Page 409 of Flirting with Darkness

Ispend the next mile thinking, loudly, of every demon name and subtype, chucking all the most appropriate ones in his head. He’s not. I know that. But lobbing insults in his head seems the best way to deal with my anger, my frustration at not being able to do what I think is right and help that pink-haired women.

Bael, Agares, Vassago, Samigina, Marbas.You know there’s a demon for sloth? And lust? There isn’t exactly one specifically for letting people get eaten in an enchanted woods, but there ought to be.

He doesn’t pay me any mind. Just keeps walking onward, and eventually, I run out of names.

And when I’ve exhausted all seventy-two names according to theArs Goetia, his words about that poor woman repeat in my mind over and over.

She’ll either prove her merit or die.

According to the law of this land, that woman with garishly pink hair and strange clothes has to prove she’s braver than this wood.

Or die.

I can’t wrap my head around the barbarity of it. How can these people, this king, think so little of life?

Furthermore, if a being I released doesn’t value life…

As a girl, from the time I knew my father likely wouldn’t have a son, I took on the duty of becoming his heir.

I learned not just how to function as the Keeper and not just to run a household from my mother, but also the business side of this duty. The socializing, the deal-brokering, all of it at my father’s side.

This weekend was only the third time he left me alone with the chest and the first time he’d ever left for more than a single night.

And what did I do? Release the so-called-demon into the world.

Or, rather, back into his own world.

Make no mistake, I have no issue reconciling that. I believe, truly, my actions that night were justified. I’ve come to realize I was merely righting a wrong.

But if the being—demon or not, king or not—I released doesn’t value life, mine or that of the woman caught in the net…

I don’t think I can get beyond that.

Even if this is the way his world works.

Life is sacred. It’s a miracle. And no one should ever take it for granted or treat it with such disregard.

Had I known sooner he wasn’t evil incarnate, I would have released him on my own.

It’s a value I can’t bend on.

But that brings another disturbing question to mind.

Would you help a fellow fae if they were in that net?

He can hardly contain his laughter.Such a primitive trap would never ensnare my kind.

Right. Of course.Me then? A human you know personally, know intimately. Would you allow me to stay stuck in a net for your monsters to eat?

I think I’ve proven just how far I’m willing to go to protect you, little bird.

I meet his gaze, trying to discern his meaning, but all I see are those dark eyes flashing in the dead of night.

More like protecting his interest in seeing me hanged, or beheaded, or whatever way they execute people here.

Don’t play like you genuinely care for me, demon. I know your game.

The king sighs in my head.Oh, come now, pet. I thought we were beyond that particular nickname.

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