“Wait, Rui—”
Nikai gestured for her attention, but the mirror had gone dark. He was left standing in the throne room of the Fourth Court, trying to make sense of what he had heard.
“Blue flames, blue flames...” he repeated to himself.
His spine pulled taut. He couldfeelthe Tenth King’s presence before he saw him.
Knees suddenly weak, Nikai turned around.
Ten was sauntering into the throne room, shuffling a pack of cards. His hair was disheveled, fair strands escaping from the now-loose ponytail. Once a rich red, his robes had turned drab. Even his skin looked stretched and sickly.
Ten never visited, choosing to oversee the Fourth Court from his own kingdom. But today he passed Nikai and draped himself onto the throne. Nikai’s hands tightened by his sides. The throne belonged toFour.
Reluctantly, Nikai bowed. “What brings you here, Your Majesty?”
Ten lowered his chin, peering at Nikai in an unnerving manner as he continued to shuffle his cards. “Was that Rui’s voice I heard coming from the mirror?”
Nikai sensed a layer of hostility under Ten’s lazy purr.
“I instructed you to keep an eye on the girl,” Ten continued, “but I do not remember telling you to contact her directly. Yet here you are, talking behind my back, exchanging information, and hiding it from me? You have broken my trust, Reaper. And that is a dangerous thing to do.”
Nikai gulped. “I’m not hiding anything. I’m only trying to help with the search, Your Majesty.”
“Go on then, tell me what you learned,” Ten said generously, but his eyes glimmered with malice.
“Why did you lead Rui to believe she only needed to look for a human with a strong spirit core? Why didn’t you tell her that Four would store his power in a vessel from the start?” Nikai said instead.
Ten’s lips stretched into a serpent’s smile. “Call it... a hunch.”
“It seems like you were the one hiding something all this time, Your Majesty.”
Ten’s smile twisted. “How bold of you, Reaper.”
He approached, looming over Nikai. There was something quietly unhinged in the King’s eyes. He flicked a card at Nikai’s face. It hit his cheek. Landed on the floor. The king of spades.
“Have you heard of this game humans play—poker?”
“Y-yes.”
“Then you must know that you should never show your hand until the right time. And you must know cards can be replaced, especially when they may spoil your hand.”
Nikai heard the threat in Ten’s words. “Rui can conjure blue flames,” he said quickly.
To his surprise, Ten did not react. “I already know.”
“How?”
“I have made some associates. Very useful associates.”
... let me make the deals I need to...
“That’s why you’ve been visiting the human realm so often—who have you been making deals with?” Nikai demanded.
“Oh? Someone’s beenspyingon me.” Ten smiled coldly. “I guess the trust never went both ways in the first place. Pity. You see, Reaper, I must be careful with every step I take. I mustn’t scare my brother away. Those who seek him shall never see him, remember?” Ten patted Nikai’s cheek. “I am afraid I no longer have a need for you. I cannot take my chances with a Reaper I cannot trust. I will send you away for a while.”
Fear filled Nikai’s soul. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I didn’t mean to—”
“Quiet.” Ten cupped his chin. “Do not worry,Nikai. The place I am sending you is nottoodark.”
