Darius, guild master of the Crow and Hammer, leaned back in his chair, the width of his desk between us. He studied me with somber gray eyes, then turned his gaze to the chair beside mine.

Zylas crouched on the seat, arms braced on his knees, chin resting on one hand as he stared back at the GM. The demon’s tail hung off the chair, its barbed end swishing back and forth. The office’s fluorescent lights washed out his reddish-toffee skin, giving him a bronzy-amber tone instead. His tangled black hair teased his crimson eyes, and small horns poked through the locks.

If his unusual guests had thrown Darius off balance, he didn’t show it as he pondered the story I’d delivered—most of it a jumbled, emotional mess.

I’d told him almost everything. How I’d moved in with my uncle to get my inheritance, how I’d discovered his illegal summoning activities, and how I’d ended up contracted with Zylas. How I’d filed forged paperwork and joined the Grand Grimoire to hide, only for the GM to sell me out to Red Rum. I’d glossed over Amalia’s and Travis’s roles as apprentice summoners, but I didn’t think Darius was buying my suggestion that Amalia knew nothing of her father’s illegal activities.

“Well, Robin,” he finally said, “you’ve certainly had an adventure to rival all others.”

Couldn’t disagree there. I nudged my glasses up my nose.

He laced his fingers together, elbows propped on the desktop. “You’ve broken some of the strictest MPD laws, but by their very nature, laws don’t take individual circumstances into account.”

“If you’re suggesting my actions were lawfully wrong but morally right,” I mumbled, “I disagree. I put people in danger. A lot of mythics died because of me.”

“They died as a result of their own actions,” Darius corrected sharply. “If you knowingly walk in front of an oncoming car, whose fault is it when the vehicle hits you? Those rogues were fully aware of what they were doing.”

I hunched my shoulders. “But Todd from the Grand Grimoire—”

“Intended to kidnap you,” Darius interrupted. “I’m certain he knew that whatever his GM planned, it was nefarious. Like the Red Rum rogues, he knew he was stepping into danger’s path—or rather, your demon’s path.”

He appraised Zylas, then refocused on me. “Instead of putting others in danger, you risked your life to kill the unbound demon. I’m confident in your moral integrity. Your demon, however …”

Zylas snapped his tail in annoyance.

“The MPD,” Darius continued after a beat, “with a little encouragement, has determined the Red Rum squad found dead at the pier was behind the unbound demon. Agents have posted a bounty for information on the men’s deaths, but for better or worse, the case can be considered closed.

“Your involvement, Robin, has gone unnoticed. The only ones who can tie you to Red Rum are your cousin Travis, the Grand Grimoire guild master, and the summoner Claude Mercier. I think your GM will keep silent rather than risk exposing his own transgressions. Travis, you said, has gone into hiding to avoid Red Rum’s retribution.”

I nodded. As soon as a healer had deemed him fit, Travis had fled the city—though he’d promised to keep in touch and, if he found Uncle Jack, to let Amalia know where their father was hiding. He’d chosen greed over his family once, but nearly losing everything had sparked a change of heart. I hoped it would last.

“That leaves Claude,” Darius concluded. “My impression is that he’s a lone wolf. Dangerous, but not one who would report you to the MPD.”

“Actually,” I interjected with hesitant determination, “you forgot someone.”

“Who is that?”

I met his eyes. “You.”

“Ah.” Darius smiled faintly. “I’ll be frank, Robin. I don’t believe you or Zylas deserve execution—not for anything you’ve done yet. However, knowing the nature of your contract, I can’t disregard my moral responsibility. Allowing you to disappear, and potentially wreak the havoc and destruction only an unbound demon can inflict, would be unconscionably irresponsible.”

I shifted nervously in my chair. “So, if you aren’t turning us in but can’t ignore us, what do you plan to do?”

“My first inclination is to induct you into my guild. You can’t stay at the Grand Grimoire, and any other Demonica-licensed guild presents its own dangers. Here, I can keep watch over you two.”

Zylas hissed at the last part.

“However”—Darius’s face hardened—“I’m also responsible for the safety of my guild.”

