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“I told you we didn’t get along. What else mattered?

” Vine shrugged. “Would you have believed me, if I appeared to you rattling off a list of names and a desire for vengeance? Unfortunately, Sweet One, I’ve learned the hard way, after centuries of dealing with humans, that one is much better off letting them figure things out on their own.

” He picked at his claws and admired them in the light. “No matter how long that may take.”

“So that’s why you followed me.”

He stopped and turned his face to her. “No. That’s why I stayed .

I knew Beleth was in the process of coming to this world and I resigned myself to eventually being her meal.

How am I supposed to stay at court and get past the R?ll’s demons like this ?

” He gestured to his mangled flesh. “My original plan was to latch on to a courtier, wait until he or she got close enough to the R?ll’s ritual, strike—and most likely die.

Or, more likely die as soon as someone noticed me.

But then you decided to walk into my path. ”

“Lovely.”

“Oh, it is. Lovely indeed.” Vine smiled. “That’s where you’ll help me—I’ll be able to use you to hide until I can get close enough to finally act—and kill Beleth for good and regain my strength.”

Nerys crossed her legs. That sounded believable. It explained why he helped her—he was helping himself. Maybe they really were going to be able to help each other, and then happily go their separate ways. 176

Now, what else could he tell her? Story time with a demon—one where he cooperated—was a rarity. She was going to take every bit of information he’d offer.

“Tell me—how do you know that Beleth is the demon the R?ll is summing?”

“Easy. She has most of my power, which is in the process of coming into this world—it’s a sensation that’s hard to miss. Have you ever seen someone come into a room wearing your clothes?”

“Wha—” Nerys shook her head. “Nevermind. Does the R?ll…know about your…situation?”

Vine snorted. “I doubt it—unless Beleth told him. And why would she? Do you think the R?ll cares about demonic politics?” Blood dripped off Vine’s fingers and he flicked a few drops into the air.

Now it was obvious how his blood got on the ceiling.

“This ritual is my best chance to change everything. The R?ll has begun the ritual to bring her into this world, and so she will be a bit weaker from now until it is complete. Like an animal with its head stuck in a trap.”

“So, you want to get to her while she is still in this in-between state—and kill her.” After so many people had died to bring her here…

“Indeed. Oh, don’t frown. I know what you’re thinking—greedy demons, so many sacrifices. I didn’t kill them. There’s nothing I can do about the dead now. Besides, there’s a reason we have to have blood to cross into this plane.”

“And that is?”

“The wall separating the planes is there for a reason. Life is needed to cross it.”

“Then who summoned you ?”

“No one. I was kicked out by my former companions. At great cost to me.” Vine waved his arm again for emphasis, flapping the skin like a boat’s sail.

“But you’re alive.”

“I didn’t say the blood had to result in death. Grave suffering also works.”

Nerys grimaced. “You really need to sew that up or something.”

“And miss the delightful faces you make? I think not.”

A sigh escaped her. “Delightful my ass. So, you want to find your former friend at the ritual, and…?”

Vine nodded. “Once I’m at the source of the ritual, with her weakened, it will be easy for me to end this and take my power back. And there’s one more thing I should mention in the interest of full disclosure—she’s my former lover.”

Nerys’s eyes widened. Lover? Demons had lovers? Well, baby demons had to come from somewhere. Right? 177

Vine smirked. “So now that you know how much I have to gain from our arrangement, will you help me help you, Nerys? Won’t you do that much for the kingdoms’ sake?”

Nerys clenched and unclenched her fists. She was probably going to regret this, but what choice did she have? And his explanation was enough to make things clearer…

“Yes,” she said. “We will work together.” Vine grinned. “But” ?Nerys held up her hand? “I need you to tell me everything about this ritual.”

Vine reclined and crossed his spindly legs. Yes, he was enjoying this far too much. “I expect nothing less.”

It took longer than expected, but Vine told her what he knew about the ritual—which ultimately wasn’t of much substance.

178 Though it was enough that Nerys was ready to run over and pull at his hanging skin for not telling her the truth sooner.

In short, the ritual didn’t need certain victims by name—it just needed ones of a particular age and appearance.

However, Vine explained that he had no idea how far along in the ritual the R?ll was, since the ritual’s main location—Vine said to look for a table with various gemstones—was well-warded thanks to the multitude of demons the R?ll commanded.

