EPILOGUE
A Few Days Later
“This can’t be it,” Saint said, eyes wide.
“What does the map say?” Knight asked, fond and amused.
“There’s no way.” Saint glanced down at his phone, then up at the building in front of him, then down at his phone again. “There’s no way,” he said again. “That’s a castle, Knight. That’s a literalcastle.”
“I take it castles aren’t a common sight in Arehjia?”
“InNigeria, more like. Unless it’s, like, a travel destination.”
There was a sign at the base of the castle’s wide steps, pointing them toward a pathway on the side of the main building. Knight could hear slightly muffled chatter. Apart from the rich vegetation, he could also catch the scent of food in the air.
Meeting in the garden; just follow the path, the sign said.
“Are you nervous?” Saint asked, probably noticing the way Knight’s wings had tensed.
“What if none of them know how to help me find her?” he forced himself to ask, even though he hated to voice his fears. It felt like by doing so, he was going to somehow make them come true.
Saint reached out to tangle their fingers. “Then we’ll look for another way,” he said simply. “No matter what happens, you know I’ve got you, right?”
Knight smiled, his heart achingly tender. He squeezed Saint’s hand in lieu of saying the words that had filled his throat. This thing between them was still so new; he wasn’t going to risk scaring Saint off with his larger-than-human emotions.
For the past few days, it felt like he’d been living in a dream. He and Saint had been living in what Teresa—after Saint had announced he and Knight were official—had playfully called “the honeymoon phase”, most of their time spent with either fucking, cuddling, or with Saint showing Knight all the things human couples did when they were falling in love.
His lover had confessed that he didn’t really go out and hadn’t properly explored the sights since he’d moved to Arehjia, so trying out all the fancy restaurants, watching movies in an actual cinema, eating by the lake, going to nightclubs to dance—each activity usually with them partially glamoured so the humans didn’t look twice in their direction—had all been new experiences for both of them.
Knight hadn’t thought he could fall any deeper, but it seemed the depths of his feelings for Saint were endless.
As they made their way down the designated pathway, approaching a few tall hedges and what might be a back garden, Saint’s scent grew sharp with nervousness.
“Who’s nervous, now?” Knight teased.
Are you sure I should come with you? I know when you texted, they said you can bring your human partners or friends, but—
Exactly, Knight interrupted, squeezing his hand.Either I’m going with you, or I’m not going at all.
Sap. Saint’s scent bloomed with happiness and another emotion Knight was afraid to name. It smelled like warmth, like home.
He squeezed Saint’s hand hard as they turned left, then right again when another sign prompted them. This pathway opened up into a little conservatory, which seemed to be the location of the party. The roofed space was surrounded by hedges on all sides with more pathways leading deeper into the garden. It had a small, stone fountain in the middle, with curved benches along the hedges on either side. Bright flowers bloomed in the greenery.
There were a handful of people and demons spread out in the space; probably about ten or so people, both demon and human alike. For a moment, Knight and Saint just stood and stared.
A woman at the drinks table to their direct right noticed them and immediately came over.
She was tall, as tall as Saint and just as fat, with warm, dark brown skin, her afro cropped short. She was wearing a hot pink top that was tied underneath her breasts, and ripped, high-waisted baby blue jeans.
“Hello,” she said with a kind smile. “You must be Knight.”
“Yes.” Knight nodded. He squeezed Saint’s hand. “This is my partner, Saint.”
“Hello.” Saint waved nervously.
“Nice to meet you both and welcome. I’m Joy. Klaus must be around here somewhere.” She glanced around. Klaus had been the demon Knight had been conversing with the past few days; it had been their phone number on the website. They’d been the one to tell Knight he could bring his human connections if he wanted, as long as they were aware of the existence of demons and would understand this meeting was for the benefit of the demons, not them. “This whole thing was their idea, and usually they’d be the one to welcome the new guests, but I guess theyslipped out for a moment. Please don’t feel nervous; we’ve only been doing this for a few weeks now, so it still feels a little bit new to all of us. I promise we don’t bite.” She winked. She looked around again. “Let me introduce you to my—ah, here he comes.”
Another demon approached. Knight stiffened.
