Lilith stood very still behind the bar.

  Selene and Darius stared at her from opposite sides, their presence hemming her in more tightly than any ward or sigil ever could. The din of the fighting pits still thundered faintly in the background.

  Lilith cleared her throat.

  "Princess," she said carefully, her tone slipping into something polite and measured, "you and Lady Morgan have never concerned yourselves with what we do here. As long as everyone is a willing participant, what happens in the pits stays in the pits."

  Selene nodded her head in acknowledgment.

  To anyone else, it might have appeared to be an agreement.

  However, Darius caught the flicker beneath it—the playful dismissal, the quiet arrogance layered beneath Selene's calm. He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

  "So that's how you want to play this," he murmured.

  He leaned forward, resting one hand on the bar, and interrupted smoothly, his voice low and even.

  "Look here, demon. I'm not here to concern myself with how you demons and monsters spend your free time. You can wipe each other out for all I care—it makes my job easier."

  "I'd expect nothing less from an Inquisitor." Lilith's eyes narrowed sharply.

  She glanced sideways at Selene, who was staring at Darius's profile with an openly delighted smile, practically beaming.

  Lilith scoffed.

  "What concerns me," Darius continued, unfazed, "is your dealings with an errant coven of apostates."

  Lilith clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Morgan never cared about them either."

  "I'm not my grandmother," Selene said coolly. "So I care a great deal. And soon, the Hallows will be under new management. You'll need to get used to the way things are going to be run."

  Lilith's lips curled into a snarl.

  "It seems it will be run based on whatever lap you're sitting in at the time."

  Her gaze flicked pointedly to Darius.

  He smirked back at her.

  Selene burst into laughter. "Maybe. But you're all too familiar with that, aren't you, Lilith?" She leaned forward slightly. "So, which lap are you sitting in this decade? Your lover's… or his brother's?"

  Before Lilith could retort, a familiar voice cut in loudly from behind.

  "Ooooooh," Lucen drawled as he stepped closer, arms folded, grin sharp. "She's brother-hopping? Even for a demon, that's dirty."

  Cassian groaned. "Lucen, even if she's a demon, have some decorum."

  "Why?" Lucen grumbled. Cassian rolled his eyes at the futility of it all and stepped forward, placing himself beside Selene, his posture shifting into something unmistakably royal.

  "The only lap you need concern yourself with, demon, is mine," Cassian said evenly. "Because it will be the one ruling these lands. And your gallivanting with a sorceress coven bodes ill for my future domain."

  Lilith bristled at Lucen's mockery—but Cassian's words unsettled her.

  Her eyes flicked between Selene and the Crown Prince.

  "I greet His Majesty, the Crown Prince," Lilith said stiffly, but she did not bow. She would not bow.

  "So you know who I am?" Cassian asked.

  "Of course." Lilith smiled thinly. "If you and our little princess wed, you'll be the boss around here, too. How could I not know?"

  "If?" Selene, Darius, and Cassian said in unison.

  Lilith's smile widened.

  "Yes. If. We all know our princess does what she wants." Her gaze drifted lazily over the three men. "And it's clear to anyone with eyes who she favors amongst you, young heroes. Who's to say what she'll choose?"

  Cassian's jaw flexed.

  Lucen's fist tightened at his side.

  Darius exhaled slowly through his nose.

  Lilith was old. Far older than she looked. And she was doing exactly what demons like her excelled at—pulling at threads. She had more conversations over the centuries than these children had thoughts. She could bring a kingdom down with a few well-placed words. Dragging them into personal nonsense to derail the real issue should be a simple thing.

  However, before anyone could respond, Selene spoke.

  Her voice was calm.

  Unyielding.

  "Let me make this clear," she said. "I will take my place as Crown Princess of Altheyron. This marriage will happen. I will be Empress of not only Valenfor. The Hallows will join that Empire. And the one who will bind this continent together will be me."

  The room seemed to hold its breath.

  "And who I choose to give my heart to," Selene continued, "will also be my choice. If I give it at all."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Cassian opened his mouth—then stopped himself. He folded his arms, jaw set. It was a conversation that must be had, but not here, not now. There would be time for that later.

  Lucen and Darius said nothing. They both knew better than most that once Selene made up her mind, there was no force alive that could shift it.

  Lilith stared at the four of them, something between irritation and unease flickering across her face. She waved her hand dismissively. She had seen brothers turn against each other for less, but it seemed the princess had these men on a tight leash.

  "It seems you have a greater knack for training men than I thought," she muttered. "Though I suppose that's thanks to your mother's bl—"

  "Enough!"

  Selene's voice cracked like thunder.

  The room shook, glasses rattling, as nearby patrons turned their heads in response to a ripple of power rolling outward. Selene's eyes burned with fury.

  "Refrain from ever mentioning my mother again, Lilith," she said coldly. "Otherwise, you may end up joining your lover… or lovers."

  Lilith's jaw clenched, rage flashing hot and fast.

  "The only reason you can act so cocky in front of me," she snarled, "is because of your grandmother, you little whelp!"

  "Would you like to test that theory?" Selene's eyes widened, half-crazed with anger.

  "More than anything." Lilith locked eyes with her.

  "There it is," Darius said quietly, as he stared into Lilith's eyes.

  Lilith's eyes snapped to him. There was an unsettling focus behind them. Lilith cursed to herself. They had shifted roles without her noticing. She looked back over at Selene, who was now smiling at her.

