She nodded slowly, tearing a piece of bread between her fingers. "So we're looking for someone with inside knowledge. That narrows it down to what—the other Death Lords and their inner circles?"
"Essentially."
"Flattering company." She stole another piece of fruit from his plate, her knee pressing more firmly against his. "Any theories on which of your fellow Death Lords might want universal chaos?"
He set down his glass, considering. "All of them benefit in some way. Seraphina gains power when violence increases. Vex feeds on the desperation that comes with instability." He traced a finger along the table's edge. "Caelum positions himself as the reasonable alternative whenever chaos makes the other courts look dangerous. Instability benefits his reputation as the merciful option."
"And Thessa?"
"The Lingering court profits from souls that refuse to move on. Chaos creates more of them."
She was quiet for a moment, chewing thoughtfully. "We've visited Seraphina, Thessa, and Caelum. We still need the Consumed court."
His hand stilled on his glass.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You don't want to take me there."
"Vex is different from the others." He chose his words carefully. "His power works through desire. Through obsession. He finds what you want most and uses it against you."
"You think I can't handle it?"
"I think you're remarkably resistant to most forms of manipulation." He released his glass and leaned back in his chair. "But Vex doesn't manipulate the way others do. He gets inside your head. Shows you things. Makes you want things you shouldn't want."
"Things like what?"
Like me, he didn't say.Like staying in this realm forever. Like abandoning everything you were for the promise of something that will never satisfy you.
"Things that feel true until you realize they've consumed you," he said instead.
She turned in her chair to face him. "You're worried about me."
"Yes."
"Because of Vex, or because of what he might show me?"
"Both."
She grabbed his hand again and squeezed. The contact still sent a jolt through him.
"I survived the Violent court," she said. "I survived your court. I survived someone literally trying to kill me last night." Her thumb traced across his knuckles. "I can handle one manipulative Death Lord with an obsession problem."
"You don't know what he's capable of."
"Then tell me." She squeezed his hand again. "Brief me. Prepare me. But don't try to protect me by keeping me ignorant. That's not how this works."
That's not how this works.As if they had an established dynamic. As if "this" was something with rules and expectations that she had every right to invoke.
He supposed it was. He supposed she did.
"The Consumed court looks beautiful," he said finally, his thumb moving absently against her palm. "Perfect, even. Midnight light, endless luxury, everything designed to appeal to your deepest desires. But it's all hollow. The food never satisfies. The wine never fills you. The pleasures never end because they never actually complete."
"Sounds exhausting."
"It is. That's the point. Vex feeds on the wanting, not the having.His entire realm is designed to create desire that can never be fulfilled."
"We go together," she said. "We stay together. We don't let him separate us." Her grip tightened on his hand.
