Page 255 of The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny)

“Productive insomnia,” Sebastian offered in answer.

Thorne selected a simple butter cookie and rumbled something about “pretty lords and their quirks.”

We fell into easy companionship, the five of us scattered around the kitchen like this was normal. Like we hadn’t just survived a battle, freed an ancient evil, and fundamentally altered the balance of power in the realm.

Vex was in the middle of an elaborate story about a merchant who’d already tried to sell her “genuine Shadow King artifacts” when footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Kazimir appeared in the doorway, and my brain short-circuited.

He’d shaved. And cut his hair. The wild mane I’d gripped during our earlier activities was now cropped short, emphasizing the sharp angles of his face. The beard I’d felt between my thighs was gone, revealing the strong line of his jaw.

He looked every inch the man I’d first met—sharp, dangerous. Absolutely edible.

“You cut your hair,” I said stupidly.

“Magic,” he said, running a hand through the short strands. “Figured I should look presentable for claiming Solandris tomorrow. Can’t have the artists drawing me for the history books looking like a wild hermit.”

“I liked the hermit look,” Vex said, then made a face. “Actually, no. This is better. Less ‘crazy goblin living in a cave’ and more ‘ruthlessly efficient conqueror.’ ”

Kazimir moved to the wine cabinet, pulling out bottles. “Since we’re all awake and Sebastian has apparently opened a bakery in our kitchen, we might as well celebrate properly.”

“Celebrate what?” Griffin asked through a mouthful of cinnamon roll.

“My wife is alive and unpossessed. We conquered Solandris. The world hasn’t ended yet.” He uncorked a bottle. “Pick one.”

Soon we all had drinks—wine for most of us, though Griffin had found some kind of fluorescent blue liqueur that I didn’t know the origin of. Kazimir raised his glass.

“To survival,” he said simply.

“To family,” Vex added.

Warmth bloomed in my chest.

We drank, and the alcohol mixed pleasantly with the sugar from Sebastian’s stress-baking. Conversation flowed easier now, jumping from topic to topic with the loose association of the slightly drunk and very exhausted.

I found myself next to Vex as the others debated whether Griffin’s blue liqueur was actually safe for human consumption.

“Can I ask you something?” I kept my voice low.

She tilted her head, reading something in my expression. “About Lord Blackrose?”

“You suspected what he was.”

Vex was quiet for a long moment, swirling wine in her glass. “I did. When he started struggling with those episodes, when his control began slipping. I’d seen enough of his past to recognize the signs of something trying to claw its way out.”

“But you stayed.”

“Of course I did.” She looked at me like I was insane for suggesting otherwise. “He gave me purpose. Became my family when I had nothing. A little thing like being possessed by an ancient evil wasn’t going to change that.”

I thought about what the Shadow King had said to her, the taunts about her past, the wounds he’d so casually reopened. “In the tower, when the Shadow King was speaking through me… what he said to you.”

Vex went very still.

“I heard it,” I said quietly. “If you ever want to talk—”

“I don’t.” The words were sharp, final. Then, softer: “But thank you. For offering.”

We stood in comfortable silence, watching our strange little family. Griffin was now trying to convince Sebastian to bake something with his questionable liqueur. Thorne was methodically sorting the baked goods into storage containers. Kazimir leaned against the counter, looking more relaxed than I’d seen him in weeks.