  "That resentment," Darius continued. "You hate it here, don't you? You hate being caged. You hate not being able to spread your chaos into the wider world."

  They had outplayed her. These children.

  "Humans... certainly are a marvel." She thought to herself. They took control of the conversation from her, but she was an old devil, with as many tricks as years of life. The rage vanished from Lilith's face in an instant—replaced by a placid, unreadable calm that was somehow more unsettling.

  "Whatever could you mean? Inquisitor?" She smiled. So naturally, it was hard to say it wasn't genuine.

  Behind them, Myrren called out softly, trying to get their attention.

  Selene glanced back once, then turned her gaze to Lilith.

  "Don't think of going anywhere," Selene said. "Our conversation isn't over."

  "Where could I possibly flee to, Princess? This humble servant is ever at your calling." Lilith gave the group a bow as they walked away.

  They regrouped near the railing overlooking the pit.

  Darius sighed. "Talking to a demon is exhausting."

  "Indeed," Cassian said. "I can't tell if she was truly angry or if it was all theater."

  "Hard to know when to press," Selene agreed.

  "Do we need to press?" Lucen asked. "Your family runs this place, just make her tell you."

  "We can't," Selene replied. "A demon would rather die than give up whatever game they're playing. We need to find out how they're gathering blood first. We can then use that as leverage."

  "What do you mean? Demons will just give blood, right?" Lucen asked.

  "No, you don't understand Demons. The vast majority would rather die than willingly give their blood to humans for experimentation." Selene explained.

  "That's true. Rav seemed genuinely infuriated at the idea of ghouls and the like. But the more I see demons, the harder it is to gauge whether their emotions are real."

  "And the few that would do it would rather die than let the other demons know what they are doing. So getting that blood will be... difficult even for older demons."

  "Well... that's why I called you guys. I know how they're doing it." Myrren said. She then gestured toward the pit.

  Below, a dead body was being dragged across the sand. As it moved, the blood soaking into the arena floor simply vanished—absorbed, consumed.

  Myrren adjusted her glasses. "That's how they're doing it. Some of the blood stains the sands, but most of it looks like it just vanishes."

  Selene frowned. "Demons aren't allowed to participate in the fights."

  "Can't they disguise themselves?" Cassian asked, weaving illusion magic around himself. His form flickered—orc, phoenix, dwarf—before snapping back.

  "For most in the Hallows, because of our defensive wards, illusions will be impossible to maintain. Even for Demons." Selene said. "And even those who can use it as well as you would have to perfectly mimic the mannerisms of other species. Under that many eyes, the smallest flaw would be noticed."

  "Some demons can physically transform," Darius said. "I saw Lilith do it, or is that unique only to her?"

  "It's unique, but not to her..." Selene went still.

  Lucen noticed immediately. "I know that look, Meme. What are you thinking?"

  Selene turned sharply and strode back toward the bar.

  She slammed her hand down on the counter.

  "You crazy bitch," she snarled. "You're sacrificing your own children?"

  The surrounding patrons jolted.

  Lilith threw her head back and laughed.

  "Sacrifice?" she scoffed. "I'd hardly call it that. Demons aren't so easy to kill."

  Realization dawned on all five of them at once.

  "The Orc," Cassian said.

  "Oh," Lilith purred, "you're all so observant. How annoying."

  "That's why he didn't care about winning," Darius said. "He just wanted to fight and put on a show."

  "Yes," Lilith said brightly. "Tonight was that child's turn to 'die.'" Lilith made hand quotations.

  "He had a hole through his chest," Myrren whispered. "How could he survive that?"

  "As long as the heart or brain remains intact, a demon can survive almost anything," Selene replied. "And her specific kind of Demon is very hard to kill." Selene's eyes narrowed as she stared at Lilith.

  "They can rearrange where they store their hearts."

  Disgust crossed Cassian's face.

  "So she uses her children, who share her ability, to pose as fighters. You kill contestants, and then have them 'die'?" Cassian explained.

  "You gather the blood from their fake deaths through the sands, and have them repeat the process under new identities?" Darius added.

  "There's no way you guys don't have some kind of identification procedure for this, right?" Lucen asked.

  "I would assume if she is in charge or one of the people in charge, fake identification would be easy," Myrren added.

  "I wonder what the other demons will think once they learn you've been more or less fixing matches... Lilith. We may not have to do anything at all." Darius smiled at the Demoness, who placidly returned his gaze. Selene groaned.

  "This wasn't your idea," Selene said flatly. "Even you wouldn't risk your offspring just to help some witches. You're too cowardly and tactful to do this on your own." Selene walked along the bar, her fingers rubbing its surface.

  "And those brothers. They have the motive, but not the strength, to do something so bold. No, there has to be an even older demon you've latched yourself to." Lilith stayed calm, but Darius picked up on the subtle movements of her eyes. This was the first time he could feel real discomfort from her.

  "Take me to the bastard who gave you and your lovers the courage to pull something like this off."

  Lilith raised her hands in surrender.

  "It seems I've grossly underestimated our dear Princess... and her group of friends." Lilith lowered her hands and walked from behind the counter. She motioned for another demon to take over her duties and bowed towards Selene and her group.

  "Right this way, Princess. I will guide you to my Lord."

  Darius watched Lilith carefully as she turned to lead them deeper into the establishment. He didn't know much about demons, but Lilith's surrender seemed too easy.

  Something about it felt wrong.