“No.”
“If they have ever exploited you in your years away from me, then nothing will save them. Tell me if that happened.”
Understanding dawned on me. “You think I made a deal with them to remain hidden all those years?”
“They dwell closest to the desert.”
Athira had warned me that he knew the location of my hideout. Well, that I’d hiddeninthe desert, if not the exactlocation of my hideout. My new plan hinged on the hope that he no longer had any need to search the desert. Then Adeuto and Owu would be safe.
“I have never dealt with them,” I told him.
His gaze burned into mine. “That is surprising considering that they monitor all comings and goings from the desert.”
They did so poorly. Lazily. There were large gaps in their system that many exploited.
Carmine added, “If I find out you have concealed the truth, they will be crushed, and you will know the regret of lying to me. Until that time, what do you envision for these wardens?”
“I’d like to visit them and let them know that the yellow and her son are under my protection. That should suffice.”
The demon king hummed, and my comfort was rapidly evaporating because this interaction felt like discussions we used to have. The way we would support each other. Offer genuine advice. Listen. Share the burden.
Carmine shook his head. “They could easily take offense. We are not fully mated.”
“Does it matter if they take offense?”
“No one else with enough power wants to warden the outer realms. So yes. They know their value.”
Dammit.“No one would replace them?”
He pursed his lips. “Not without difficulty. I will go and put your yellow and her son under my personal protection.”
And also check the truth of what I’d said.
“If that’s the best way,” I replied.
I did not want him that close to my son.Fuck.
Carmine studied my face, which I kept carefully blank.
“It is. In this,” he said. “Most are more easily swayed and controlled. Consider this a ritual gift.”
“For me? You shouldn’t have.” The sarcastic words were out before I could think better of them.
“I shouldn’t have done many things when it came to you.” Carmine stood. “I celebrate the times when the path is clear, for decades in uncertainty have shown me that clarity is rare.”
And with that cryptic comment, the demon king left at last.
28
“No, it’s better to kill him,” Carmine’s mother hissed.
I’d called her prickly not many days ago. That had been an understatement.
At least I’d dragged her outside before she started snapping and clawing.
She snarled, “I’ll put him down in the desert.”
I tried to banish the horror creeping over me that Athira was so casually speaking about killing a child. “You’ll do no such thing.”
