As swiftly and silently as they had appeared, the staff leave, and I waste no time in fully appreciating the labor of the chef.
“There is more to courtship than sexual interest,” Lilith says, finally finding her voice as I spear the severed corner of the potato—tritato?
I doubt that’s what it’s called, but that’s what I’m going to call it. The pleasant flavor of garlic and herbs greets my tongue.
“You’re the one with the strange tradition,” I counter through my chewing. “Demons don’t go around announcing who they want to bed throughlettersandgifts.” I wave my fork at the flowers.
“Ves, this is worse than a courting gift,” Eve says as she cuts into her eggs. “Courting gifts are subtle. This is a—”
Lilith clears her throat, interrupting Eve, and Eve pauses, lifting her dark brows high.
“If you do not tell her in the next sentence, I will,” Eve says, leveling a cold, firm stare across the table.
“Tell me what?” I glance at Lilith beside me.
Heaving a sigh, Lilith lifts her left hand between us. There’s nothing notable. No scar, no runes, no markings. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be looking at.
“I don’t understand,” I say and take another bite of my food.
“Fenryn visited last night to offer me this.” She wiggles the finger with a silver band upon it. The large, square cut emerald flashes. “A gift ofsilver,” she says.
“But it’s not a courtship gift?” I ask, trying not to sound confused.
Her face grows incredulous. “You…” her brows crease. “Do you not—how do demonsmarryin the hells?”
“Marry?” I nearly sputter my mouthful of eggs onto my lap. Swallowing, I set my fork and knife aside. “You’re married?”
To Fenryn?
The Sovereign King of Sol Fenryn?
The mountainous fae Fenryn?
I have questions. None of which are delicate.
“Not quite,” Lilith laughs. “Right now we’re akin to being engaged.”
A human practice.
Thepromiseto wed.
“But now I truly do wonder how demons marry,” Lilith says and she sips at her water. “Is marriage common in the hells?”
My eyes swing to her. “No,” I answer. “And it’s always via contract. The terms of the marriage, including duration, are always bartered beforehand.”
Lilith’s face pinches. “Demons predetermine how long they’ll be married?” She sounds bewildered.
“Marriages are nothing more than a political tool,” I reply. “One used to merge or split Houses. There’s always one side who stands to gain more than the other.”
My marriage contract with Kassil is proof enough of that.
With a small, disbelieving shake of her head, Lilith says, “The process here is much different. We marry for love, or because we’re Fated. Though that’s not to say political marriages don’t exist.”
“Which is yours?” Eve asks, her keen eyes watching Lilith closely.
“For love,” Lilith answers softly with a matching smile. Her smile fades. “It’s a touch heartbreaking to hear demons don’t have the same romantic inclinations as fae.”
“Romantic?” I scoff a laugh. “We prefer our entanglements carnal.”
