One stranger waved at the crew. The other stood still. Not the worst start.

  Kai glanced down. Faint black lines stretched across his skin like veins—the price of transforming too much? The lines weren’t obvious from afar. If someone noticed, he could claim he had an illness or suffered a magical attack. Who could prove him wrong?

  Better than horns, at least. The lines might fade with time—if he were lucky.

  So…unlikely, but there might be another solution. Maybe the [Frozen Tear] could help.

  Squashing his doubts, he strode toward the church.

  Alira stood ahead of the others. The two newcomers addressed her. The Nivisara crest marked their armour—an ice spear piercing a wave.

  Soldiers from the castle.

  Unclear if this was better or worse than running into Merek’s missing father. But it bought him time before he had to address the kidnapping.

  The question was how to approach them.

  He could play nice—request a reward for repelling the attackers like a good Steward. Or lay claim to the village, usurping them while they were weak.

  Playing nice might work long-term, but it’d limit his expansion. Surrendering autonomy meant no Demon labour. Nobles despised Demons, seeing them as native pests refusing to yield. Plus, the ministers had condemned all Demons to death—though their words held limited sway in the Darklands.

  But what’s the point of commanding Demons if he couldn’t use them?

  He’d bring some to Earth, but with the villagers dead, he needed the rest rebuilding and securing his new village.

  Defeating invaders while Nivisara soldiers hid behind their walls gave him justification for taking over. Though he’d need Alira to see it that way. Without her support, things would turn bloody. Not that he minded—a purge meant less dissent. But losing Alira was a major blow. Her Curse and connections would prove useful soon.

  No time to be meek. He had to act.

  Kai assessed the soldiers. Both were muscular and combat-hardened. One had a thick beard covering half his face, scars marking the flesh it didn’t conceal. The other was clean-shaven and handsome. They studied him as he strode beside Alira.

  “Thanks for showing up after we did all the fighting,” he said.

  Yama lurked nearby, hidden but ready to strike. The other Demons were close too. These soldiers had walked into the belly of the beast without knowing it. He’d have wiped them out already if Alira wasn’t here.

  They owed her their lives.

  The bearded soldier scowled. “Who are you?”

  “This is Kai,” Alira said, gesturing. “The new Steward of Nivis Village.”

  The clean-shaven soldier blinked. “Father made a wise decision. Alira tells us you repelled the invaders.”

  Father? Alira’s brother then. Good thing he hadn’t killed them on sight—that would’ve complicated things. The flattery was nice, but the assessment was dead wrong. Appointing him Steward was a grave mistake. They’d given him an inch, and he was about to take a mile.

  Kai nodded. “We did. Makes me wonder…if you can’t protect the village, why should you rule it?”

  The bearded soldier’s face reddened. “How dare you!”

  He indicated the burnt husks around them. “Though there’s nothing left to rule.”

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  The bearded one started forward. “You—”

  Alira’s brother gripped his shoulder. “Vorn, calm down. It’s a fair question.”

  The clean-shaven noble smiled. “Our forces are lacking, as you might’ve noticed. Sending our soldiers would’ve only increased the body count. A good ruler knows when to delegate. Hence my father appointing you Steward.”

  So ‘Steward’ was a fancy name for hired muscle. But hired muscle outgunning you was a disaster waiting to happen.

  Alira’s brother shook his head. “It’s pitiful how far we’ve fallen. Thank you for your aid in our time of crisis.”

  “Alex!” Vorn protested. “Don’t lower yourself by thanking him.”

  Alex waved him off. “I’m not too proud to be humble. We owe Master Kai a great debt.” He dipped his head.

  Kai revealed a smile. “I’m glad you feel that way. I know exactly how you can repay me.”

  Alira glanced at him, but said nothing.

  “Do tell,” Alex said. “If it’s within our power, House Nivisara will honor your request.”

  “Give me Nivis Village.”

  Alex frowned. Vorn’s eyes widened. Alira’s face was blank.

  Kai continued. “And the castle. In fact, give me all your territory.”

  “Preposterous!” Vorn shouted. “I should cut you down for daring to utter such words!”

