Page 141 of A Forgery of Fate

I felt the demon’s icy presence right away, crawling through the window and slipping into my workroom. I thought about calling for Caisan, but I pretended to continue painting. Shani had taken the form of a small sparrow. I waited until she fluttered behind my back, one claw reaching for the wooden handle of my Scroll, before I grabbed her.

I held her by the wings over my candle. “What are you doing here?”

Shani blew out the flame, looking unimpressed. “Is that how you greet a friend?”

“You’re no friend,” I hissed. I pointed my brush to the Scroll. “Try anything and I’ll paintyouinto Oblivion. I know your watery hide well enough to do it in three strokes.”

Shani scoffed, but the twitch of her beak suggested that she believed me. “If the Dragon King wanted to abduct you, he wouldn’t need the likes of me. It’d be as easy as drowning you in your sleep.”

“Lies. He sent you because you’re the only one of his minions who can enter this manor. That changes tonight.” My voice rang with authority. “Now, what do you want?”

The demon melted into water, slipping out of my grip. She shifted into her phoenix form in midair, coming to perch on one of my paint pots. “His Eternal Majesty sends his regards. He demands that you return the Scroll of Oblivion.”

“No.”

“In exchange, he will—”

“What?” I snapped. “He won’t murder my family? I’ve heard all this before; my answer is no.”

“Don’t interrupt,” Shani trilled. “It’s rude.” The demon cleared her throat. “In exchange, the Great and Eternal One shall lift the curse that afflicts Lord Elangui of the Westerly Seas and return his pearl to him.”

Thunder cracked the sky, but the clamor of my pounding heart drowned it out. “He can do that?”

“Gods do as they like.” Shani folded her wings. “There are terms, naturally. You and Elang must take the Oath of Ai’long and swear your allegiance to the Dragon King.”

“Then what? All will be forgotten, and he’ll give up tryingto kill Elang?” I pounded my desk in frustration. “Really, Shani? You of all demons believe that?”

She shot me a warning look. “Never has the Eternal One extended such magnanimity. I would advise you to gratefully accept.”

“Never has the Eternal One extended such magnanimity,”I repeated, “because never has he been so close to losing. He’s afraid.”

Shani’s feathers froze into icicles, chilling the air. “If you do not accept, the Dragon King will smite you with his wrath. You will die, as will everyone and everything you love.”

“I’ll die? If I recall, Nazayun swore not to kill me.”

“There won’t be a curse to break if Elang is dead,” said Shani flatly. “His promise will be nullified.”

Just like that, the fire went out of me, leaving me cold, beaten.

Shani sneered. “If you want to save him, you will accept.”

I searched her red eyes, certain I’d find some sign of my friend within.And what about you?I thought.Can I saveyou?

There was a part of me that still hoped, that stillbelievedshe would stay true to us in the end.

“You can tell the Great and Eternal One that I refuse his most generous offer.”

Shani sniffed. “Stupid krill. Very well, then, I’ll see you at the Resonant Tide.” She spread her wings. “You’ll have until sundown to save Elang’s heart—and yours.”

Petty as ever, she iced the paints in my pots before she evaporated into the air.

I picked up my frozen paints, placing them near the brazier to thaw.

“You’ll have until sundown to save Elang’s heart,”I repeated slowly,“…and yours.”

It was a taunt, obviously. But what didmyheart have to do with it?

Suddenly, realization hit—so hard I nearly toppled off my chair. A shiver raced down my spine.

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