Confusion pinched his brow as he looked across the room at the only two demons not reviewing Rosalind’s last point.
Argeth, who had helped her craft the motion.
And Harrox, the Horn of the Guard, who had signed off that morning.
Tarzul’s skin lost a little color as he looked away from the retired warrior, bouncing back to the other councilors who were either still shuffling through the papers or slowly turning their glares toward the Horn of Finance.
“What?” Tarzul frowned, then dove for the packet he’d failed to review, whipping through the documents trying to find what had caused the shift in the room.
“My final point,” Rosalind said over his frantic shuffling, “is unrelated to my proposal.”
She knew the moment he found the first page—a long list of his funding delays and roundaboutlaws that had directly impacted the human contracts in Heck, including the clause that would have put Aofe in harm’s way if Kizros hadn’t taken his complaint to his father. Something Rose hadn’t expected to be the driving change for the other Horns but enticing enough to get them to flip to the next page.
Where handwriting samples matched one forgery. Then the next. Then the next. Diagrams of bylaws referencing texts that never existed or pointed back in a loop. Receipts and forgeries, including those he’d used to pin the blame on his nephew, proving that the Horn of Finance was skimming off the top of every department in Heck.
For what? Rosalind hadn’t been able to get that close, but that wasn’t up to her to find out now. She’d gotten her evidence.
The side door in the chamber opened, and a terrifying giant purple demon with spikes entered, followed closely by three other bodies, one which filled Rosalind with knee-shaking relief.
Kalypso wore a smug smile as she trailed Ozirax, the male warrior clapping a hand down on Tarzul’s shoulder before shoving him back in his seat.
The Horn of Rudiments cackled with glee.
“It seems,” Argeth said, inspecting his claws, “we are in need of a vote on the human’s final point.” He shot her a wink. “Rosalind’s motion to dismiss the Horn of Finance and have him arrested under charges of fraud, manipulation?—”
“Please don’t read this entire list,” Fineril groaned,pinching the bridge of her nose. “The first is plenty to have him arrested. The rest will be read at his tribunal.”
Tarzul’s eyes nearly bulged from his face. “You can’t be serious.” He squeaked as Ozirax hauled him to his feet. “You’re taking thishuman’sword? These are all forgeries! Lies!”
His last word became a whimper as Ozirax flared his forearm spikes under the Horn’s chin. “Please, resist arrest. Spicy likes a little violence as foreplay.”
Rosalind blinked, realizingKalypsowas the one being referenced, not the giant red female or the equally large gold male warriors standing a few feet back.
“This isn’t over,” Tarzul growled as he was hauled back.
His finger lifted, presumably to point where his glare pinned Rosalind to the spot, but then a snapping sound echoed in the chamber.
Tarzul let out a howl before cradling his broken finger to his chest, but he seemed to know better than to say anything as Kalypso returned her arms to her sides, like breaking a demon’s finger was the most boring thing she’d done all day.
Chatter erupted as the former Horn of Finance was led out of the chamber. Rosalind hadn’t really expectedthatmuch drama, but now she was grateful Harrox had the forethought to prepare guards outside the door for this moment.
“You good?”
Rosalind startled as Kalypso appeared at her side.
“Oh, sure, yeah. Normal politics stuff.” Her voice was an octave too high, but she smotheredit with a smile.
Apparently it wasn’t convincing as Kalypso’s mismatched eyes narrowed. “Wasn’t talking about that bastard.”
Rosalind tilted her chin up, suddenly wondering if she’d gotten the violent woman all wrong. “I thought you wanted to be the one to drag him out kicking and screaming?”
“The porcupine was starting to get on my nerves. His ego needed it more.”
“He does look like a porcupine,” Rosalind muttered, which made Kalypso smile, and that was also surprising.
A throat cleared, the councilors finally settling, and Kalypso nodded before turning to them. “The art district proposal? It will be unanimous or you should sleep with one eye open.”
The human turned and strode for the door, leaving Rose scrambling. “No, no, she’s joking.”
