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I lead her down a side hall that spirals lower, the walls inscribed with faint runes for illumination. She steps carefully, boots echoing on the stone steps. We reach a wide archway opening onto a large chamber. A basalt slab juts from one wall, shaped into a bed-like alcove. Another stone bench sits near a brazier that glows with violet flames.

“This is one of the less inhospitable rooms,” I say. “I rarely host guests, so accommodations are sparse. You can sleep here. The wards keep out intruders, though you should remain alert.”

She looks at the basalt slab, pressing a hand to its surface. “Cold,” she mutters.

A snort escapes me. “Better than a muddy alley or an elf’s prison cell.”

“That’s not saying much,” she retorts, but she doesn’t refuse.

I turn my back, scanning the corridor behind us. The Trolvor lingers at the corner, eyeing her with catlike curiosity. A glare from me sends it scuttling away. My wards will ensure it doesn’t try anything foolish, but demons are unpredictable.

When I face Valentina again, she’s examining the brazier’s flames. Her brow furrows. “No wood or fuel. Is it purely magic?”

“All of it is,” I confirm, stepping forward. “Chaos flame, drawn from my power. It renews itself unless I will it to cease.”

She studies me, her expression unreadable. “You built this entire fortress with that same power?”

I incline my head. “Over time, yes. My illusions and from other Soz’garoth blood allowed me to warp the basalt. Enough prying into the art of shaping let me carve wards that shield me from most scrying. Yet the contract can still choke me if the King demands it.”

She stares, lips parted slightly. Questions swirl in her eyes, unasked but tangible. “Is that what happened in the ritual chamber? When you fought them?”

A scowl tugs at my features. “Partially. I overcame it there because your presence caused the magic to falter. I still don’t fully understand how.” My gaze intensifies. “But I will find out.”

A flicker of apprehension crosses her face, and she tucks her coat tighter around her body. “You keep saying that. How exactly do you plan to figure it out?”

I consider her for a moment, then gesture for her to sit on the stone bench. She hesitates but complies. I lower myself to a crouch, wings folding tight against my back, the stone floor cold beneath my knees. My horns cast long shadows on the wall.

“Show me your arm,” I say, voice low.

She draws back, wariness spiking in her eyes. “Why?”

I let out a soft snarl, meant more as impatience than a threat. “I need to see if there’s any outward sign of your blood’s nature. A mark, a rune, something that might hint at your lineage.”

She sets her jaw, but eventually extends her arm. The faint scars from whippings and shackles mar her skin. I run a claw lightly over a bruise, prompting a slight wince. Nothing overt stands out except the bruises and older scars. No hidden glyphs.

“Your eyes,” I murmur. “They’re a strange shade. Metallic silver. Humans typically have brown, blue, green… rarely something like this.”

She tenses, pulling her arm away. “I—I’ve been told that before. Some said it was a birth defect.”

I press my lips together, studying her face. She’s no fragile flower. The shape of her features, the subtle glow in those irises under certain lighting—something sets her apart. “It could be a sign of a demonic ancestor,” I muse, though it’s not conclusive.

She rubs her arm, clearly unsettled. “You don’t know for sure.”

“No. But the archivist we plan to meet might. Don’t forget that’s our next objective once we enter the city again.” My tail flicks in frustration, scraping the stone floor. “In themeantime, you’ll remain here. I don’t want you wandering the fortress alone, or venturing outside and triggering the wards by accident.”

Her expression flares with defiance. “I agreed to your terms, but I’m not a prisoner, am I?”

I straighten, letting my height loom. “You are under my protection—and my control. If you roam without caution, you’ll endanger both of us. My lesser demons might interpret it as weakness on my part for letting you do as you please.” A low hiss escapes my throat. “Disobey me, and they may see an opening to challenge me. That leads to chaos. So, for now, you stay put unless I accompany you.”

She scowls, but I see the flicker of understanding. This realm isn’t a safe haven for her, not unless she’s with me. Reluctantly, she nods.

I stand, ignoring the ache in my muscles from the trek. Summoning a bit of chaos flame, I let it swirl around my hand, forming a small orb of light. “I’ll return in a moment,” I say. “There’s something I need to do.”

Her eyes narrow. “I’m supposed to trust you’ll come back?”

A humorless smirk tugs at my lips. “Where else would I go? The elves want my head. Besides, you’re more valuable alive than dead—for now.”

She releases a small exhale, as if disappointed but unsurprised. “Fine.”