  Levi gripped his sword. Lilith abandoned the Dark Horse she’d been petting, hand diving into her bone bag. Rusk stepped beside Kai, fingers twitching. Yama’s killing intent pulsed through their bond. Dozens of Demons stirred in the shadows, ready to strike.

  Alex’s gaze swept behind Kai and Alira, studying the other three.

  Smart. Though Kai’s Curse made him look weak, Alex checked his companions before making a move.

  Outnumbered and outmatched, he turned to Alira. “You’re okay with this?”

  She shrugged. “I’m not in line to inherit. Why should I care?”

  Vorn frowned. “How can yo—”

  “Quiet!” Alex interrupted. “Sister, are you so quick to turn your back on our House?”

  She scoffed. “If I wanted to abandon our House, I would’ve done it when our father let Seraphina’s murder go unpunished.”

  “The man responsible is dead! What more do you want?”

  “I want the Ashvale scum to pay. Every single one who watched her die.”

  Alex sighed. “You’d betray the living to avenge the dead? Start a war we can’t win?”

  “Betrayal? Call it what you want. I’ll do what I have to. With or without the family’s support.”

  “Fighting the Ashvales without a Saint is suicide. You know this.”

  “No one supported me facing the Trials. Not father. Not you. Not anyone.”

  He threw up his hands. “You know Riven has the best chance of ascending. You should—”

  “Know my place? Be a good little girl until I’m married off like a bargaining chip?” She folded her arms. “I’ll pass.”

  Alex met Kai’s eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “I meant what I said.”

  Things were looking up. Maybe Alira was more open to usurping her family than he’d thought.

  “If I could agree to this…if I could sway my father. What of my family?”

  Alira fixed her icy glare on Kai.

  Good question.

  Alira wouldn’t sit by while he purged her family. Probably. She said she’d do what she had to, but slaughtering her family was likely a bridge too far.

  Kai steeled his nerves.

  Do or die.

  “We’ll join hands,” he said.

  “Join hands?”

  “If Alira’s willing…” He glanced at her. “We’ll get married.”

  Alira’s and Alex’s eyes widened.

  “You’re a pitiful commoner!” Vorn yelled. “Who do you think you are?”

  Kai gestured to the ruined village. “Is this noble? Marquis Nivisara didn’t care about these people.” He locked eyes with Alira. “Your father abandoned them. If we’d been in power, we would’ve saved them.”

  A complicated expression crossed her face. Being married off for her family’s gain was unacceptable, but a political partnership where she benefitted? Different story.

  That should tug at her heartstrings.

  Vorn gritted his teeth.

  “As for being a noble, that’s fixed if I marry into the family, right?”

  “Technically…” Alira muttered.

  Kai kept his expression neutral, concealing his anxiety. The marriage proposal was sudden and unromantic. But that wasn’t the point. This was about power and politics, not love. A chance to build something and seize control of their futures.

  If she accepted his proposal in front of her brother, she couldn’t retreat. Her father would discard her for siding with an outsider. This decision would bind them together.

  She stared at him, then glanced away, shifting on her feet. “This is…a surprise. I don’t know what to say.”

  Not the best answer, but she didn’t seem offended. He could work with that.

  “We’ve only known each other for a few days…”

  Fair point, but not enough to deter him. “You’ll do what you have to, right? Or did you change your mind?”

  She sighed. “Romance isn’t your strong suit, is it?”

  Kai spread his hands. “I apologise. Does it help if I say this is political? A business proposition?”

  Alex studied her.

  “You’re not worthy of her, you opportunistic scum,” Vorn spat.

  Alira stroked her chin.

  “You wanted to be partners?” Kai said. “This is how we do it officially.”

  She bit her lip, considering.

  In truth, accepting his proposal would save her family. They’d call it betrayal, blind to her mercy. Refusing would force his hand, leading to a bloodbath.

  But mercy was a foreign language to Kai.

  He’d rather keep her onside, but wasn’t squeamish about bloodying his hands. Slaughtering her family was a viable option. In many ways, the simpler, safer option. If she tried to stop him…he had Silas.

  And it wasn’t the end of the world. He could imprison her and have Memory Man adjust her recollection. Distasteful, but practical.

  His hand drifted to his sword.

  Vorn and Alex mirrored his move.

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