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“Without even hearing what they are?”

“Would it matter if I did?”

“Honestly? Not particularly.”

“Then what’s the point in knowing?”

“Amazing.” Lyriat shook his head. “All that has happened since we met, so much change and growth between us, but you are still as obstinate as ever—even while trying not to be. Bloody stubborn, Lunara.”

What in the realms are you supposed to say to that?

“When can I expect to face them?” She fought the vise tightening around her, the shortness of her breath. “There are things I would see to beforehand, if possible.”

Like fixing Brand, fixing Fern, finding Nyri and Baldrir, finding the one who took them, finding Okthana, finding out who the fuck the beast was, and burning half the pissing world to the ground while she destroyed the latter three.

Illamiata heated in her chest, crackling with energy.

Whoa. Alright. Shh. Deep breaths.

Lyriat cleared his throat, giving her a pointed look. “Calm, my friend. You are fortunate in that there are no consequences.”

“There are no…” She shook herself, the fury bleeding from her veins. “What?”

“Aside from the fact that the Council isn’t wrong and you have certain protections because of it, the Chieftains were informed that you’re likely responsible for saving their people and their realm, among…other things. Apparently, you have Thaddeus to thank for that. He no doubt embellished the story, but I’m sure you won’t argue the details. Since no further harm came to any of the homesteads near the battlefield as a result of your actions, the sentinels have graciously backed off.” A heavy sigh. “And my remaining family is safe. For that, I would stay up a thousand and one nights and not be bothered.”

Lunara was having trouble understanding what he was saying. It shouldn’t be so easy. So clean. She didn’t trust it.

It was a strange sort of relief when both Hedda and Faldir crossed their arms in unison, the threat on their nearly identical faces promising her plenty of consequences later. Probably during morning training in the practice ring, where they held all control.

Bring it on, arseholes.

“What about the damage?”

His smile was too bitter to be amusement. “Unsurprisingly, that particular item on the docket is actually Fern’s concern.”

Sounds about right.

“That’s…it?” Why she was looking for more problems, she couldn’t say. “What⁠—”

“Believe me. This conversation is far from over. We will have to discuss it later, though, when you return.” He waved and Hedda strolled over, a scroll in hand. “You’ve been summoned to Argoph. Not even I, the mighty Demon King Lyriat of Straelon, have the gall to challenge our Imperials for my own peace of mind.”

Lunara took the roll of parchment, the seal tingling beneath her fingers. She was rooted to the spot, unsure what to do, when the words tumbled out. “Nyri and Bal⁠—”

“No. As I said, later.” Stars above, he looked worse than before, the growl in his voice laced with agony. “Now go.”

Another curtsy, more clumsy than the first.

“And Lunara?”

“Yes?”

“For fuck’s sake, take Fern with you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As it turned out, the message was not from the Imperial Sovereigns, but Tahny, the Directory.

“I hope the books they found are covered in spiderwebs and dust as old as the Empire.”