In short, Vine told Nerys information about the ritual and summoning, but nothing that helped her in the interim.

Namely, how to get the R?ll to notice her at dinner that night.

That evening, Nerys dressed in a white gown embroidered in blue that Qiana had chosen for her, and was subsequently festooned in enough lace, makeup, and silver to accent ten non-court women—or one very expensive whore.

There was no putting it off any longer—it was time to meet the court. Nerys would’ve sooner met the person destined to embalm her corpse.

Qiana’s pace to the dining hall, by Nerys’s side, was slow and stately, her face serene, but Qiana picked at the stitching on her cuff—did she have a case of nerves too? She wasn’t the only one—Nerys was beading sweat in places that sweat was not meant to bead.

Hundreds of people adorned in glittering jewels filled the dining hall, dressed in all manner of silks, brocades, and laces.

Now she understood why courtiers referred to Adelyna’s party as a “small affair”—it was minuscule compared to this.

And the gowns here… Some of the courtiers’ clothing was far too tight, while others contained piles of unnecessary fabric and more trinkets than could be found on a peddler’s cart—no one was demure, despite the fact that there wasn’t a bare chest in sight.

Was that an actual sapling in one woman’s hair?

If so, that wasn’t the strangest thing in the hall.

Massive windows graced the entirety of the hall near the ceiling and spanning half the way to the floor, after which carved marble took over.

Crystal chandeliers hung above them, casting their soft light over the crowd.

The space was filled with long and occasionally round tables and covered with white and silver tablecloths, sending faint glittery ripples in the corner of one’s eye. And then there were the people…

The conversations’ tones were vibrant, yet reserved, a steady hum of chatter and plots that roared like bees in a hive. The courtiers didn’t react as a unit when Nerys and Qiana entered—why would they?—though Nerys noted more than a few inquisitive heads turned towards them.

“A little smile,” Qiana chided. “This is not a funeral.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Nerys muttered and blushed. Qiana had Nerys dressed like a sack of flour compared to the other women, something downright dour. Was it on purpose? Of course it was—this was Qiana. Nothing would be by chance.

While the room was obviously filled with courtiers, were there also unseen ones? How many demons were in this room? Based on the amount of Sight Bearers at court, Nerys expected dozens, if not hundreds. 179

The Kor’yitz’s invitation didn’t lie—they were honored guests this evening, and the servant who greeted them announced that there was private audience to follow with the R?ll and Kor’yitz.

A servant guided them to the table nearest the R?ll and his immediate family, just under the raised dais.

While the royal family usually ate as the court stood and watched, like a fine play called The Dining Royal Family , once a week there was a meal where the entire court ate together.

A royal equivalent of bathing with the unwashed masses.

The seat designated for them was at a table set for eight, though it could have held sixteen were it not for the ridiculous number of settings placed on it. So many painted porcelain tubs, vials, and canisters—were they having dinner, or working as apothecaries?

But Nerys had another problem—flatware. With all the excitement of a pupil sitting down for an examination, Nerys sat and faced a battalion of instruments designed for eating.

She poked at a spindly-pronged fork. This one she recognized—for digging poor cooked sea creatures out of their home-turned-tomb.

She bit back a frown as she took in the four glass goblets placed above her plate.

Water goblet, wine goblet, multiple wine goblets?

Goblets for something else? Goblets to hold her tears of frustration?

No matter. She’d follow Qiana’s lead and hope for the best.

Nervously, she took a moment to inspect her dining companions, who were already sitting at the table. They were stuffy old croutons who normally wouldn’t do anything other than ignore Nerys—and then there was Jesta, seated with a few others from Pelia.

Upon noticing Nerys, Jesta stood from her seat and switched places with another in their party after a small exchange. Nerys smiled and her shoulders relaxed. Jesta was a familiar face. A dead one, but familiar.

“How are you?” Jesta asked once they were settled. “Your first days at court have been…memorable, if the gossips are correct.”

“That depends. What did they say?”

Jesta readjusted some of the flatware her companion had disturbed. “Oh, nothing much. Just that you single-handedly banished a demon, saved the Kor’yitz, and immediately became her lover on a snowbank.”