“Not joking!” Kalypso called before slamming the door shut.
Rose squeaked, hands tightening into fists as she closed her eyes in embarrassment.
“What a delight this has turned out to be,” the Horn of Rudiments purred, claws clinking together as Rose popped one eye open. The pink demon truly looked delighted, and that was somehow more terrifying than Kalypso’s promise of violence.
“I’ve had quite enough of that excitement,” Harrox said, pushing out of his seat. “I assume we’re done here after the vote?”
Rosalind stumbled forward, shaking her hands. “Oh,please… you don’t need to do this right now. With everything that happened?—”
“Your motion has no bearing on this vote,” Fineril said calmly, possibly the only one not vibrating with adrenaline after that scene. Well, her and Harrox. “Would you not wish to know that, even without the other human’s threat, it was unanimous?”
Rosalind’s heart jumped. “It… How?”
Fineril let out a soft laugh. “Dear, you think we’ve ever sat this long through a proposal? I think we were all too stunned with your thorough research to cut you short. Truly, it was as riveting as Tarzul’s exit.”
To her shock, it was Harrox—who had already packed up and left his seat—to fill in. “Yes, yes, it was… compelling. If you’ll excuse me, I’m still interviewing for a new assistant.”
Rosalind felt like she’d barely blinked, and then the council was being dismissed and devolving into side conversations. Someone patted her on the shoulder in congratulations, and Argeth was showing off his part of her proposal, where Culture was dedicating funds out of thegoodness of their hearts. Mozke was in the middle of it, and Rose caught their eye as they tried desperately to break away to get to her.
There was elation and relief, and Rosalind wanted to scream and dance and run to the demons waiting at home?—
Ice pierced through her insides. When the distraction of work and her proposal was no longer consuming her, the dark, endless feeling took itsplace again.
Her body was numb, legs trembling as she walked toward the nearest exit without seeing it. Made it all of two steps outside before the cold climbed her throat and stole her breath.
She didn’t care who was around as her hands clawed into her hair.
It wasn’t fair. Wasn’t fair that she could have so much joy and happiness and not be able to share it with both of the demons she loved. She would go home to Lazerath and he would be enough, but how could she be happy when they were both so lost in a darker misery? When the other piece of them was gone?
A hand rested at the small of her back, and when there was no prick of claws, Rosalind let them guide her blindly until moonlight fell over her skin and the fresh air of Heck filled her lungs. She managed to take a full breath, recognizing the blurry outline of city hall behind Kalypso.
Quickly, Rose swiped at her eyes, hiding the tears from the warrior.
“Would you like me to sever their tails?” Kalypso offered, hand shifting to one of the blades at her belt.
“No, gods, no.” Rosalind sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “The proposal was accepted.”
“So you’re having a panic attack because you did a good job?”
“Don’t trivialize this.”
“Not in the slightest. Panic isn’t always rational; I’m just trying to understand who I need to maim.”
Rosalind pressed a hand to her heart as it thumped erratically, wondering if she could survive without it. It already felt like she’d lost it. “Maybe me.”
Kalypso glanced down, expression shifting like she was actually contemplating removing the organ, then shrugged. “I believe Ozirax calls thishaving emotions.”
Somehow, Rosalind’s next breath was easier. “Um, that’s… not just a demon concept.”
“I’m still undecided on the topic,” Kalypso said with a shrug. “So, I’ll need a name or a basic description. I can figure it out from there.”
“I’m terrified you’re serious.”
“I’m terrified you can’t tell I am.” She perched next to Rose’s on the wall, looking out at the city. “He broke your heart, then?”
Rosalind cocked her head, unsure how this woman she barely knew could have read her so easily, then decided she didn’t care when talking to another human was probably something she should be doing more often. “Some demons were assholes to him, and he decided what was best was him leaving us.”
“Us?” Kalypso gave Rose a once over.
