I pass Kalix in the hall, unsure what I’m supposed to say. His brow arches as I pass without a word. His hand darts out, catching my arm. “Whoa, whoa, whoa…slow it down, little witch.”
I keep my eyes lowered, “Kalix, I’m sorry. I—"
He cuts me off. “Millie, we all have bad shit in us. Sometimes our demons break loose. That’s all that happened.” His hand drops from my arm. “Honestly, even Cage can set me off.”
His acceptance disarms me. I don’t know how to respond. I’m not used to being met with understanding instead of judgement in light of my mistakes.
What kind of demons must he carry to say that so easily?
“I’m not good, Kalix,” I murmur. “You all seem good, and I’m not.”
“Good and bad are just labels,” he shrugs. “Sometimes, to do great things, we must become the worst versions of ourselves. Stop punishing yourself.”
Iris's door creaks open. Her face is streaked with sweat and dried blood, and her braid is undone in a wild halo of frizz. Her overalls are splattered with bloodstains—some fresh, some darkened. She looks worn to the bone. Yet, despite that, themoment he sees her, Kalix lights up. He doesn’t look away from her once. I’m not even sure he blinks.
“Ready for bed, Rainbow?” he asks, offering her his arm.
“Goodnight, Millie,” Iris yawns with a tired smile, slipping her arm into his.
Kalix guides her down the hall, moving slow and steadily. His free hand hovers beside her in case she falters. She makes it to the end before her knees buckle, and Kalix scoops her up in one motion. I hear the soft murmur of praise against her hair, whispered comforts meant only for her.
Necromancers push themselves too far. Iris is a true testament to that. Kalix is often the one catching her when she falls.
Little star.
The Nightmother’s voice slides through my mind like a silken noose.
I hurry to my room, and my heart hammers against my chest. The moment I step inside, I drop to my knees, bowing my head and focusing in on her presence.
“Mother, I have been collared, my powers restricted. Will you free me from this restraint?”
You asked, you shall receive. Feed…that is all I request of thee.
My gums throb. The hunger rises instantly in response. She would unbind me if I obey.
Feeding means risk. Losing control. A real massacre. This past week, they only glimpsed the stain of my magic—tainting me, not taking over.
I push the idea aside. Not yet. I can’t risk hurting Iris, Felix, or Kalix. Not yet.
Not even as my gums ache and saliva pools in my mouth.
Not even as she shows me images of something that will make me hurt them all.
Their blood.
Chapter 34
Cage
“WE COULD ENTER THROUGH A servant door,” Kalix offers, suggesting yet another way into the manipulator's estate without getting us caught.
“Kalix, you’re well over six feet tall. The entrance won’t matter once you step inside,” Iris counters, pointing out the oversight.
“They’ll try to compel us the moment we’re in, right?” Felix asks, sounding far too intrigued by the idea of a dominant woman. His enthusiasm makes me want to slap him.
“Manipulators crave total domination and it’s an easy task for them to achieve without draining themselves,” Millicent says coolly. “They’ll target anyone whose eyes don’t show signs of submission,” Millicent says.
I’m not used to having Millicent in our planning sessions. Her presence is rare, but Felix insisted it was time to fully integrateher. It has only been a few days since she woke, but Iris has sworn along with her that she is fine to proceed. Now she stands beside Iris, leaning over the documents spread across the table.
