Page 65 of Dancing With Demons

“I’m pretty sure that is no one’s name,” I muttered.

“Their magic is so cool,” Dora gushed. “They don’t just speak to animals. They also understand the whispers of the trees and plants. They can make the tiniest seed blossom into a full-grown tree in minutes, and they can do something called tree-striding. As in they can walk through an oak tree in one part of the realm, and walk out of an oak three hundred miles away in an instant.”

“Wow, that is actually cool. I wish we were learning about stuff like this in Connard’s class instead of listening to his endless bigoted droning.”

Pushing open the door, I peeked inside, saw it was empty, and then gestured for Dora to come through.

That night’s dinner was chimichurri grilled flank steak with creamy mashed potatoes and grilled corn on the cob with a glass of red wine and a mango sorbet for dessert. Far be it for me to say something positive about hell, but I couldn’t deny that the two of us never ate this well when we were topside.

I stole the coffee table from Ronin’s room and set it in ours for us to enjoy our meal. The door slammed open in the outer room before the fork could reach my lips.

“I know you’re in there,” Ronin barked. “Get out here. Now.”

Sighing, I said goodbye to my peaceful dinner and got up. “Stay and eat, D. I’ll be right back.”

Ronin was waiting for me by the fireplace. He spun on me, clutching his phone in his hand. I could hear it vibrating from where I stood. “What the hell did you say to Raven, Sauda, and the others?”

“Me?” I crooked a brow. “Does that mean they admitted it was my idea? The last I heard from them, they were jumping all over each other to take credit.”

His eyes narrowed to slits. “That was the last I heard from them too. All of them swearing up, down, and sideways that this empire of sin shit was their grand idea, but it’s got you written all over it, mortal.”

I hummed. “Why don’t you look happy? The ladies thought it was genius. So good, it saved me from the beating Raven desperately wanted to give me.”

“I bet it did,” he shot back. “They’ll never say it, but they all respect you now. In their eyes, you’re not much more than a worthless weakling. But now you’re a clever worthless weakling.”

Ouch. The promotion is nice, but it still stings to hear how low I measured in their estimation. “So what’s the problem?”

Ronin’s eyebrow twitched. “What’s the problem? All fucking five of them have been calling and hounding my father’s advisors—selling him on the dream of retirement. They’ve been going on and on about how Father won’t have to lift a finger with not one or two, but six rulers on the throne.”

“And he won’t,” I chirped, clapping my hands. “What good news for Papa Sloth. He must be thrilled. So, when’s the wedding date? Or should I say, dates?”

“It’s not happening,” came through clenched teeth. “I’m not marrying one or any of them—which you’ve now made a million times harder. Before, I could delay claiming I needed time to choose the right alliance for House Sloth. Now you’ve got them believing there need be no choosing—all Houses can align with sloth.”

“What’s the problem? It sounds like they can.”

“They can’t,” Ronin sliced off, staring into my eyes. “Why in hell would I make a woman my queen, if that woman isn’t you.”

I stilled, smile freezing on my face. The question went into my ear, passed through my mind, was immediately deleted, and was gone before it made it out the other side. No part of me could deal with what he just said, so I wasn’t even going to acknowledge it was said. The end.

“Well, I’d reconsider if I were you, Belphe,” I breezed. “Those ladies need to get out from under the thumbs of their misogynistic fathers, and you need to do what’s best for your House. Win-win.”

Ronin studied me, his head tipping to the side. “Oh, I see why you want these marriages to happen. Did you think if it does, I’d leave you be out of respect for my wives, or for the mere fact that I’d be too busy with all five of them to bother with you?”

I returned one of his devilish smirks with one of my own. “The thought did cross my mind.”

“Then you might want to pull it back, because what will actually happen if your plan comes to be is that one or all of my wives will have you put to death, so that you can’t assassinate them and take the throne—and me—for yourself.”

My eyes bugged. “P-put to death?! Buggering hell, why!? You just said I’m their favorite person now.”

“Why?” Ronin laughed. “Because that’s literally what all of them are planning to do to each other the minute this grand plan is carried out, and power is consolidated into one kingdom of sin. Only two sins will rule on this throne—not six.” He shrugged. “Honestly, that’s why they all both hate and admire you now. You just devised the most brilliant coup in the history of hell.”

“It’s not a coup! It’s a plan for unity and diplomacy.”

Ronin blank-stared at me. “And those words mean...?”

“My gods! What is wrong with this place?! It’s—”

“Hell?” he finished, grinning away.