E: A Palace

raphina's footsteps echoed behind the Demon King, each one met with an almos

tion of his hand and turned, gliding forward like he had centuries to walk through

stone. Not words. Not quite. Symbols that seemed to shimmer when she looked directly at them, o

" she said, finally

back low. "I li

ell the di

ed in sil

long. Time felt lo

o handle. Just veins of glowing red etched into its surface, puls

oor s

crea

it had bee

en. Revealin

pices and something floral. She didn't recognize the scent, but it was oddly comforting. The room w

black, silver

ned pale blue. To her left, tall mirrors framed a bathing area, already steaming. A wardrobe stood against the wall, its d

owly, noting

he asked. "Surely you didn't expec

m the doorway. "I exp

e'll get alon

d through his expression-a g

uldn't

e," she sai

nod

watc

es

hy

use it must. This realm is not like yours. It was forged from magic, bound to blood. This palac

brides lived long eno

er si

id not

one was

place. A requirement. A vessel. Something to keep the curse at bay. I won't weep or pl

dable. "Do you know what happens when

mble. "No. But I ass

ng closer now. "It en

ith something else-the same pressure she'd felt since steppi

" he said. "But I did

roman

need your

o you need?"

was s

tly: "I n

ina bl

d-threats, demands, declaration

hat?" she a

t kind of king

room. A door opened in the far wall, one she h

," he said. "Unles

he wa

vanished

center of a room that was t

a

d in her skull

lept

e-it was the most luxurious she'd eve

es. Not

ories trapped

en she turned toward the mirrors. Felt the eyes of something

and swore the curtains h

n't clo

t, and silver. Her slippers were warmed by the hearth. A tray of fruit and spiced

essed

ch, if they

used to

ered, but she wou

to the corridor,

r, one she hadn't seen the night

e, showing he

foll

se she tr

that if she stayed still too long, the

her to

ld be cal

ered with a dark indigo dome, pierced by silver stars. Thorned vines crawled along

e center

wn. No

omething bloom between his fingers-a cr

urn as she

p early,"

by ch

t sleep the way we

ll

her then. R

omething tighte

ealm like a cha

wearing it

the flo

efore it touc

speak in dagg

you always offer silk to

n't change, but hi

not impr

cannot

s diff

s

uards. No armor. Just two people bo

now what I am,"

at you've

me show

inked.

e palace already likes you.

alked int

parted for h