Page 25 of Grimoire Omens

“She matters not at the moment, seeing as how you are the one the dark prince is after.”

“So I heard. Did you know he wants me to be his queen?”

“More like a pawn he can use,” Ulseere’s sour reply.

I whirled. “And you’re going to tell me you’re different? Because that would be a lie. Or are you going to claim you aren’t using me as a lure for Gryvak?”

“If that were true, I wouldn’t have left you alone,” he retorted.

“If you hadn’t taken off, Gryvak wouldn’t have shown his face. I’m thinking you did it on purpose to let him think you were gone, and then, when you knew he’d taken the bait, you swooped in, only Gryvak proved wilier than you expected and managed to escape.”

Judging by the way his jaw tightened and that tiny nerve in his cheek jumped, I’d guessed right.

“You weren’t in danger. Gryvak wants you alive.”

“Me yes, but not Beatrice or anyone else. Because of your ill-advised trap, the marketplace is destroyed. People’s livelihoods ruined. Homes wrecked. Beatrice almost died. Hell, for all we know, people did.” Nothing but a stony expression. “Do you feel nothing at all?”

“I will do what I must to capture Gryvak.”

“At the expense of others.”

“Better a little damage now than your world conquered,” his harsh reply.

“Do you think so little of humans that you believe Gryvak would actually succeed?”

“You have no idea the terror he can unleash. The demons you’ve encountered thus far? Weaklings compared to what Gryvak could summon should he manage to open another portal.”

“You mean there’s worse than the one that throws fireballs?”

“Aerial demons that can spray acid and fire. Tunneling worms that can collapse buildings from below without warning. Succubae that will seduce your leaders and military generals. And that’s just a few of the demons you’d have to worry about. Gryvak with his magic is capable of great damage on his own.”

“So are you. Why should I believe you’re the good guy in this?”

His brows arched. “What have I done to cause harm?”

“Nothing. Yet.” I pointed a finger at him. “But you’re just as capable of evil as Gryvak. Who’s to say once the competition is gone you won’t be the one to try and take over the world.”

He snorted. “I have no interest in ruling.”

“Why not?”

“Because sycophants and bureaucracy are annoying.”

Fair point. “Let’s say you do manage to capture or kill Gryvak, how are you planning to take him home? And don’t tell me you can do it yourself. Gryvak made it clear your kind can’t open doorways between our worlds.”

His lips pressed into a thin line.

“Well?” I prodded, crossing my arms.

“I will require the aid of a human witch to return to the Infernal Dimension.”

“Meaning me. Meaning you should be nicer.”

“It doesn’t have to be you specifically.”

“Except I have the Grimoire with the spell.”

“You performed a summoning. Opening a portal is simpler, and any witch will do.”