“No. He is destabilized power with wit.”
Corin points at him. “That may be the kindest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“It was not intended kindly.”
“Tragic.”
I look between them, irritation and fear and reluctant affection knotting together so tightly I can barely separate one from another. “We are not turning this into command and defiance.”
Rhazek’s gaze returns to me. “Then what do you suggest?”
“We figure out what he can do, what triggers it, and whether it is still changing. Together.”
Corin’s expression flickers at the last word.
Rhazek notices. So do I.
“Together,” I repeat, harder this time. “Since apparently the concept requires frequent maintenance in this household.”
Rhazek inclines his head. “Together.”
Corin sighs. “I hate when lessons become recurring themes.”
“Then stop providing material.”
He glances at the target again. “In my defense, that was impressive.”
“It was terrifying,” I say.
“Impressively terrifying?”
I glare.
He smiles, and the gold in his eyes does not flare this time. They remain his, pale and sharp and familiar. That helps too.
The yard begins to feel normal again, or as normal as a yard can feel with a destroyed target, iron stakes in the ground, a demon king standing like judgment in a torn shirt, and my brother casually revealing controlled infernal flame in his palm. The sunlight rests over everything with rude cheerfulness. A bird lands on the fence, considers us, and leaves immediately.
Smart bird.
I look at Corin’s hand one more time. “Show me again later.”
He hesitates. “You’re sure?”
“No. But I want to understand it.”
His gaze softens. “That makes two of us.”
Rhazek’s voice is quiet. “Three.”
The word settles among us with unexpected weight.
Corin looks at him then, and something unspoken passes between them. Not forgiveness. Not yet. More like mutual acknowledgment at the edge of a dangerous road neither of them chose but both must walk.
I breathe in the cold air until my lungs stop feeling squeezed.
My peace is not gone.
Changed, yes. Complicated. Bruised around the edges by another truth arriving before I was ready. But peace cannot mean nothing ever happens. It cannot mean everyone stays untouched while I stand in a perfect room and pretend safety is the same as stillness.
