Page 54 of Demon's Bane

“A waste,” Tyvar continues. “Such a useless waste of—”

“Enough,” Rhett cuts in. “This is what we know. And we are going to bring it to the king and queen as well. Joan is friends with Queen Allison, and we plan to travel to their court to tell them. It’s long past time we did.”

A slight grumble works its way around the group, but no one argues the point. Apparently they’re also aware the time for handling it on their own has passed.

“After we get a look at the tunnels,” Rhett adds.

“We?” I ask, looking up at him.

He can’t mean… what the hell do I know about mining or tunnels or any of it?

“We,” Rhett confirms. “You know a bit about what the wielder might be concocting, how he works, yes?”

“I mean, in theory?” I say, another flush rising on my cheeks as I become the center of attention again.

“Then you’ll accompany me.”

“Good,” Tyvar agrees caustically. “Someone should keep their eye on her while she’s in this realm. A Crescent witch can’t be trusted to—”

Faster than I can react, Rhett lunges from my side to grab the front of Tyvar’s tunic and hauls him forward until the two of them are nearly nose-to-nose.

“Be careful what you choose to say next, cousin,” he says on the edge of a growl. “Joan is no threat to you or to any demon here.”

“And how would you know,cousin?” Tyvar spits back at him. “Is it because you’re so very knowledgeable about the mines and how they operate? Because you’ve spent your life working in them? Accepted your responsibility for—”

“Enough,” Alva says, and they both fall silent. “Both of you. Enough.”

Rhett releases Tyvar and takes a step back.

“You and Joan do what you need to,” Alva continues. “Then come to my house for a cup of tea and some dinner.”

Rhett gives his head a frustrated shake. “We were to head to the court tonight so we can speak to—”

“Tomorrow. You will go tomorrow. Tonight, you will give me the opportunity to get to know my new daughter.”

A pang of painful unease rattles through me.

Her daughter.

Alva gives me a conspiratorial smile. “Make sure he comes, eh? He’s never been the best at listening to his parents.”

Not knowing what else to do, I nod. Alva presses a hand briefly to Rhett’s cheek in an affectionate gesture before she turns to go.

The silence she leaves behind is deafening. Tyver is still fuming, the rest of the assembled demons wear expressions in a mix of wariness and suspicion, and I can feel Rhett tensing again beside me as he takes note of those expressions.

I grab his hand.

“Come on, then,” I say, tugging him toward the steps off the pavilion. “We better get on with it.”

17

Rhett

As I walk hand-in-hand with Joan down the steps of the pavilion and through the village, I can’t think of a single damned thing to say.

My shameful display with Tyvar, the stares and suspicion from the village, my mother being… well, my mother. Well-meaning, but certainly not doing anything to give Joan some breathing room during her first hour in this realm.

I cut a glance to my mate, and her expression is shuttered, gaze fixed ahead of her despite the continued stares. I do my best to meet each eye, to silently warn the demons who’ve known me since I was a child to keep their distance and hold their opinions to themselves.