Page 137

Peri stared at the ceiling, the sunlight streaming through the window and warming her skin in a comforting touch, a solid anchor amidst the storm churning inside her. Finally, Brenn broke the silence. “Peri, you burst into my room in the middle of the night, barely holding onto your hellcat, then collapsed on the floor covered in blood.”

“I messed up,” Peri whispered. She bit her lip, struggling to hold back the tears. “I thought I had more time to figure it all out, but then—” Peri’s voice cracked, and a sob escaped before she could stop it.

“Hey.” Brenn’s usual reserve fell away. “Shit… don’t cry.” She shifted, angling her head so she could peer into Peri’s eyes. “You’re scaring me. Just tell me what happened… what’s wrong?”

Peri shook her head, her throat too tight to speak, too dry to find the words.

Brenn moved closer, her eyes brimming with tears of her own. “I gave you a potion for blood loss, but you were sobbing uncontrollably. Delirious. You couldn’t say anything coherent.” Brenn’s tears fell freely now, a stark contrast to her usual composure. “You tried to fight me off, which, by the way, was insane—I'm obviously stronger than you. I had to use soporose salts just to knock you out long enough to clean you up and change your clothes.”

Peri wrapped her arms tightly around herself, recounting as much as she could remember. Together, they pieced together the shattering events of the night. Brenn leaned forward, pulling Peri into a tight hug, her arms firm around her shoulders. “You didn’t deserve that. Fuck. Nobody does.”

They held each other for what felt like hours, the years of uncertainty between them melting away in that embrace. Eventually, Brenn leaned back, roughly wiping tears from her cheeks. “I can’t believe he tried to use Fidelity Berries on you. That’s intense magic.”

“I think he was scared of me using magic against him.” Peri’s voice was dry, edged with disbelief. “He also wanted to make sure I could never be with anyone else but him.”

“But he also wouldn’t be able to use magic against you.” Brenn gave a harsh laugh. “How was he supposed to control you, then?”

“I don’t think he thought that far ahead.” Peri shrugged. “Most importantly, whatever magic they tried to use to bind me to him, didn’t work.”

Peri sat straighter, her eyes widening as she stared incredulously at Brenn, almost realising for the first time that they were together and she could get help sorting out the mess she’d found herself in. “Brenn, do you know if the Lady of the Lake actually eats demonesses or… do you suppose it’s just a rumour?”

Brenn contemplated it. “I have to admit, I’ve always known it to be true.” Peri sagged in defeat, despair almost overwhelming her. “But!” Brenn grabbed Peri’s shoulders, her face breaking out into a bright grin. “But we don’t know that, of course. It might just be something the Grand Dukes have told us to cover whatever shit they’re up to. We have no definitive proof either way.”

Peri gave a nod of agreement and then blew out a long, angry breath. Her voice became brisk, determined. “Alright. So we make a plan, then?”

Brenn, knocked her shoulder with her knuckles and stood. “So we make a plan! We are, arguably, the best planners in all of Hell. But first, we need heaping plates of fries for comfort, then obviously chocolate cake and coffee for motivation.” She grabbed Peri’s hands, squeezing them tightly. “We’re going to figure this out.”

Peri reached deep into her satchel, the enchanted extension growing unsettlingly more useful. She pulled out ten books and a few scattered notebooks. “I’ll get out my notes and tell you everything I know.”

Brenn stood, brushing wrinkles from her soft cream-coloured clothes. “I do have to warn you—some of my family will absolutely turn you over to Valus.” Her tone darkened for a moment. “Think of somewhere you can hide, and I’ll figure out how to get you there. Deal?”

Peri nodded, her resolve firm despite the uncertainty. “Yes, obviously… A thousand times yes.” She fought back a smile.

“We’re going to unravel this mess,” Brenn said, giving Peri’s arm a playful punch. “We’ve always made a good team.”

Peri huffed a laugh. “We have! But first…” She gestured to herself. “I desperately need a wash.”

“Right! Let’s get you in a bath, fresh clothes, some hearty food, and then…” Brenn’s teasing grin spread across her face. “Then I’m going to save your sorry ass.”

Peri rolled her eyes. “Why else do you think I came here?”

Slang coiled before Peri, their immense body piled beneath them in slow, breathing loops, a throne of serpents that smelled of heat and old blood. Once, Peri would have fidgeted in nervousness, but now she walked confidently through the thousands of serpents slithering across the floor—a poisonous kaleidoscope of movement that was somehow no longer intimidating.

Her chin tilted upward as she met Slang’s unblinking gaze. The serpent did not speak. They simply waited, eyes fixed on Peri, as if challenging her to act.

With steady hands, Peri reached into her satchel, withdrawing the bloody fingers and eye she’d taken from Valus. She held the smooth scarf containing her grim offerings in front of her and bowed her head. “From someone I hate above all others. Cut with unrestrained animosity. The eye was not part of our bargain, but I’d like to exchange it for an answer to some questions.”

Slang’s head dipped, and for a long moment, there was silence except for the sound of scales slithering against one another. Peri kept her eyes fixed on the floor, unwilling to look up and risk seeing the serpent’s judgement.

Then Slang’s tongue flicked out, snaking across the sacrifices. The fingers and eye disappeared in one smooth motion, swallowed whole.

“Very well. I’ll ansssswer three,” a voice echoed in Peri’s mind.

Her arms dropped back to her sides, one hand still clutching the bloodstained silk square. Three questions! This is better than she’d hoped for. She thought carefully about what she wanted to know and began with the most urgent. “Will the Lady of the Lake… eat me if I return her earring?”

A terrifying laugh hissed from Slang, reverberating in the stillness. “Oh, how you demonkind amusse. But, alass—No. She will not.”

“Would she—I mean can the Lady of the Lake even break the magic of the rune on my back?”