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I shifted nervously, my palms sweating as we waited for a reaction. I had no idea what the parchment might say, but at least with Sebastian here I might stand some chance of not getting stabbed. He could at the very least create a distraction for the rest of us to get to the portal. Though I would need to figure out how to snatch Ringo back first.

Fiorus finally lowered the parchment. “This isn’t possible.”

Sebastian stepped closer to me, and all the swords followed him. “I assure you it is.”

I slid my eyes toward him, hoping for some sort of explanation, but his attention remained on Fiorus.

Fiorus lifted the paper, glancing hesitantly at the guards, then back at Sebastian. He lowered his voice. “Where did you get this?”

If I had someone looking at me that intensely, I would have flinched, but Sebastian merely smiled. “Perhaps you’d like to speak of this privately.”

“I do not even know who you are. Why would I speak withyouabout this?” He encompassed me and Crispin in his attention. “Anyof you.”

“If we were not here to help,” Sebastian said, “I could have taken that parchmentelsewhere.”

The parchment crinkled in Fiorus’ hand.

I glanced at Crispin, but it was clear he also had absolutely no idea what was going on.

“Fine.” Fiorus’ eyes lifted to the guards. “Leave us.”

The guards hesitated, their swords lowering just a fraction. And I couldn’t blame them, I was entirely baffled too. He was actually going to speak with all of us unguarded? Including a devil who could poof in at will?

But at his glare, the guards obeyed. The one with Ringo dropped him lightly on the ground, then followed the others. As they left the dome and shut the door, I could hear them muttering amongst themselves. They didn’t go any farther than that.

Fiorus looked at each of us. “They are gone. Now speak.”

“Everything Eva has told you is true,” Sebastian said. “She is a bleeding heart and came here with the intention of saving your daughter from the poisoner.”

“Hey—”

Sebastian rolled his eyes to me. “Do you truly wish to argue?”

I crossed my arms and pouted. “I guess not. But wanting to save a young girl doesn’t make me a bleeding heart. It just means I’m not anasshole.”

Sebastian smirked. “Either way, it has led us to something far more interesting. Fiorus’ brother was not cursed, he was poisoned by a devil.” He turned his smirk toward the nymph. “At the behest of Fiorus himself.”

The room went so silent we could have heard a pin drop. Instead, we just heard Ringo’s claws on the floor as he tiptoed over to me.

I expected some form of denial, but Fiorus simply shook his head, “Who else knows?”

“At least two of your people,” Sebastian replied. “They found that parchment in your chambers.”

Fiorus visibly paled. “Where are they now?”

“I have detained them.”

“Why would you help me?”

That was exactly the question I wanted to know. Sebastian didn’t helpanyonefor free.

“I want the name of the devil you hired.”

My brows lifted. By the gods, I had so many questions.

“Fine,” Fiorus huffed. “But I want to know how you came to be in my realm.”

Sebastian looked bored. “Eva can explain that if she wishes.”