“Yeah, I’ll have to see,” Ember finally said into the silence, offering Aofe a quick smile. “Thanks for the offer.”
“We’ll let you get back to your evening,” Kizros said to Ember, still ignoring Severath’s piercing attention. “Sorry again about Attie.”
They said their goodbyes then walked in silence to their table, which had luckily not been cleared of theirpurchases. Kizros didn’t have to wonder long when Aofe would finally break that fragile silence.
“Okay, I have to know,” she said, hands braced on the wooden table between them as she stared him down.
Kizros steeled himself for the potential questions. The flowers he’d been slowly matching to her hair. The show of possessiveness in front of Severath and Ember. The fruit that she was so obsessed with.
Aofe’s serious expression morphed into excitement. “Do you think they’re…” She made a crude gesture, sticking one finger in and out of a circled hand.
Kizros blinked, then snorted a laugh. “Absolutely not. Severath is in charge of gathering evidence for her murder trial, not that I think she’ll be held responsible. He’s likely been monitoring her every action, making detailed reports about everything she says, and…”
He trailed off as Aofe placed both elbows on the table, cradled her chin in her hands, and blinked innocently.
Completely unaware Attie’s tongue was stealing bits of meat off the skewer she’d set down.
Kizros rolled his eyes, but he was smiling as he shook his head. “They are absolutely fucking.”
16
TIPPING POINT
Aofe
Aofe breathed through the pain as she sat down, barely setting her crutches aside before Attie was there. She nuzzled into Aofe’s lap, rubbing her chin over her thighs like she knew Aofe couldn’t massage those muscles herself.
“Thanks, sweetie,” Aofe whispered, resting her hands on Attie’s head.
It was embarrassing how hard she had been breathing just to hold in any grunts that Kizros might have heard as they walked the stalls. Each booth had something to stop for: an art piece that reminded him of something from the shop or his past, or a demon who knew him personally.
And Kizros had so many stories to tell.
Each time she finally had the courage to ask him if theycould leave, he’d spot something and launch into another animated retelling. All Aofe could picture were his family members, shutting down his enthusiasm and dismissing what he had to say. She remembered how dejected he’d been at that dinner and thus kept quiet.
Just a few more things to see.Make it to the next booth, and there’s a bench. He’s so happy—don’t ruin this for him.
But that was dozens of booths ago, hundreds of steps, if not more, and to make matters worse, the crowds weregrowing, not dwindling, this late into the evening. Finding a bench had been a boon.
“There’s one of those humans.”
“Violent creatures must be drawn to one another if she’s attracted an atteapir.”
“That’s the defective one working at Perennial Bloom. That’s why I switched to Tholvich’s shop.”
She didn’t look up, but she could feel the stares as demons walked past. Some made poor attempts to hide their whispers, others plainly called them out. Mostly the latter, now that Kizros wasn’t with her.
Attie whimpered, and Aofe buried her hands into the creature’s silver fur. “Shh, it’s not worth it.”
While she’d known not to pick a fight with Tholvich for reasons other than the words he hid behind, she didn’t have the energy to fight these demons with her own wit. And even when Kizros returned from whatever had distracted him this time, she wasn’t going to risk anything that might upset him.
Not after the flowers.
Not after his display in front of the other demon.
Not after everything he’d done for her that she was starting to suspect might not be as innocent as he made it seem.
It happened so fast, not even Attie had time to react. One second, Aofe was sitting on the bench. The next, her world was flipping. Her arms tightened around Attie’s neck, and on instinct, her legs kicked to find purchase. Pain flared, and then she was taking Attie’s weight to the ground with her own.
