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Phaidros gave me a look as if I’d done something he hadn’t expected before quickly recovering. “Quite right. No one here wouldactuallytry to kill you, even that heaping pile of flesh.”
He jerked his thumb back to the still oozing body behind him. My gaze slid over it and back to the demon.
“Didn’t seem that way when he was charging for us,” Daphne huffed.
Phaidros waved away her concern with a careless gesture. “Rest assured, they’re stupid lifeforms, but no one isthatstupid and survives.”
I gave a pointed glance over his shoulder.
He shrugged, as if admitting the point. “Okay, he might have started to get carried away. Probably self-preservation would’ve won out, but in any case, I figured I’d do a good turn and eliminate the issue.”
“How charitable,” I murmured.
Truth was, the entire thing was fast and violent, and I’d barely processed it. One moment, there was a threat and the next, it was gone. I should’ve been grateful, but all I had was the uneasy sense a greater threat had taken its place.
“Not a charitable bone in my body,” the demon chirped.
NowthatI believed.
Betsy returned a second later with two fresh mugs in front of Daphne and me. She swiped the others away and refused to make eye contact.
“Sorry about the mistake. Was a complete accident,” she said before shuffling away.
Yes, the poisoned plant had slipped into the mugs all on its own. I didn’t understand the reason for her animosity, but when I sniffed the ale, it smelled normal. I decided to risk a sip.
“What do you mean bythatstupid?” Daphne asked pointedly.
He lifted his mug to gesture to me. “To try and kill her. Anyone with a shred of intelligence in this realm sees red hair and pays proper respect. Or gets butchered. Either is acceptable to the king, I suppose.”
My red hair. I’d been the only wolf I’d ever seen with it across the packs. In Moon-Ghost, it had been a feature others scorned. Unnatural. Made some speculate about my parentage, especially since my mother never mentioned my father. It drew attention when I’d rather sink into the background, and worst of all, it marked me as an outsider.
Yet I’d had reactions even in Hell to my hair. In fact, when I’d seen Phaidros, it was only once my hood fell—revealing that hair—that he’d bothered to give me the time of day. I cast a wary glance toward him. At the time, I had been so focused on Daphne that I hadn’t bothered to consider what had changed his mind. Yet now, I wondered. Clearly, my hair signified something.
A feature I’d shared with Cole’s previous queen? That would explain why it inspired both scorn and gifts, like in the case that Daphne and I went through the bazaar. I fingered the pendant resting between my collarbones absently.
“It certainly doesn’t make me popular.”
“There are reasons for that,” Phaidros answered, ever cryptic.
“I wish I knew those reasons.” Frustration colored my words.
“I could tell you,” Phaidros offered. “Not for free,” he continued when my gaze turned suspicious. “But I’d wager I can fill in a lot of the gaps that are likely bothering you, better than just about anyone but the king.”
“How would you know so much?”
His answering grin was all teeth. Handsome, no doubt, but it reminded me of the fangs of a viper when it stretched its mouth wide before striking. “You could say I know a bit more than the average demon.”
“Okay. Tell me why everyone hates me.” This would be a great conversation for my self-esteem.
“Not for free,” Phaidros repeated. “And I’ll remind you, you already owe me one favor.”
Right. The favor I’d agreed to for a portal. Of course, I hadn’t planned to come back to Hell, so I hadn’t expected the demon to ever collect.
“I have gold coins to pay with.”
Daphne slid a few over the counter in my direction, but Phaidros didn’t spare them so much as a glance.
“Don’t insult me, love. I’m hardly going to give these answers up for simple money.” His face broke into a grin as he continued, “My price is another favor to be named by me at a later date.”
