“Besides,” Helspira continued, “Her Majesty said even the illusion of your participation would still be a beacon of hope for people. Representing the Cat’s Eye still has perks, whether you invoke them or not.”
Sikras huffed. Theillusion of participation? Of course someone like Saelihn would say that. He parted his lips to speak out on the queen, but clamped his mouth shut.
No. Saelihn’s secret was not his to tell.
“If you need to hear it out loud,” Helspira said to break the silence, “you have my word. I’ll keep an eye on the Red Sentinel and make sure they intend Ben no harm.”
Sweet relief. A heavy sigh dropped his shoulders. He’d only just met this woman. Trusting her with this was far from ideal, but with the pool of candidates at an all-time low, beggars couldn’t be choosers, and she’d already ticked the most important box; she treated Benjamin like a person instead of an abomination. “Thank you. Now, if you’ll allow me, I must apologize for my behavior in the Grand Hall. It’s casual, murderous outbursts like those that Vessik used to prevent me from falling victim to before—” He stopped short, sputtering a miserable laugh. “Nevermind. It was unbecoming. Please accept my offering of remorse and share it with the remaining R.S. members who had to bear witness. Except Rowan. Fuck that guy.”
“You’re ... sorry?” Her head flinched back. “That’s your word for remorse, right? Huh. Somewhere in Chthonia, a river of lava must have frozen over. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a man use that word in the whole of my thirty-three years.”
“Well, you shall hear it now. Punishing the whole for the actions of one is a character flaw I prefer not to emulate anymore.”
A slow smile grew to beaming. “Apology accepted?”
“Excellent.” Exoneration flew from him in the form of a deep exhale, and Sikras laid a hand over his chest. “Thank you, Miss Helspira, and good night. I look forward to slaughtering Vessik’s heathens with you.”
“You can just call meHelspira,Helsif you prefer. And you? Do you favorSikras?Catseye?Mr. Nikabod? Everyone around here refers to you by so many titles.”
“Take your pick. I’ll respond to them all.” His upper lip curled, and he shuddered. “Just, please, notMr. Nikabod. I’ve a certain someone in my life who refers to me as such, and it sends unpleasant shivers up my spine each time.”
“Well, in keeping with the rest of the Red Sentinel,Catseyeit is. Maybe one day you’ll share the story of how you came to earn that fabled power of yours.”
“I wouldn’t exactly use the wordearn,” he muttered absently. “But, sure. Maybe one day you’ll do the same for me.”
Helspira laughed, quick and curt. “Any talents I have are just natural demon biology. I promise, I’ve no power worth discussing.”
With splayed fingers, Sikras fanned his hand out before her. “Nonsense. You don’t see it? The demon who escaped the nightmares of Chthonia and carved out a home for herself in the slightly less-aggressive land of Siaphara? I only recall bits and pieces of Chthonian culture from my wizardry apprenticeship, but you’d have to wield quite a bit of power to make it out of there alive, particularly with your humanity intact.”
A thoughtful pause, a gentle smile, and Helspira stood a little taller. “I never thought about it like that.”
“Yes, well, credit where credit is due. Until tomorrow, then.”
Helspira offered a final nod before she disappeared into the hallway. A softthudensured the door closed, and Sikras smoothed his tunic’s sleeves as he turned around.
“It’s like I never left,” Benjamin called out from under the bed.
Sikras frowned. It would’ve been nice to share his brother-in-law’s enthusiasm, but he couldn’t help but feel an unsettling churn in his stomach.
Maybe it was the adrenaline crash after nearly losing Benjamin again.
Maybe it was the physical discomfort of magical backlash still ravaging his body after that spell.
Maybe he was hungry.
Or maybe ...
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and a chill rattled through his spine. He cast a knowing glance over his shoulder.
And there, a figure appeared, standing in all her robed, cliché glory.
“Well, well, well ...” Sikras spun, arms crossed. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”
