Page 106 of With Wing And Claw

‘We’re not going to tell them anything,’ Thysandra sharply cut in. Fuck. The sounds of Naxi’s exalted glee instantly faded into the background. ‘The response to a breach of secrecy is to bemoresecretive, not less. And I’ll be safe enough, thank you – having a demon around is helpful in these situations.’

He drew in a sharp breath, then hesitated – a glimpse of calculation breaking through the concern, as if he was trying to gauge just howmuch chance of success his objection would have. The answer, apparently, was negative. His breath escaped again.

‘Alright,’ he said instead, curt but not unfriendly – and then, so easily she had no time to be shocked or even surprised, his hand came up, landing on her half-bared shoulder in a single firm squeeze. Not a seductive touch. A reassurance, if anything, soldier to soldier,friend to friend– but that didn’t makesense, did it, coming from—

He’d already let go of her again.

‘Let me put some extra guards in place, then,’ he said before she could react. ‘See you downstairs in a bit.’

‘See you,’ she said reflexively, and then he was gone – leaving her to figure out for herself what in the world it had meant, that unguarded, almostamiablegesture. Old friends, yes, but that was a laughable explanation, wasn’t it? Friendship was meaningless. Friendship lasted as long as it was mutually beneficial, and ended the moment it wasn’t – so what was he doing, acting as if there was something likeaffectionbehind his movements?

What game was he playing?

Washe even playing a game? He ought to be, and yet—

‘Sashka!’ Naxi interrupted her musing, loudly, and only then did Thysandra realise this was not the first time her name had been called. ‘Sashka, stop thinking about stupid things andlookat me!’

That was enough to dispel every thought of Nicanor.

Because Naxi was standing between the monstrous begonias and braided heartleaf vines in a dress that— Oh, gods help her.

Perhaps killing High Ladies wasn’t even the greatest of Emelin’s talents.

The dress was amarvel, matte black satin wrapping Naxi’s slight form like a lover’s embrace, puffed sleeves and cinched waist emphasising her delicate build. Dark red rose petals cascaded down the bodice, like luscious drops of blood; they tapered off along the skirt, merging elegantly into the silvery leaf motif stitched along the hem. Nymph-like, and yet not nymph-like at all – there was nothing sweet about this dress, nothing playful or innocent.

In it, Naxi looked like a tiny, sultry monster queen. Like a creature that had always belonged at the Crimson Court.

And only then did it hit Thysandra – that the little menace had made an attempt tofit in.

She swallowed.

Her mouth was suddenly dry as dust.

‘That is the right reaction,’ Naxi smugly informed her, skirt swirling around her slim hips as she turned and danced into the bedroom. The black and silver shimmered with the motion – like a night sky full of floral constellations. ‘Don’t tear it off me just yet, though. What did Nicanor have to say?’

‘He— Oh. Yes. Nicanor.’ It was almost a crime to be thinking of Lord Protectors – oranyoneelse, truly – with a little demon parading before her in a dress that seemed designed to cater to every hungry fantasy that had ever crossed Thysandra’s mind. She shook her head, attempting to gather her scattered thoughts. ‘He … he was just concerned. About me being late. Warned me there’ve been some rumours making the rounds about the people we’re arresting.’

By the wardrobe, Naxi stiffened.

‘It doesn’t appear that theyknowanything,’ Thysandra hurriedly added. ‘Just the suspicion that maybe they haven’t all run off to join Bereas in hiding, but—’

‘But they’re whispering?’ Another sharp turn had the night sky flaring out again. Naxi’s eyes had narrowed to slits – a vigilance so sharp it was almost violent in itself. ‘At the feast?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘At that same feast where a few hundred drunk, bloodthirsty hunters are going to get evenmoredrunk?’ The words stumbled over each other like clumsy feet, hurrying to catch up. ‘With all their weapons still on them and their bodies full of red and black to better attack you –thatfeast?’

The shrillness of her voice was alarming, and sharp enough to snap Thysandra out of her satin-induced daze. ‘Well, I’ll have you there to guard me, won’t I?’

‘There’ll bea few hundred fae there! And no plants!’ A thin, high-pitched laugh. ‘I can handle maybe two dozen of them at a time with just my demon magic, Sashka. Killing whole crowds at the same time is Creon’s level of work, not mine. If they’ve truly caught wind of your plans—’

‘Nicanor will bring in extra soldiers, too,’ Thysandra brusquely interrupted – too brusquely, a hardness fuelled by the dread that came trickling down her spine. ‘And I’m notentirelyharmless myself, you know?’

Naxi plopped down on the edge of the bed, chest moving too fast with her breath, little hands balled into fists in the sea of satin pooling around her legs. ‘I know.’

It did not sound convinced.

‘So we’re going as planned,’ Thysandra stubbornly continued, more steel in her voice now, becausesomeonehad to be sure of herself here. ‘It’s not like I can just stay away anyway. I’m the High Lady of this court, and—’