Page 89 of A Realm of Fire and Ash

A devil so fearsome, a power to behold,

With eyes that gleam and a fiery gaze,

Beware his tricks, for he loves to play.

He dances with demons and drinks with the dead,

His laughter echoes through the caverns ahead,

For those who cross him, a terrible fate,

Beware Aggonid, the devil so great.

So if you venture down to the underworld,

Be sure to tread lightly, be sure to be bold,

And never forget, in the land of the dead,

Aggonid, the devil, is always ahead.

"Well, they're not wrong." I grin. "But I'm willing to prove that I can be more than that. That I can be an ally and a friend, and hopefully even more."

Morte still looks skeptical, but she nods slowly. "Alright, I'll give you that chance. But no tricks or games."

"No tricks." I chuckle, lifting her hand to my lips and placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

She smiles sadly. "It's going to take some time, Aggonid."

"I'll wait," I say softly. The words taste like ash on my tongue. "For however long it takes."

I leave her to her bath and explore the room we're in. My suspicions are confirmed when I locate sixteen different spying devices and crush each one in my fist. I enchant the room so only Morte or me can enter, just in case Ollin sends anyone in to replace these.

"Aggonid?" Morte calls from the bathroom, and I head back to her, my steps quiet.

"Yes?"

"Um," she hesitates. "You didn't happen to find any tampons when you were poking around the bedroom?"

"Oh." I rifle through the cabinets and drawers until I locate a box. "Here," I say, handing her one.

She nods her thanks before sinking back into the tub.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" I ask as I turn towards the door.

"Yes," she murmurs, her cheeks flushing. "Stay."

I pause, and then smile softly before making my way back to the edge of the tub.How I wish things could be different.We stay like that for a while, not speaking, but sharing a comfortable silence until someone knocks at the bedroom door.

I cross the room and use magic to sense who is on the other side of it.

Dinner.

I take it from the terrified servant, shutting the door and locking it behind me. I turn back to Morte and set the tray of food down on the vanity.

"Can I stay and eat with you? Or do you want me to leave?" I ask, hesitating in the doorway.

Morte considers the offer before finally nodding.

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