Chapter 18

  Devil In A New Dress

  Outside Everton’s chambers.

  Fury’s four bodyguards had gathered for a full reunion, all in human form, leaning against the wall with vacant expressions.

  Roma turned toward Freya.

  “Let me ask you straight… that little princess—she strong? I can smell the demonic beast in her. It’s strong. She’s not ordinary.”

  “Not that much,” Freya replied.

  “I heard you almost got killed by her…”

  Valencia, the red-ponytailed, bat-tattooed woman, cut in instantly—making Freya’s face twist.

  “News travels fast, huh?”

  “You… got taken down. That’s fact.”

  “…In human form,” Freya growled.

  “I didn’t even have time to shift back. Her ice exploded faster than a finger snap.”

  “Still no excuse for failing to protect the prince… pathetic…”

  “You fat-faced bat, are you looking to die?”

  Valencia only shrugged high, smirking at the corner of her lips.

  “If I’d been in your place, it wouldn’t have gotten that far.”

  “No one needed to be there in the first place.”

  That shout came from Casca Saint-Maximin—yelling from far away, but her ears picked up everything.

  “Exactly,” Zeedee lifted her chin proudly.

  “Because now I’m the prince’s wife—”

  Before she could finish, Casca’s palm whipped in and smacked her mouth right in front of everyone.

  Valencia’s eyes went wide—she’d heard that right.

  “What did you say?”

  (You idiot!!!) Casca hissed in Zeedee’s ear.

  (Why the hell would you go bragging about that?!)

  (Why can’t I?)

  (Because if they find out you squeezed your way in, all those jealous bitches will be lining up to come after me, that’s why!)

  (!!)

  Exactly—if Freya could manage it, why couldn’t the other Diablo females? Everyone wanted offspring with strong genes.

  If they saw that persistence worked on Casca, they’d try the same method themselves.

  And that was exactly what Valencia was thinking.

  “What do you mean… wife? You’re not… the Crown Prince’s fiancée.”

  “Uh… well…”

  “Done.”

  Luck was on her side—a perfect interruption came as Fury and Nora exited the bedchamber.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Snap!—both hands.

  In a flash, Fury returned to Dan form.

  “Casca, would you take Nora out?”

  “Went well, did it?”

  “Seems so.”

  Dan rested his arm on his hip.

  “From here on, it’s his problem.”

  He placed a hand lightly at Nora’s back.

  “I’ve got to stay here. Casca will take you out the same way she brought you in… See you later, Nora.”

  The next day.

  Sunday, early afternoon, Nora’s private chambers.

  She sat at a table on the balcony, sipping tea. From her dormitory’s vantage point, Allianz Port was a distant speck, so far it looked tiny…

  The Diablo’s black steel ship was still moored there, unmoving, no more than a speck of dust in the distance.

  Casca Saint-Maximin was no longer in Artheris. Ever since she’d brought Nora out, she’d left again on personal business—rumored to be in Mathema, though no one was sure for what. She wouldn’t be back for another two or three days.

  “Your Highness,” a maid entered to announce,

  “The Snowhaven delegation has arrived.”

  “Mm.”

  Nora nodded.

  It was time.

  The princess’s personal carriage delivered her to the front of the Snowhaven embassy. An honor guard opened the door and escorted her inside, where people lined both sides to greet her.

  She passed elegant snowflake carvings, and the imposing, intimidating guards.

  Knock knock

  “Princess Nora has arrived.”

  The embassy maid cracked open the door to admit her—

  Inside were Snowhaven’s top negotiators, including Empress Ophilis XIV herself.

  “Mother.”

  Nora bent her knees, bowing her head in Snowhaven fashion before standing straight with her hands clasped behind her.

  The Empress and her people turned to face her.

  “Paul.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Paul—Snowhaven’s lead negotiator, one of the key figures in the delegation.

  “Princess Nora, there are a few matters I must brief you on before you join the Five Kingdoms meeting.”

  He led her to a separate reception room. Nora followed, listening closely.

  “You may attend court functions and observe various social events, but this conference will be unlike any you’ve taken part in before. Do you understand?”

  “I understand well.”

  Her voice was calmer than expected.

  “And I understand that we are about to meet the Diablo in person.”

  “You’ve never seen them before. You may be startled. My duty is to prepare you for that encounter.”

  His tone grew more serious.

  “Especially this time—besides the Second Prince, we’ve been informed that Crown Prince Fury himself will attend. We must not show Snowhaven’s weakness in the slightest. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  Paul had expected her to be nervous, pressured—yet he was surprised to see how composed she was.

  More than he’d anticipated.

  “Princess Nora, I know defeating Iskaryx yourself must have boosted your confidence… but the Diablo are an entirely different breed from such beasts—especially Crown Prince Fury. I urge you to keep your demeanor calm. Do not show malice, not in your eyes, not even in thought.”

  “Yes, Paul.”

  The elders probably thought she believed that killing Iskaryx meant she could kill a Diablo—and that, as a hot-blooded youth, she would bear ill will toward them.

  They were only slightly mistaken.

  Paul nodded, leading her back to rejoin the negotiation team. The princess stood straight, hands clasped, as the elders discussed matters. Her eyes drifted to the stacks of documents—Scenario A, B, C, D, each with decreasing likelihood…

  Negotiating for Diablo aid in such delicate matters required meticulous preparation. Letting them walk freely in Snowhaven could spark mass panic—but doing nothing was impossible, with Shadows still lurking.

  If Snowhaven asked for help, the Diablo would demand compensation—and from there, it became an art to secure favorable terms.

  “Princess Nora.”

  She turned to see a man she hadn’t met in some time.

  The Raven.

  “Mr.Raven? You’re here too?”

  “Your Highness.”

  The tall man in a black cloak edged with raven feathers said,

  “A matter of national importance—I had to come.”

  Nora gave a small nod, then glanced back ahead.

  “Mr.Raven… who do you think will attend the negotiations?”

  Barring Casca—since she was in a feud with Luminus—

  “Almost the full roster, I’d say… but President Steelers will be there for certain.”

  President Fofana Steelers of Mathema.

  “And what’s their situation?”

  “You met Casca, I take it?”

  “Didn’t break the house, did we?”

  “Almost,” she admitted.

  “I thought so… Casca’s letters to me were full of curses.”

  “I’ve seen the real thing—it’s worse than her letters.”

  “Still as fierce as back in our school days.”

  Raven smiled faintly.

  “I’ll join the meeting now, Princess.”

  With that, The Raven left.

  Nora’s gaze drifted out the embassy window… From here, she could still see Fury’s ship, no bigger than the white tip of her pinky nail.