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“And what’s that?”

“Plant evidence of the general’s murder on Lord Barlas. He was seen talking to the general at the ball, and the man has it coming.”

With that, I walk inside the manor, leaving the three of them to clean up.

WHENERYX FINALLY COMES TOfind me, he’s wearing one of his new pairs of pants. It’s a simple black pair but sewn in a fashionable style. He wears a white long-sleeved shirt, rolled up to his elbows.

“Hmm. Yet another reason why one should own more than two pairs of pants,” I say.

“To replace pairs that get ruined after murder?”

“Precisely.” I grin.

Eryx is astonished. “How can you joke about this? You clearly know I just killed someone. That doesn’t have you fazed even slightly?”

“I’m sure you had your reasons.”

“I think perhaps you should see a doctor.”

I arch one brow.

“Something is wrong with you. You don’t react in fear when you know a literal monster is standing across from you. You don’t blink at the thought of murder. I’m starting to thinkyou’renot human.”

I scoff as I look around my parlor, then reach for my teacup. “Maybe you’ve just never trusted anyone with your secret. Of all the people who have figured it out on their own, how many rejected you?”

“Including you? Two.”

Sarkis must be the other one.

“That’s my point, though,” I say. “I don’t reject you because of what you are. I hate your role in my life. That’s entirely different. Besides, we’re here to change that. You need to learn to trust me.”

“If you were to break that trust, you could ruin everything.”

“Your petty revenge schemes rank low on my list of priorities.”

“Is that what you think I’m doing? Killing men who hurt my feelings?”

“Is it not?”

Eryx grits his teeth. “General Kaiser was a selfish prick who treated his men worse than dogs. Good men died who didn’t need to because he was given far too much power with little supervision.”

Power that Kallias Maheras gave him.

“And now you’ve set that to rights.”

He nods proudly.

“Did you mean to kill him? Or did you let the monster out?” I ask, even though I already know it was premeditated. I’m covering my tracks, lest he suspect I found where he’s sleeping.

“It was intentional.”

“Has it ever… not been intentional?”

His silence is answer enough.

“This is why you need me. I can help you.”

I expect him to argue or flee from the room without another word. Instead, he surprises me. He sits opposite me, on the second sofa across the tea table.