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Chapter forty-six

Nerys

“ V ine,” Nerys said once she was alone in her room.

Qiana had just left the chambers, claiming she was going to visit a friend.

Judging from the solemn knock at the door that seemed to have triggered Qiana’s sudden departure, this wasn’t a social visit.

None of them were going to be frolicking anytime soon.

She scowled at the dark shadow moving across the floor. “I know you’re here.” She called her eyes of stone and faced her demon.

“Where else would I be?” Vine asked. He was picking some sort of flesh from under his nails, flicking the red globs against the wall. Better not to think about where that came from. “Now,” he said, turning to her, “what has you in such a…reddened state?”

“You’ve been talking to Adelyna.”

“Qiana, technically. But yes.”

“Without telling me.”

He stopped picking at his nails and looked her in the eyes. “I wasn’t aware we’re exclusive.”

“We are.”

Vine stepped closer to her, blood dripping onto the floor with each step. He reached out a claw and tapped her nose with each word. “Not. Like. That.” Insufferable ass.

“Then what is it? What are ‘we.’”

“A bit early for that talk, no?”

“Vine—”

“Easy. I help you. I don’t harm you. But there’s nothing to stop me from talking to other women. Or men.” He grinned. “Jealous?”

“Confused.” Living Gods, she’d strangle him if she could. “What game are you playing? Why send Adelyna on this chase for your demon?”

“ My demon?”

“Beleth sure isn’t mine. ”

“Are you hungry?”

“What?” Nerys shook her head, though her stomach rumbled. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of changing the subject. One of these days she was going to banish him herself. And she was going to treasure that memory forever. “Why are you here at all?”

“You know why I’m here.”

“There’s something you’re not telling me.”

“There’s a lot that I’m not telling you.” Vine crossed his arms, making the links on his manacles shake. “And that I’m not going to.”

Nerys’s stomach curled. He had told her he wanted his powers back from Beleth.

That he wanted revenge. He hadn’t done anything to hurt her yet…

Right? He had protected her from Nerine’s demon without being explicitly asked.

But he had also tried to trick her into giving him her blood.

He connived with Qiana and Adelyna. What else was there? Too much. Far too much.

“What is it, sweet roll? You have that look again. Is it your golden prince?”

“Idris?”

“You have another one?”

“You tell me, since you seem to know everything. And stop distracting me.” He was chatty today, even for him. Maybe she could use it to get other information out of him.

“Vine, what happens if I die while we are bound?”

“You’d be stuck with me forever. That sort of bond doesn’t just disappear.”

“Is that…bad?” Shit, Jesta was right.

Vine shrugged. “You tell me. Do you want to have me stuck to your ghost? Forever? Do you think demons want to go wherever you humans get sent to?”

“No…”

“Correct.”

What was she going to do with him? There was a chance she’d die while trying to kill the R?ll.

Did she want to be stuck with him for eternity?

Did he deserve to be trapped with her? Not even the Dahlk knew what happened to humans once they passed beyond the next plane, but it was unlikely demons would enjoy it.

Though the Dahlk also spent a lot of time trying to convince people that the holiest among them could turn into angels of the Living Gods.

Nerys knew that she’d have an easier time winning the village men’s arm-wrestling competition than becoming holy enough, so she never bothered to try .

Vine must have seen something on her face, because he said, “Try to relax, Dumpling. Our bond won’t let me act against you.

Not without more planning than I feel like doing at the moment.

You’re going to have to trust that no matter what I have planned, it won’t affect you.

” He went back to admiring his sticky ruby nails. “Well, not directly.”

“Then why not tell me?”

“Because it will be too easy for you to ruin everything. Besides” ?Vine’s lips curled? “things are almost done. And I have been waiting for what happens next for a very long time.”