Page 119 of Demon's Bane

“We’ve met,” I say dryly, and her smile widens a little.

“And I bet she made a great impression?”

Not wanting to offend my queen, I shrug. “She has an air of authority befitting her station.”

Allison’s laugh is short and startled. “Well, don’t let her hear you say that. She’d probably take it as the highest compliment.”

Despite myself, the corner of my lip twitches. An unlikely, unnatural feeling, and one that flees immediately when the queen speaks again.

“I’ve been so busy here, I haven’t tried to come back and see her. Joan, I mean. I just… left. When everything happened with Eren. It was always the two of us against the world in Beech Bay, and I just… I just…”

“She has people,” I say softly, and her distraught gaze cuts to me. “In her shop. With the other witches who come and gather there. She seems… very happy there.”

Allison nods. “I know. And even though I’d selfishly love if she came to live in this realm full-time—”

Her words cut off as an unfamiliar voice calls out from the doorway.

“Your majesty?”

The demon standing there is one I recognize from the night of the ball, but I’m not sure if I ever got his name, or if I’d even be able to remember it if I had with everything that’s happened since.

“Felix,” Allison says, standing. “What is it?”

Felix gives me a brief nod before addressing his queen. “A report from the commander stationed in the village regarding the capture of the human wielder and the demons he was working with. They’re waiting for you in the council chamber before proceeding on next steps for dealing with the prisoners.”

Allison hesitates before she answers, looking to me. “Would you like to accompany us there? We would appreciate your perspective in—”

“I’ll stay here,” I say, quieter this time, but no less resolved.

The queen’s expression softens and she nods. “Of course. We’ll be back with news when we have it. And Vayla or Soleil should be in shortly to check on her.”

Soleil. The name of the black-haired witch. It settles idly in my mind as Allison and Felix depart and I slump back into my seat at Joan’s bedside.

Prisoners. Punishment. Justice being served.

Does any of it matter?

In the wake of everything else, I can’t make myself believe it does.

Unless it’s news of Halla—of which there’s only been word that she’s still recovering, still out from the dirty hit Gorver got on her—I could not care less about anything happening outside these walls.

The next few hours pass in much the same way. Periodic visits from Vayla and Soleil to check up on their patient. More long stretches of listening to the rise and fall of Joan’s breath, counting her every heartbeat.

When the sun has just begun to set, weariness finally takes its toll. I lean forward to lay my head on the mattress beside her and find her hand, drawing it to my lips.

“Wake soon, Joan,” I whisper, imploring her. “Wake soon and give me the chance to make all of this right.”

“Rhett.”

I snap awake, panic immediately coursing through me as I realize I’ve been asleep.

Another day has passed, one in which I haven’t gotten more than a few stolen minutes of sleep at a time, and my mind is clouded with exhaustion, struggling to catch up.

Scrambling upright, that panic recedes when I see Joan still resting peacefully, but shame creeps up to take its place. I shouldn’t have slept, shouldn’t have been so careless to—

“Rhett.”

Finally becoming aware of the demon who spoke my name, I turn to see the king standing in the doorway.