“Easier said . . .”

“Has she told you anything about her life on Gaia?” Rune asked. “Her family?”

Sian capped the flask, then tossed it back. “She doesn’t like to talk about it. Probably because I forced her to abandon her fiancé.”

Rune and Josephine winced.

“Exactly.” Did that male still stand between them? Sian had finally brought up the subject.

“I know I took you from your intended. Abruptly. Tell me what I can do to help you put him in the past.”

“I might pine for the family I thought I’d have. But not him in particular.”

Sian had thought, I could give her a family. But they’d be dark fey. Considered abominations by most.

Then why did he feel like they would have young between them? “My spies found out nothing about her in Gaia. Next I will dispatch them to Sylvan.”

“Josie and I can dig into Calliope’s background there. My female’s interrogation techniques are improving every day.” She gave a queenly wave. “And my connections are still in place.”

“Even though Rune the Insatiable isn’t trading sex for secrets anymore,” Josephine said in a pointed tone. “Funny how that worked out, huh?”

Rune nodded easily. “I trade exclusively with phanpires now.” He turned to Sian. “We’ll begin at once. In any case, I’d be less worried about a fiancé and more worried about her reaction when the Møriør conquer Sylvan.”

As good a time as any. “About Sylvan . . . I vowed to her that as long as she is my wife, none in that kingdom will fall by a Møriør’s hand.”

The color of Rune’s irises shot from magenta to black. “The fuck?” He traced to his feet. “With zero warning—or discussion—you made vows for me?”

Josephine swung around and sat on the edge of the throne. “Demon, you’re in troubllllle.”

Striving for calm, Sian said, “Calliope kept attempting to escape me, endangering her life. So I bargained with her, giving her incentive to stay.”

“Your bargain includes the royals in Sylvan!” Rune traced in front of him, fists clenched like he was about to take a swing. Sian would welcome it. “You undermined my entire life’s goal. Everything I’ve worked for. I’ve craved revenge against that bloodline for millennia!”

Sian squared his shoulders. “This is what I had to do to secure my mate,” he said simply.

“And I want you to experience matehood, brother. I do. But you have to know Nïx set you up like a bloody line of dominoes.” Sian nodded. “How do you know Calliope isn’t working with her? Was Saetth involved? He benefits most from your . . . arrangement.”

“Calliope had a job in Gaia for years, living as a human. She wasn’t immersed in the Lore whatsoever. But I do wager Saetth is in league with the Valkyrie.”

Rune’s lips parted, revealing his fangs. “And you still went ahead with this?”

When Sian recalled the night Calliope had escaped him, how frantic that chase had been, his calm deserted him. “I would have done anything not to lose my mate.”

Rune stabbed his fingers through his hair. “You don’t have the right to make vows for me.”

“You of all people should comprehend my motivations. Put yourself in my place.” Sian grabbed his friend’s forearms, needing him to understand. “Would you have hesitated to protect Josephine—until you could discuss your actions with me? Could you live with her death not once, but twice?”

Rune turned to Josephine. They shared a look that was fraught with emotion, communicating so much, though not a word was spoken.

Will Calliope and I grow that close?

Rune faced him again. “You know I couldn’t.”

“Then back me in this.” Sian released him.

“Godsdamn it, demon.” Rune exhaled. “I will make . . . sacrifices for you to keep your mate safe. But if you’d found your female before I found mine—and I didn’t know what this bond felt like—we would not be having this conversation.”

“I believe that.”

“What about the demons enslaved in Sylvan? I know you have zero intention of leaving them to that fate.”

“I will come up with something.” Put it on my list. “But first I need to complete an undertaking in my own kingdom.” He’d announced his ideas to Uthyr:

“I’m going to engage my legions in something other than war.”

—Begone, chimera! Do not return without the real Abyssian Infernas.—

Rune sat once more. “What bloody undertaking?”

“I’ve ended the legions’ battles forever.”

“What will you do with such bloodthirsty subjects?”

They’d been created to war. “They will mine ore.” Gold abounded in Slaughter Gorge.

Sian had considered telling Calliope about his work, knowing she would be pleased, but he’d decided to keep it a surprise. He’d prefer to garner some success with his first societal transformation before he revealed all to her.

Though the legions had liked his vision for them very well, converting the battle-happy demon warriors into workers was taking some effort.

He made daily trips to oversee progress, reluctantly leaving Calliope. She would relax in the library with hellcats, spiders, and books piled up all around her. She read as fast as she did everything else, the pages flying. . . .

Rune said, “Your mate’s had some effect on you.”

“I want to rid her new home of conflict.” Her censure of his royal record still affected him. “But it’s not just her. My brother once dreamed of peace.”

“Any other changes on the horizon?” Josephine said. “Maybe like . . . kids?”

“Unlikely.” How could Sian ask that of Calliope? “Aside from obvious concerns, what if they look like I do now?”

Rune shook his head. “The hell-change curse would remain dormant, no? As long as you live, your pups wouldn’t be affected.”

Josephine rolled her eyes. “So what if they look all demonic? You said your chick digs your appearance.”

“And about those other concerns,” Rune said, “don’t let my millennia of bitterness influence your decision. All I needed was a mate who worships me as I am.”