.”
Fenrir folded his arms over his broad chest. “What about Lunaris?”
“I never had permission to allow others through those wards,” said the Demon King.
My lip curled, and I turned to King Hades. “Did you try entering our village?”
His eyes softened. “Only to check that Fenrir hadn’t murdered or eaten you. My biggest concern in all my machinations was your safety.”
“Your biggest concern was ingratiating yourself with Queen Hel.” I snorted. “Did she give you that alliance you wanted in exchange for letting her demons through the wards?”
“No,” Hades replied with a sneer. “She lost interest in allying with me when I couldn’t get her people inside Lunaris.”
I turned to the Angel King. “What are you going to do? He just admitted to acting against the shifters.”
The winged man squeezed his eyes shut, making me feel like I was in the first year of the academy again and tattling on the Mondo twins. My jaw tightened. I hated that Fenrir and I weren’t in control of our own village, and I despised that people who were supposed to be our colleagues acted like enemies.
“Apologies for my colleague’s misconduct,” said the Angel King. “I will look into the matter personally.”
“Which means you’ll do nothing,” I said.
He inclined his head but didn’t confirm or deny my accusation. That was an admission that he would do jack shit.
“Why is Hades allowed to cause so much mayhem?” asked Queen Mera. “He makes life difficult for us all.”
“Good question,” Fenrir growled.
“We can add that question to the agenda of our next meeting.” The Angel King turned to the Witch Queen and offered her a gentle smile. “Would you like to update us on the goings-on within Hampstead Heath?”
Fenrir slammed his fist on the table, making everyone flinch. “I haven’t finished.”
The Angel King sighed. “There’s only a limited time allotted for each monarch—”
“Which you wasted on a tea break,” Fenrir snapped. “A being of primordial evil has targeted my mate.”
“Another domestic matter?” the Fae King asked with a yawn.
“He intends to rise from the Sixth Faction and take his place within the Supernatural World.”
Everyone around the table gaped, and my insides roared with vindication. King Hades had once compared primordial evil to the South Pole. Even the most belligerent of bastards wouldn’t allow such a creature to claw its way out of Hell and throw the world out of kilter.
“Did he give you a name?” asked the Angel King.
“Marchosias,” I replied.
He opened his hand, pulled a scroll from thin air, and read through its contents. “I’ve found Marchosias and he is indeed a being of primordial evil…”
I leaned across the table, trying to catch his eye. “What else?”
“It says here that Marchosias is the size of Greater London. Not as large as others of his kind, whose body mass span entire continents, but significant enough to appear in the Compendium of Hell.”
“Is that available in a bookstore?” I asked.
The Angel King continued as though I hadn’t spoken. “You cannot allow a creature like this to invade the Living World.”
“Then we need your help,” said Fenrir.
The other monarch leaned forward in his seat. “I’m listening.”
“Wait a minute,” the Fae King drawled. “Isn’t that the creature who had an unholy alliance with her mother?”
How had that silver-haired pretty boy managed to piece together the truth? I shot him my fiercest glower. “What’s your point?”
He raised a shoulder. “That she should get the task of cleaning up her mess.”
King Hades exhaled an irritated breath. “As much as it pains me, we need to band together to stop Marchosias. Something as large as that will unsettle all the worlds, including Elphame.”
The Fae King bowed his head and stared at the table without another word.
“Let’s see how we can help you,” said King Valentine.
“I’ll do whatever I can,” added Mera.
I cast them a grateful smile and turned back to Fenrir.
“Marchosias is working with a shaman named Grog,” he said.
“Grog Halfdan, who you all saw during my fight with Alpha Gundahar.” I turned to the Fae King. “You remember, the people you bargained with to allow you into the courtroom during Beowulf’s trial?”
He shook his head. “I have no recollection of such people.”
I rolled my eyes. “If this matter wasn’t so urgent, I’d ask the Council to replay the footage from that day, but Fenrir and I have better things to do than waste time catching out liars.”
His lips tightened, but he remained silent.
“Lydia.” The Angel King’s gentle voice pulled my attention back to the other side of the table. “Please tell us what else you need.”
“He marks everyone who agrees to one of his bargains,” I said. “If we can compare the moles or birthmarks on my Mum to Beowulf’s then we can work out his signature.”
Light flashed from King Hades’ side of the table, and someone fell onto their ass with a heavy thud.
“Bloody hell.” Beowulf staggered to his feet. “What am I doing here?”
“We summoned you,” said the Fae King.
“For what?” Beowulf’s gaze landed on mine, and his eyes flashed with the kind of fury I’d only seen on the night of the Wolf Moon Mixer.
I sat straighter in my seat beside Fenrir and raised my chin.
“Beowulf, we’d like to take some forensic photos of your body.”
The former alpha stepped back, his eyes blazing. “So you can see how far your curses have diminished me?”
Valentine rose from his seat. “The Fae King shouldn’t have pulled you across the country like that, but it’s important.”
Beowulf scowled. “Why?”
“That being you bargained with is still trying to find a way out of Hell,” Valentine said.
Beowulf’s gaze darted to mine. “Then you should ask that wolf sitting next to her. Maybe he also bargained with that demon.”
Fenrir growled. “I heard Marchosias made you immortal. That doesn’t mean I can’t rip out your insides with my claws.”
I leaned into my mate’s side and smirked. Smirked because it was me who had happiness, wealth, and status, while Beowulf was stuck in an accursed existence.
