Page 91 of With Wing And Claw

‘Stop him if he makes the same mistake?’ Naxi blabbered on without waiting for a response. ‘Scale up the defences?Is that fae code for “we’re at war with him now”?’

‘It’s fae code for “we’re at war with him but he’s the one in the wrong”,’ Thysandra sourly corrected. ‘Otherwise, yes.’

The scoff she expected didn’t come. ‘So you’re in danger now?’

‘I was in danger already.’ She rubbed her face, then warily looked up. Naxi’s eyes were almost painfully blue, staring at her from three mirrors at once. ‘There’s no such thing as safety at this court.’

‘But you’re inmoredanger now,’ Naxi shrilly insisted.

Gods have mercy – what in the world was this about? It wasn’t new, was it, the notion of deadly risks in this place? Nobody came to the Crimson Court to experience a peaceful vacation, and either way, she’d been clear enough about her intentions when she returned from the Cobalt Court – no more sitting back, and no more accepting the unacceptable.

Really, wasn’t that the entire reason she’d started making deals with demons in the first place?

‘I suppose I am?’ She came away from the wall and ruffled her wings into a more comfortable position, unsure how to proceed in the faceof this unexpected protest. ‘Good thing I have you and your legendary loyalty on my side, then.’

Naxi’s face darkened. ‘I’m notjoking, Sashka.’

‘Then what are you trying to say, exactly? Because I was under the impression we both came here rather prepared for—’

‘You don’t need to do this!’ Naxi burst out, small fists trembling.

Thysandra stared at her.

‘You could just … leave. Couldn’t you?’ There was nothing melodious left in that singsong voice – nothing but shrieking misery. ‘The bastards are making everything worse! You tried very hard already! So why not let them figure out their own mess and get out of here?’

And just like that, it made sense.

Come live somewhere else with me.

‘And move to that idyllic island with you instead?’ she said slowly, hearing the warning in her own voice.

‘Well.’ Naxi’s bottom lip quivered, but she did not back down, did not move from where she stood stiff as a rod by the door. ‘We’re having fun, aren’t we?’

Fun.

Hell take her.

It shouldn’t be painful, the realisation – it shouldn’t be new or surprising or even something that required a reminder at all. Demons chased their fun. Thysandra did not. As easy as it was to work together, as much as Naxi kept her safe for now, there would be no common destination in the end. Theywouldgo their separate ways one day.

Sweet lips and clever fingers be damned.

‘The problem is,’ she said, sucking in a breath as she turned away and paced to the circle of chairs, ‘that I want to do this.’

‘No, you don’t.’ Naxi sounded almost indignant behind her. ‘You hate it. You’re frightened every single minute in this place. You—’

‘Alright,fine. I don’t want tonotdo it – is that better?’ It took an otherworldly restraint to keep her voice from soaring into a shout. ‘I have a lifetime of mistakes to fix. I promise you I’m not going to feel any happier lying on a beach while I know innocent people are dying all over the archipelago again.’

Naxi was quiet for so long Thysandra almost started thinking she might have fainted. But when the demon finally spoke, she did so softly, feebly – almostsadly.

‘So we’re staying?’

‘Well, I’m staying.’ She turned back around, seeing the movement reflected in the mirrors on either side of her – a sweep of gold-black wings, a sway of purple. Naxi still hadn’t moved, blue eyes trained on Thysandra’s face as if to pin her in place. ‘You’re free to leave whenever you decide there’s nothing for you at this court anymore, of course. I would just appreciate a warning so I can account for your absence.’

Cold. Pragmatic. And fine, shewouldregret losing an ally this powerful … but then again, better to have no alliance than to have a former ally working against her. This, too, had no business making her heart twinge so painfully.

That kiss had proven all too well what a hazard demon hearts could be.

‘Alright,’ Naxi said, voice a little choked, and Thysandra’s heart skipped a beat all over again.