And Zylas was dangerous. Powerful, unpredictable, and uncontrollable.

My shoulders wilted. “I understand. I don’t want to put your guild members in danger either.”

“Since inducting you isn’t an option, the best alternative would be—”

“Na?” Zylas cut in, his husky voice sharp with annoyance. “Why are you not asking me?”

Darius started as though he’d forgotten Zylas was an equal participant in the conversation—probably because the demon hadn’t spoken until now.

“Asking you what?” the GM inquired politely.

“Are you dangerous? Will you kill my guild members?” His imitation of Darius’s accent and inflection was so good I did a double take. Zylas planted his hands on the seat of his chair and leaned forward. “Or do you think I am a stupid beast and cannot answer?”

Darius blinked in renewed surprise. “My apologies, Zylas. However, I don’t see how I can trust your answers.”

“Because you did not ask.”

The GM placed his hands on the desktop. “All right. Are you dangerous?”

Zylas flashed his canines. “Yes.”

“Will you kill my guild members?”

“Yes.”

As silence settled over the office, I put a hand over my eyes and suppressed an embarrassed groan.

“Enlightening,” Darius commented dryly.

“Ch. You are as stupid as the rest.”

This time, I didn’t hold back my groan. “Zylas, would you just—”

“Ask me now: Will I kill Robin’s allies?”

Behind my hand, my eyes flew open. Zylas hadn’t used my name since I’d told it to him.

Darius was quiet for a moment. “Will you kill Robin’s allies?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because she needs them.” As Zylas spoke, I peeked over my hand. He gazed steadily at Darius. “If your guild members are her allies, I will not harm them. If they betray her, like the last ones, I will kill them.”

Studying the demon, Darius sat back. “I see. And I have your word on that? Your promise?”

His mouth twisted with distaste. “I will not promise you anything, hh’ainun.”

“Then—”

Zylas spun on his chair to face me. “Payilas. I will not harm your allies.”

I resisted an unexpected sting of tears. “Thank you, Zylas.”

“If you were not so weak, you would not need any allies but me.”

My sappy gratitude evaporated. “Every time you say something nice, you ruin it.”

“We talked about nice.”

“And I told you being nice has benefits, but you’re too stubborn to—”

Darius cleared his throat. “In lieu of a promise to me, I’ll accept his promise to you, but your abnormal contract must remain a secret, even here, Robin. I won’t implicate my entire guild in a coverup. If you’re discovered, I will have to turn you in.”

That had been a risk all along, and in his place, I would do the same. “I understand. Zylas is good at pretending to be properly contracted—”

“Enslaved,” the demon corrected.

“—as long as he can keep his mouth shut.”

“Do you accept my offer, then, Robin? And … you as well, Zylas?”

“We accept.” I shot Zylas a glare before he could speak. “Just be quiet for once.”

“Very well,” Darius said. “There are more details to arrange, but for now, let’s adjourn this meeting. I’ll have my AGM start your paperwork. If all goes well, we can formally induct you within a week.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Darius. This is … we really appreciate it.”

Zylas growled at the “we.” I ignored him.

Darius smiled and my anxieties quieted as a feeling of safety spread through me. He was taking a big risk—and saving my life. Without him, without this guild, I had no idea what I would do.

“Welcome to the Crow and Hammer, Robin.”

I tried to smile and my lips quivered with emotion. A true welcome. A safe haven. If I didn’t screw it up, this guild could be the sanctuary I needed. I wouldn’t let Darius down.

With that in mind, I thanked him again, bid him farewell, and hauled Zylas out of the office and into a larger work area filled with three unmanned desks.

“Zylas, we have to do this right,” I whispered ferociously. “This guild will keep me safe, and if I’m safe, I can focus on researching a way to get you home.”

The demon speared me with a disparaging look. “I know that, payilas. Why do you think I convinced him to accept you?”

I hadn’t explained to Zylas how important it was to win Darius’s approval—though in retrospect, I really should have. Zylas was disconcertingly observant; he could figure out far more than I ever anticipated without needing any explanation.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, “for convincing him.”

I could feel the demon’s attention on me as I stared at the floor.