My wolf continued to hibernate, his presence not even making her twitch. I gave her an approving nod. Without all those enhancements, Beowulf was a complete and utter loser.
“I had a customer, you know,” he grumbled, his gaze fixed to the floor. “And my cab has probably crashed into the M25.”
“Oh, stop whining,” the Fae King snapped. “You’re lucky to have escaped execution.”
Beowulf bared his teeth. “How would you like to live without the use of your cock?”
“What?” Fenrir whispered.
I leaned into his side and whispered back, “There was no point giving him the death sentence, so I got the Council to take away his wolf, his sheep, and his ability to have an erection.”
Fenrir snorted. “You should have had him hobbled at the knees.”
A pair of enforcers stepped through the door, and walked across the room to where Beowulf stood. The taller of the pair, a dark-haired woman with stern features gestured with her arm toward the exit. “If you’d like to follow us, Mr. Kenneally, we’ll escort you to the hospital where they will examine you for demonic markings.”
His face paled, and his features twisted into a mask of agony. With a sharp nod, he trudged toward the door.
I didn’t bother to watch him leave.
“One more thing.” The Fae King raised a finger.
Beowulf and the enforcers paused at the exit.
“What is…” The Fae King materialized a smartphone and tapped on its screen.
I suppressed the urge to groan. He would probably sit there all day, reading through the nasty comments on Beowulf’s Supernatural Media profile. At one point in my life, I might have wanted to see Beowulf suffer. Now, I really didn’t give a shit.
Right now, I was living my best life. Even with the threat of Marchosias, Queen Hel, and Grog hanging over us like a trio of rusty guillotines. Mum and I were back in our family home, we had restored our status within the pack, and I had a mate beyond my most fervent fantasies.
“Here it is,” said the Fae King. “Could you explain to the Council the definition of a… hobosexual?”
King Hades tilted his head to the side. “A hobo-what?”
The Fae King passed King Hades the phone. “Am I reading this correctly?”
“One moment.” The Demon King materialized a pair of reading glasses, held the handset at arm’s length, and squinted. “I am totally and utterly baffled.”
Beowulf shrank into his leather jacket, his cheeks burning. With his thick sideburns, wavy hair, and squinting eyes, I could now see elements of his former sheep.
The Fae King turned to Beowulf and nodded. “How can a man with a magical castration be any kind of sexual being, let alone one associated with the down-and-outs?”
My lips tightened. Who would have thought that such handsome and powerful men could be such petty bullies? They were just as bad as Frida and her band of skanks.
“Enough,” King Valentine snapped.
The enforcers opened the door, and Beowulf stepped out, leaving the two assholes on the right of the table snickering.
“Captain Zella?” said the Angel King.
The taller enforcer paused. “Your Majesty?”
“Please contact Sybil Gerrison and have her report to the hospital for forensic photography.” The Angel King turned to us, his brows raised. “Permission to pass through the wards of Lunaris to conduct this mission?”
Fenrir growled. “Sybil doesn’t need an escort.”
I nodded. “Call Mum on the phone and ask her to get there herself.”
“All right.” The Angel King spread his palms on the table. “Is there anything else we need to do to help with the Marchosias situation?”
“Grog left runestones in our house,” I said. “My mum has found some of them, but it would be great if one of your angels could come and scour the entire village.”
“They should have done that the day they fixed the wards,” Fenrir growled.
The Angel King folded his arms. “Wardmaster Mozos looked for demonic artifacts. I expect she ignored all the shamanic relics because shifters employ the assistance of shamans.”
I bit down on my lip. He was right, but since our biggest enemy had a shaman under his control, we couldn’t take any risks.
“Confiscate everything,” Fenrir said. “We can send someone to sort through them later.”
“King Hades, could you set up a pocket dimension to keep the artifacts?”
The Demon King grunted. “Don’t you think I have enough to do?”
“It will be much worse if Marchosias ever slithers out of Hell,” I said.
“Fine,” he snapped.
The Angel King clapped his hands together. “Unfortunately, we’ve run out of time, and we’ll carry over all other business to the next Council meeting. Is everyone in agreement?”
I held my breath, hoping no one would insist on speaking, not wanting to prolong this gathering for much longer. Fenrir and I had secured the help we needed to deal with our enemies, and I wasn’t about to listen to any more of the Fae and Demon Kings’ posturing.
The other monarchs nodded, including the queens who hadn’t said a single word throughout the meeting. I placed a hand on Fenrir’s lap and gave his thigh a gentle squeeze.
Right now, I couldn’t wait to return to the bedroom to carry on what we’d started with my heat.
He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and guided me up, his hand sliding down my waist. “Let’s go home.”
I turned to him and grinned. “I can’t wait.”
“One more thing.” The Angel King rose from his seat.
“What now?” Fenrir snarled.
My brow furrowed. What was this about? He'd just ended the meeting.
“Fenrisúlfr, you are under arrest for the murder of Pieter Dantic.”
A shard of yellow light shot down from the ceiling, encased Fenrir, and knocked me aside. I stumbled into Mera, who staggered back and bumped into King Valentine.
Fenrir’s eyes bulged. He raised his hands and pressed his palms on the barrier of magic.
“What the hell are you doing?” I screamed.
“Pieter Dantic was a reaper who worked within the Fifth Faction of Heaven. King Fenrir is accused of murdering him while trying to do his job.”
My stomach plummeted onto the floor and rolled beneath the table.
That accusation wasn’t even a lie.
Fenrir had killed a reaper the night I died, but why were they arresting him for it now?
