“Because you’ll gain power.”
He inhaled. “Yes. For that reason.”
Carmine extended his forearm, and I curled my fingers over his fist. Not long had passed as our footsteps echoed down the halls before he asked, “Are you exploring the links between your magus and demon power, enamai?”
I answered, “I am.”
“What have you discovered?”
I nearly snorted. I didn’t, but it was a close thing.
The demon king chuckled. “So distrusting.”
“Should I be anything other with you?”
Carmine hummed, and in a blur, I was between him and the wall. He brushed my black hair behind my ear. “When you expended all your power,Iwas the one you sought. Deep in your mind or soul and heart, you know the truth. You don’t mistrust me at all.”
That was… misguided and incorrect. “Our interests aligned in that moment, Carmine. You shouldn’t make that into more than it was. In that moment you were the only person who would protect my weakness as if it were your own.”
His lips curled. “You are making that greatlylessthan it is. A demon can depend on no one other than her mate when so vulnerable. There is no one in this realm who would have helped you without condition or payment.”
True.Except for one thing. “Mates shouldn’t come with conditions, and that is why you are the same as everyone else—worse even. You have always come with conditions. If I can depend on you to hide my weakness, then that is the only thing I can depend on you for.”
Carmine considered that and extended his forearm again instead of replying.
Mood. Swings.
I rolled my eyes and rested my forearm on his.
We resumed walking.
Carmine said, “My sister mentioned that you were interested in hearing that my queen holds a position in my army.”
He’d taken the long route to the training halls. So this talk was his real purpose. “I was surprised.”
“A queen is usually the strongest female in the realms. If not, then she is always very strong. Once trained in battle, the choice to include her in war is logical.”
“Except for the part where her death can cause the king’s. Is that why the position is ornamental?”
“There would be great risk in sending her out on the front lines. There has rarely been a queen in a reign when the demon king waged war. Only when we first tunneled here and expelled the gargoyles from our Earth territory. That war did not require the queen to leave this realm.”
I didn’t know that gargoyles used to live in the mountain ranges. But the gargoyles sure wouldn’t have forgotten what demons did to them.
I arched a brow. “Are you asking me to lead your army?”
“That would be my role, as you know. But there could be space for you in my war room.”
He wanted me in his war room. Was he a moron? I was clearly here to take him out.
Carmine continued. “My most trusted are impressed with your ability in the training hall and in the arena. Both in skill and strategy. You outthought and outfought a mob of sixty demons in the last round. The magic you wielded was new and impossible for a mere demon. The output of power was towering. Your new… attitude has given them confidence that you are worthy of becoming my queen. They see possibilities for you now where they never did.”
Impossible for a mere demon.That was the most telling line of all, especially when combined with his earlier questions. “So they wish to see how a demon-magus can be used.”
Carmine laughed, a surprised sound that rumbled in the stone. “They do. Though the extent of your power in general holds equal weight.”
I sighed. “And why do you want me in your war room?”
I’d timed the question perfectly for our entrance.
