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A sob rattled through her chest as she clung to Zila, pressing her forehead into the hellcat’s thick fur. Then her gaze moved to Hemlock.

Her fingers were covered in blood and trembling, but still she signed, >Thank you.G-O-O-D.G-O-O-D?V-E-R-YH-E-L-P?M-O-O-N-P-H-A-S-E.<

The magic on the temporary rune would last for one moonphase more, it was more time than she’d ever dreamt of getting and she would make it be enough.

Before she could speak, before she could even think, he was moving—helping her secure her satchel, guiding her to Zila. Then he was leaping out her window onto the skiff, giving the other demon a swift kiss before they sailed away.

She held onto her hellcat’s back, fingers digging into thick ebony fur. Her neck tingled with awareness and she turned, looking behind her. Someone stood in her doorway, silently taking in the bloody scene painted across her bedroom.

It was her father.

Takar let out a deep breath before his eyes locked with hers and he opened his mouth to say something but Peri beat him to it, cutting him off, “You can’t stop me.”

Her father nodded dumbly for a moment before he took a few tentative steps towards her. “I know.”

Peri’s throat was almost completely closed with emotion but she managed to choke out, “Why didn’t you help me? Why—”

There were too many things she wanted to beg her father to explain to her. But she was barely holding it together as it was, her energy fading with each moment she remained in her bedroom.

“I’m not here to stop you, I was only coming to give you something before you left with Valus.” His eyes drifted back towards the bloody demon slumped on her floor. “I’ll take care of this. You just get somewhere safe. I—I don’t know how to reverse the magic from the rune on your back.”

“I’ve figured it out on my own,” she said archly. Her world spun slightly, she was in desperate need of rest, her wounds tended to, and nourishment. She struggled to stay upright. Still, she managed to lock eyes with him to let him see her deep, unwavering confidence in herself.

“If anyone could do it, it’s you.” He laid a palm on the hellcat and looked at her, his eyes glassy with grim acceptance. “Anyway, I wanted to give you this.”

He held out a hair pin with a shiny golden perilla bloom attached to it.