Page 13 of To Sway a Demon Heart

“The traditions in Sun are less brutal,” I agreed, reminding myself to be soft and innocent. It was natural to be joyful and sweet in Sun, but so difficult here when I wanted to rage and burn at the injustice I saw.

“I hear you have just as much a violent streak as our lord,” another noble said, nodding toward Tyr, who stiffened imperceptibly. “Lord Tyr told us of your fight in Oneiros. That you burned Scathanna’s guards to ash with nothing more than a thought. That it took five of them and a broken leg to subdue you.”

I glanced at Tyr, uncertain how to respond. It wasn’t untrue, and I had certainly wielded my fire unrestrained against Scathanna’s brutes when she had taken the palace in Oneiros. Tyr had been held at knifepoint, and something protective and fierce in me had snapped. I didn’t like to think about it, and I wasn’t proud of the deaths I had caused. They had been a necessity to protect my mate.

Tyr met my eyes, his gaze somehow both proud and apologetic. The Pull gave a little purring roll in my chest, and I swallowed at the need I suddenly felt there.

“Lord Tyr exaggerated my involvement, I’m sure,” I said, attempting to diminish the attention on me and giving the noble a sweet smile. “I merely did what I could to defend our capital.” I glanced back up at Tyr, whose expression was unreadable.

“And what of the border?” another noble cut in. “Lord Tyr cannot have lied to us with stories of the fire-wielding lady who burned the Shadow casters to nothing?”

I ground my teeth, cursing Tyr and his stories. Again, they weren’t untrue, but they were very different from the persona I had cultivated in Shadow. I noticed Draven and Tenebris looking on and listening with interest as they moved toward us. Shyama wasn’t far behind them.

“Again, Lord Tyr has exaggerated my abilities and involvement,” I said dismissively. “No doubt to embarrass me in front of all of you.”

The nobility laughed, as I hoped they would, and Tyr grinned wickedly as he played along, lifting his glass in a mock salute. His eyes were sad though, and I knew his praise of me had been genuine. It warmed me again, dulling the edge of shame I felt at my use of violence.

“I wonder, my lady,” said another noble who held my eyes with a lecherous stare, “if your blood tastes like fire.”

The nobles from Blood laughed again, several licking their sharpened fangs as if offering to taste. Tyr’s face had gone stony, a mask of rage as he began to bare his own fangs in reply.

“No one will be tasting the lady’s blood,” Tyr growled, his voice one of menacing promise. The nobles around the table stopped laughing, looking nervously at their lord.

I sighed, wondering how best to remind Tyr that I could and would look after myself

A choking noise pulled my attention from Tyr and his territorial nonsense, as the room turned to see one of the contestants from Shadow fall to his knees. Draven cursed, lunging to catch the male, and Tyr rose hurriedly, shouting at his staff to fetch a healer.

I rose and rushed to Draven’s side. The demon was purple, his jaw slack and eyes rolled back and unseeing. Draven shook his head. The male was already gone.

“Itcouldhavebeenany number of poisons,” Elara said as we spoke through the mirror later that night.

Tyr had cleared the castle after all of the guests and contestants had been questioned using blood magic. None admitted to poisoning the contestant, and Tyr had insisted the remaining contestants stay in their rooms until the next trial, with all meals being brought to them by his staff.

“It must have been someone not present at the dinner then,” I said thoughtfully, frowning as I toyed with the ribbon on my robe.

“Blood magic then?” Elara asked, looking serious. “Any member of Tyr’s court could have used it against the contestant.”

I shook my head. “They were questioned about that too. And what reason would Tyr’s court have to influence the choice of lord in another?”

“Maybe someone who wants my position,” a voice from the door announced as Tyr entered my room. I frowned at his entry. I had assumed I had the only key to this room, but, of course, Tyr would have one, too. “Good evening, Elara. I presume Brigid has caught you up to speed?”

“She has,” Elara said, giving me a quizzical look as Tyr came to stand over my shoulder.

“I didn’t invite him here,” I said, recognizing her look as one of suspicious hopefulness.

“No, I’m intruding,” Tyr agreed, looking down at our friend and Queen in the mirror. “I needed to check that Brigid’s room wasn’t compromised.”

“I’ll leave you to it then,” Elara said, clearly torn between her worry for me and her hope that Tyr and I could reconcile. “Let me know if you find anything out. Do you need us to come?”

“We’ll manage,” I said, waving her off. “I know you’re busy with the clinic. We will see you for the third trial.”

Elara nodded, smiling tightly as I closed the spell for the mirror. I turned in annoyance to Tyr, who was still fully dressed in his fine clothes, although somewhat untucked and disheveled. “You couldn’t knock?”

“I did knock,” he replied tiredly, perching on the back of a small settee as he regarded me. “You didn’t answer.”

“Because I was busy,” I said, gesturing to the mirror.

Tyr shrugged. “I was worried.”