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“I thought you didn’t remember.”

Layala huffed and took another drink of ale. She should throw this drink in his face and walk out. But then she’d get no breakfast, and it was her favorite meal of the day.

“It wasn’t just jealousy that made me react that way when Lily had her hand on your, you know. It was completely inappropriate, not to mention assault. She deserved what I did and more.”

Hel’s brows rose in surprise. “Agreed.”

“And if it were the other way around, you would have done worse.”

He chuckled. “No doubt.”

“Was that the first time you said you lov—” she clamped her mouth shut. That was not a discussion she wanted to have.

He looked at her knowingly but only said, “Better slow down on the ale. I don’t want to have to carry you back.”

“Don’t tell me what to do. Or maybe I’ll obliterate your mind. Then all my problems would go away. You wouldn’t be dead but not alive either.”

“Gods, you’re mean. I wouldn’t even do that to my worst enemy.”

“Ha, that’s funny.”

The waitress appeared again, and set down the plate of roasted boar, chopped potatoes, and a side of fruit. “Enjoy.” She turned to Hel. “So about later—”

“Look, lady,” Layala started. “As you can see, we’re talking, so come back when we’re done.” Layala was surprised at her own rudeness. Usually, she let things roll off her back.

The girl picked up the mug and tossed the contents in Layala’s face. Cold ale washed down her neck and over her chest, dripping on the table. Fury burned hot and fierce in her chest. Black mist seeped from her fingers, and soon her hands shifted, then her arms. Still keeping their shape but see through.

“Now that was uncalled for,” Hel said. “You’ll have to apologize. I have this thing about people disrespecting her.”

Layala shoved up from the table and half the room stared at her. The waitress just threw a drink in her face. She was dripping wet and now they waited for her reaction or waited to see what Hel would do. She wanted to punch her, choke slam her onto the table, and scrambling her mind almost filled her with delight, but then the waitress said, “What’s wrong with your hands?” Shadows drifted from her fingers; the room began to dim as if the sun had gone behind the clouds.

Revealing to everyone who she was when they were supposed to be hiding from the council and a demon prince was not the best idea.

Stay calm. Make her apologize,Hel said in her mind.

Layala cut Hel a glare… was this training? Maker, it wasn’t to get her to use her power, it was to see if she could restrain herself.

She pushed her magic down, thinking of the time she stood in the summoning circle, took a deep calming breath, and turned her glower on the waitress. “Bow and apologize. Now.”

The waitress narrowed her eyes, looked over at Hel and then back to Layala. Hel took a pull from his civar and watched patiently.

Layala swiped her sleeve across her face to clear the ale then pulled out her sword. “You have three seconds. Three, two—”

The girl bowed her head. “I apologize, Miss.”

Now what?Hel asked.Mercy or not?

Gritting her teeth, Layala pushed her sword back into its holster on her back. “Go.”

Layala turned and left the building, taking in deep calming breaths. She stopped in the middle of the road. There were only a few people out walking about and none of them paid her attention, but she found a nearby tree and hid behind it, to test her shadows that came out unbidden. It was time she gained control of them. Her magic hummed and tingled. She imagined her fingers shifting first. Wiggling them before her face shadows crept out and her hand changed to a charcoal black before going unstable.

Feeling like someone watched, she glanced around the tree trunk, and Hel stood against the building, smoking. Leaned back as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Prick. Even if his training methods were unconventional, he was good at them and testing her…Control, little rabbit,she heard in her head from the training sessions back in Palenor.

Getting an idea, Layala smiled to herself. She closed her eyes and felt her whole body shifting. She was weightless, shadow, and she vanished reappearing on the side of the building, forcing herself to regain solid form. She peeked around the corner, and Hel shoved off the wall and trudged to the tree where she previously stood.

“Val?” he called, turning in a circle. The worried lines intensified. “Layala, this isn’t funny.”

She quietly laughed watching him panic and sink lower into the shadows of the building.He must really be worried if he’s using that name. Good.He hurried back into the pub, and Layala took off running in the direction of the manor. If she went fast enough he might not see her round the bend. Two could play these games.