Page 18 of With Wing And Claw

Did she think so?

Hell, how did that argument sound so bloody sensible – how dideverythingthe little vixen was saying sound so bloody reasonable, when the words couldn’t be fuelled by anything other than treacherous, violent insanity?

Cold sweat prickled down between her wings as her thoughts spun in all the wrong directions. Was she overlooking anything? But there was no denying Naxi could simply have left with the rest of the Alliance. Sheshouldhave left, if her wellbeing meant anything to her – and sinceshe was a demon, egoistic by nature, her own wellbeinghadto be at the heart of her decisions. Which meant there was something at the Crimson Court she wanted more than her safety. More than her friends, more than the home she was dreaming of – some goal, whatever it might be, for which Thysandra was in whatever way necessary.

And if that was the case …

Couldn’t she, if not be trusted, at least be relied upon?

Looking at the sharp-toothed, blood-soaked demon sitting before her – the same creature responsible for the tortured corpses in the hallways, for the demise of the Mother’s empire and the treason Thysandra had committed – it was an utterly laughable thought. And yet …

Yet she was thinking it.

Eagerly, even.

‘There’s no way I can let you stay at the court after your murders this night,’ she hoarsely said – as close to a confession of her wishes as she dared to come, falling back on those of the rest of the world instead. ‘Every single fae in this castle will be dying to take revenge, and I don’t have the authority to make them leave you alone. They’ll riot if I try.’

Naxi shrugged, a gesture that was all willowy limbs and wicked glee. ‘Just tell them I’m here on behalf of the Alliance to keep an eye on things.’

‘That will only make them want to kill youmore!’

A devilish grin. ‘Wishing them the best of luck, then.’

‘It’s not funny,’ Thysandra snapped – more vexed, admittedly, by the needless stutter of her heart than by the reckless flippancy itself. What in the world waswrongwith her, to get all hot and bothered by threats and murderous smiles? ‘Do you realise they might come for my head next, once they figure out you’re not the easiest target?’

‘Oh, they might,’ Naxi admitted, her dazzling smile dimpling her cheeks. ‘I suppose they are like that. I’m here to protect you, though.’

There really was no reason for that sentence to knock the air from her lungs.

She knew better. She could do better. This was not how the world worked, and this cunning, scheming creature had to know it as well as anyone else – relying on anyone else to shield your back was a glaringweakness, and a sign of stupidity, too. Because one day you’d lose your use to the people you’d thought your friends and allies and just like that, they would be gone – leaving you twice as vulnerable as you’d ever been before, and twice as attractive a mark.

Sheknew. She’d learned the lesson too many times to ever forget it again … so why,whydid her heart still shrivel in her chest when good sense kicked in?

‘I’m afraid I must disappoint you.’ Her voice came out too harsh, too sharp, to compensate for the strange, weak mushiness creeping up on her. ‘I don’t need anyone’s protection, yours least of—'

‘Oh, I know you don’tneedme,’ Naxi sweetly interrupted – looking the epitome of radiant innocence in the rosy light, a girlish pout on her lips, her round face framed by the pink and pale blonde of her curls. Her eyes were so large they seemed to swallow the entire hall. ‘You’re far too strong and capable to ever need me, of course. But I could help you all the same.’

Gods help her. This had to be a trap, hadn’t it?

She was being played like a puppet. Thysandraknewshe was, and yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape the strings – couldn’t stop dancing to this irresistible tune. No one ever helped her. Why would they? Life was not a charity, and the stakes at the court were too high to play nice; why waste time and energy on someone else’s victory?

Then again … the demon before her wasn’t in the game at all.

She didn’t have anything to lose. She didn’t have anything to win. Which meant—

‘Don’t try to tell me you’re not tempted,’ Naxi murmured before that thought could fully fall into place, her unblinking gaze trained on Thysandra’s face with what felt like physical weight. ‘I can read your heart, Sashka. I know you need safety more than you need anything else in this hell of a place.’

Safety, yes. Not building her reign on the quicksand foundations of a demon’s loyalty, and yet, whatif…

What if she was just very, very careful?

What if she kept the most important cards close to her chest?

She’d have to make sure nothing Naxi did was indispensable. That her maybe-ally was never the very last failsafe between herself and death. But if she kept that in mind – and surely she would be able to keep that in mind? – then a demon by her sidecouldmake all the difference in a court where not a single warrior owed her their allegiance …

‘I’m going to need a bargain for this,’ she heard herself say.

Naxi jumped to her feet in a flutter of curls and blood-stained skirts, the movement so swift and explosive Thysandra feared for a fraction of a moment she’d lose her balance and tumble into the silent Labyrinth beneath. ‘Of course! Bargains! What do you need me to promise – that I won’t kill you?’

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