I have so many questions. The most pressing is actually one of biology. How exactly does one have a 'dalliance' with a woman who's half fish?
Sly stops again and opens the door to a parlor, escorting us in. I table my questions about the mermaid who was clearly more than an acquaintance, and look around. This room is more subdued than the flamboyant hall we were just in. It's got floor-to-ceiling bookshelves of rich mahogany lined with mostly leather-bound books, a desk in one corner, and a couch, two overstuffed chairs and a love seat in the middle with a fireplace crackling to the other side.
I walk to the bookshelf first, admiring the selection of titles, until I come to a section with modern covers of scantily clad men and women. Sly joins me and smiles. "I see you've discovered my greatest treasures," he says.
"Your books?"
He pulls a novel out and admires the image of a woman being embraced by a topless man. "Romances. I just adore them, don't you? The love, the drama, the scandal when propriety comes head to head with good, old fashioned lust. Extraordinary."
I shake my head, half smiling, as I join Fen on the love seat. Dean takes a chair, and Sly sprawls out on the couch after making himself a drink. He offers us one; Fen and I decline. I have the strong suspicion it's best to keep your wits about you when dealing with a demon named Sly Devil.
Dean obviously doesn't have the same reservations, and pours himself a double of something yellow with smoke coming out of it. I don't even want to know.
"Now, pray tell, what can old Sly do for you?"
Fen speaks first, giving Sly a very short version of what's happening on Inferna. "We just need a safe place to stay until we figure out a plan for defeating Levi and taking back Stonehill. And Ari's been injured. She needs medical treatment."
"I'm fine," I say, more out of reflex than truth. In reality, I'm not fine. I'm weak, tired, sore, malnourished, dehydrated and I have open wounds all over my body. The more I think about it, medical treatment might not be a bad idea.
Fen knows this too. He frowns at me and I shrug, relenting to his idea.
Sly crosses his legs and sips his drink, staring at the two of us. "This is just so intriguing. There hasn't been a good war in Inferna for all too long. Your lot has become complacent in your power. That's always dangerous. Every empire falls eventually."
"I don't want their empire to fall," I say carefully. "I want to remake it. I want to create a world that is fair and just to vampires and Fae, where both can live in harmony."
Sly studies me. "That seems quite impossible. But if anyone could do it, I do think it might be you." He stands and holds out a hand to me. "May I escort you to your quarters, Princess?"
Fen frowns as I take Sly's hand, and then I am the one frowning as the world spins around me, then edges away like a view just out of reach. Strong arms catch me, and I find myself cradled against Fen's chest. "She needs a healer," he says gruffly. "Levi fed on her after she'd been left to rot in the dungeon for weeks."
I try to insist I'm fine and can walk, but my mouth isn't working right. My brain is so fuzzy, and everyone is suddenly surrounded by halos of light.
"Why are you all glowing like angels?" I ask through slurred speech.
Sly's eyes widen, and his halo glows brighter. "Follow me."
"Follow the devil!" I say, trying to raise my arm in salute. But I think it comes out more like "swallow the lever" and everyone looks confused.
I give up and sink back into Fen's arms, letting darkness steal me away.
***
A beautiful white wolf stares at me when I wake. As soon as my eyes peel open, Baron licks my face.
"Ew, come on, dude. Not a great way to wake a girl up." I wipe the slobber off and pat his head. "You're a good boy, aren't you? Where's Fen?"
Baron whines and jumps off the bed, then scratches at the door. Before I can rise and open it, Fen walks in. He smiles at me when he sees me awake. "You've been asleep longer than the healer expected. You had us all worried."
He sinks into the bed next to me and I scoot over to be closer to him. "I feel amazing," I say, stretching. The bruises and cuts on my body are mostly healed, and the pain that has lived inside me for weeks is nearly gone. For the first time since the dungeon I almost feel like myself again. "Whatever they used on me, we should take it home with us," I say as I lay my head on his lap.
"I'll see what I can do about that." His hand falls gently to my head and his fingers wind into my hair.
The muscles in his thighs flex as I adjust my position so I can look up at him. "I've missed you. We haven't been alone since before… everything."