Page 56 of The Sundered Realms

“‘Working together’ goes against demons’ nature,” Shry said seriously. “It’s the only reason we’re all still here.”

Terrifying thought.

“Did you know that?” Liris asked. “Growing up?”

“Oh, yeah,” Shry said. “I knew a lot more about demons than about humans.”

“Including eating traditions?”

“Especially those,” Shry said dryly. “Only reason I know more than you now, to whatever extent I do, is because Vhann rescued me when I was younger.”

Liris latched onto that. “But he works with you now?”

Shry snorted. “This I can’t help you with. Keep stretching to wind down and we’ll take a break.”

Oh good. ‘Break’ wasn’t ‘done for the day’, but Liris would take it.

“I was a teen and he wasn’t much older,” Shry said. “I needed to escape, and he needed my help, and let’s just say we dealt a lot of death that day. When he brought me to Embhullor, he promised I’d never be bored and that I could do whatever I wanted, which, let me tell you: big change.”

“I can relate to that much,” Liris said.

“The trouble for Vhannor is that what I want to do still involves demons and killing, and he secretly worries that he messed up and made me feel like I had to stay with him and be a demon killer.”

Liris stared at her incredulously. “What else does he think you’d be doing?”

“Thank you, that’s what I say! Hunting demons: extremely my thing. Unfortunately he just thinks I’m loyal to him because I don’t believe I have other options, and he is desperate to not do the same thing to anyone else. So I can’t help you figure out how to convince him he should treat you like an equal and not someone he has to protect from his decisions, because I’ve never managed it.”

So much for that. But that... did put things in context.

Well, maybe Vhannor wouldn’t ever let himself look at her as more than a dependent, but maybe she and Shry could be on more even footing?

“I think Vhannor mentioned there was an artificial hot spring in town,” Liris said. “I know we’re not done yet, but maybe afterward we could... go together? Since I’m sure I’ll be sore?”

Shry blinked, taken aback. And then her expression closed down, and she took a step back. “Yes, go if you think it’ll help you be ready for tomorrow.”

So, that was a no then.

Fine. Forget relationships. Liris was happy to focus on punching.

When Shry knocked on her door a few mornings later, Liris called, “Sorry, can’t spar now, I have class.”

There was a brief pause, and Liris wondered if Shry had forgotten they were scheduled for that afternoon until—

“It’s Vhannor,” the man in question said. “I’ve finished making arrangements for your first official mission. If you still want to go.”

Liris threw open the door.

It was the first time she’d seen him in days, and it was like her entire being tightened in response to his mere presence. She barely stopped herself from glaring askance at her own body, which surely was overreacting.

“What mission?” she asked.

Vhannor watched her expressionlessly. “Otaryl. Have you forgotten?”

One of the realms Princess Nysia suspected of working against the CTR.

Liris’ hands fisted at her side at the detached judgment she was picking up from him.

“I don’t forget,” she said. “I didn’t realize you were still planning on taking me.”

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