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“What business do we have today?” Eren asks him.

“Petitioners, as always,” Felix says. “And I’ve summoned Vayla, as requested.”

Something sparks in the other demon’s eyes at the comment. I’m not sure if it’s amusement or challenge; demon emotions are still a little hard for me to read.

“What say you, wife?” Eren says into my ear. “Would you like to stay here as my distraction while I tend to the business of my court, or tuck yourself away in the archives?”

I snort. “I think I’d rather be useful.”

“I find great use in having you here.” His hand comes down to cup my breast over my dress and I slap it away.

“Beast,” I mutter.

“Yes,” he says, wholly unashamed.

He gives another wave and the crowd parts again. A female who I can only assume is Vayla steps forward. She seems mostly demon, but with a distinctly human softness in her features. She has pale skin, blue eyes, and raven-black hair that falls in a straight curtain almost to her waist. Her wings are tucked in tight, and the horns that curl back from her head are thinner and more intricately spiraled than Eren’s. She’s beautiful.

“Majesties,” she says with a dip of her head.

“Vayla,” Eren says, “May I introduce you to my wife, Allison Ashblood.”

“A pleasure,” the demon says with a placid smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “How may I be of service?”

Whether Eren notices her frosty greeting, I’m not certain, but he doesn’t show it in his reaction to her. I cut a glance to Felix, and for a moment, all the boisterous teasing has left his eyes. He’s looking at Vayla with a quiet contemplation on his face, one he quickly smothers with a smirk when he catches me staring.

“I would like you to show Allison to the archives,” Eren says, “and walk through the work you were doing with Emilia around the bargain and the Veil.”

“Of course,” Vayla responds, tone even softer and cooler. “I would be honored. Does the queen consort wish to see the archives now?”

“She does,” I interject, not comfortable being spoken about as if I weren’t sitting right here. “Thank you for your kind offer.”

Vayla only inclines her head, taking a few steps back and waiting for me to follow. I look at Eren, and his hand tightens on my hip.

“You’ll send word if you need anything?” he asks.

There’s a crowd of demons waiting at the back of the hall, the petitioners Felix mentioned earlier. I shrug. “It seems like you’re going to have a busy day.”

Eren tugs me closer. “And there’s no duty in this realm that could keep me from your side if you have need of me.”

“I’m going to have to learn to function on my own here,” I retort. “Besides, I’m sure I can handle a day in a library. Unless you’re going to spring a horde of demon children on me to tear books down from the shelves and wipe their sticky little fingers all over the pages?”

“Off with you, then,” he says, licking his bite again.

Giving me a little boost up, I’m still knock-kneed from his attention to his claim mark, and glare over my shoulder at him. He looks pleased as ever as I regain my composure and follow Vayla out of the hall.

Chapter 18

Allie

Leaving the throne room with Vayla, I do everything I can to look as calm and collected on the outside as I'm feeling scattered and afraid on the inside.

There’s nothing but nods of respect and faint calls of good wishes as we go, but it might as well be jeers and shouts with the havoc it wreaks on my soul. All these people—these demons—looking at me with hope in their eyes and kind words on their lips like I might be the answer to their prayers. It makes the weight in my chest get heavier and the sharp fear in my gut more pointed as I realize just how many will be affected when my laughable bit of magick can’t do anything to make an actual difference.

In contrast, I’m almost thankful for Vayla’s surly silence.

Eren mentioned she’s some sort of sorceress. Maybe she’s already got a beat on my magick, or lack thereof, and she’s irritated she has to waste her time on me. Or maybe she’s just a grumpy asshole. Whatever the case, I’m glad for the distraction.

Vayla’s got at least four inches on me, so keeping up with her longer strides is a challenge as we make our way from the throne room. We leave through a side door that branches off into another corridor leading deeper into the mountain. The corridor breaks off into another, and another, all of which Vayla navigates with practiced ease.