My heart pounded with her choice of idiom. The mention of the white-scaled nismus that prowled the outer desert plains of the realm was too close to home. “I find myself in agreement with Carmine.”
Gratia wasn’t stupid. She sensed the trap. “Oh?”
“A fast conversation is a good one. What do you want?”
The female demon was used to dealing with her brother, but I saw a glimmer in her eyes. “Why are you here?”
“Because I love your brother.”
She grinned, and I had genuinely amused her. Along with myself.
“You loved my brother once. In your weak human way. But not now.”
“I’ve never been human.”
“You behave like a human. You are human.”
I cocked a brow. “There are any number of supernatural creatures in the Earth realm, Gratia, as you know. Most of us live more like humans than demons.”
“I know they are human because they behave like humans.”
Pretty sure humans didn’t transform into wolves, like Luthers, or drink blood like Vissimo. Or trap you in truth, like fairies. Let alone cast charms as a magus might. “You know very little, Gratia, and that is why you put all Earth realm creatures in a box, because you don’t wish to show your ignorance and appear weak.”
Wisps of crimson smoke curled off her skin. Gratia was a powerful demoness in her own right. Crimson scales covered one-third of her body. She hadn’t grown much in power since I’d last seen her, though, which indicated a level of laziness or complacency. The duty of protecting her younger brother was drummed into her, yet she had spent most of her life—even while Carmine was locked away—in the royal fortress. She understood conflict, and had never worked very much for anything.
I’d thought her powerful beyond measure, but now I saw that she lacked the drive of someone who’d endured hardship. Carmine had endured that hardship. So had I. Without a similar test, Gratia would remain the least of herself and not the most powerful. She was still Carmine’s sister, which wasn’t a bad deal in the calculating eyes of this realm.
Gratia circled the back of the couch, and I resumed my stare at the painting, ignoring her. Carmine would be pissed if she hurt me, and I was more than capable of protecting myself.
“The human got claws,” she murmured.
“Would you like to see them?”
“I saw them last night. Embedded in my brother’s arm, if memory serves. You intend to kill my brother.”
It took everything in me not to tense. She’d gone to the heart of the matter. “Am I so transparent?”
“But no,” she mused as if I hadn’t spoken. “That would be suicide. You are mated.”
“Half-mated,” I said despite myself. My grandfather had survived the death of my grandmother, and I was hoping that being half-mated would make all the difference to my survival when I cut off Carmine’s head. But if Carmine’s death caused my own, then yes, I intended to take my own life. Gratia had disregarded my murderous motive because she couldn’t fathom why I’d give my life.
I had two someones to give my life for.
She trailed a crimson fingernail over the back of the couch. “Is it painful, dear sister?”
“Being half-mated? I’ve had worse.”
The demoness paused at that. “I almost believe you.”
Worse was realizing the person you loved had lied to you from the start and killed everyone you loved.Thatwas pain.
My lips curved. “You should. And you, Gratia. Are you prepared for battle?”
“As always.”
I did believe shethoughtthat to be true.
Gratia moved to the cold fireplace and faced me. “Mother will return in two days.”
