“I HEARD THAT TOO,” my demon snapped.
The servant looked seconds away from death. Meanwhile Nina had already wandered directly toward the food trays with zero survival instincts. “Okay but Hell apparently cooks.”
“That is your takeaway from this.”
“There are pastries.”
I moved toward the windows while the room buzzed with chaotic palace energy behind me. Far below the palace, the city glowed beneath silver fire and crimson light stretching endlessly into darkness. It was both beautiful and strange. But not home.
For the first time since arriving in Hell, the realization hit quietly instead of dramatically. I didn’t belong here. My demon appeared beside me carefully a second later. Not touching. Just standing close enough that warmth settled beside me naturally.
“You’re thinking too loudly again,” he murmured softly.
I stared out over the city below. “Your world is weird.”
“That is the kinder version of what Nina called it.”
Tiny silence. Then quieter this time, before I could stop myself, I admitted: “I still don’t know where I fit into any of this.” The words came out quieter than I intended.
For a second neither of us moved while silver fire reflected across the enormous palace windows around us. Somewhere behind us Nina was still aggressively interrogating palace servants about dessert options while the younger brother followed her around looking utterly doomed.
But here by the windows, everything felt strangely still. My demon eyed at me carefully for a long moment before answering.
“You are the first human who has ever walked into this palace without fear.”
“That feels statistically concerning.”
“It impressed them.”
I glanced toward the hallway where the older council members were very obviously still pretending not to spy on us.
“They literally threatened me two hours ago.”
“Yes,” he admitted calmly. “Which means they like you now.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Your species are absolutely confusing.”
“We’ve discussed this.”
Before I could answer, one of the palace servants approached us carrying folded dark fabric carefully in both hands. The poor demon seemed terrified of my demon.
“Your Highness,” the servant said cautiously while refusing to look directly upward, “the council requested appropriate palace attire for the humans.”
Nina appeared beside us at supernatural speed. “I’m sorry WHAT.”
The servant flinched visibly.
“The council felt,” he continued nervously, “that mortal clothing may attract unnecessary attention tomorrow.”
Nina glanced down at her jeans and hoodie. “These are historically important sweatpants.”
The younger brother beamed. “Please wear them to breakfast.”
“You’re enjoying my suffering too much.”
“Yes.”
The servant carefully offered the folded clothing toward us while trying very hard not to make eye contact with anyone royal. I reached out automatically to take mine. At the exact same moment, my demon’s hand brushed mine accidentally.
