Page 163 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

I spoke before Arabella could. “My wife and I share a link, as married couples often do, especially those gifted with certain arcane legacies.” I paused. “Am I required to detail every aspect of our private life?”

Zaraiah’s perfect brows arched. “How fascinating. The heroic bloodline of the Evenfalls merged with your... singular heritage. Unprecedented, wouldn’t you say?”

She’d spent years rummaging for secrets about my background. Evidently, she thought today was the perfect time to corner me. I forced a dismissive smile. “Must I be planning something? Perhaps I married for companionship.”

“You’ve never done anything without a motive,” Zaraiah countered, gaze flicking to Arabella. “Since I’ve known you, it’s always been about advantage. And I knew you quite intimately, Kazimir.”

I smoothed my coat sleeve, ignoring the swirl of shadows that betrayed my growing anger. “That was long ago and irrelevant.Unless you came here for bedroom gossip, which, frankly, is beneath all of us.”

She gave a poisonous smile. “Is it? I wonder if Lady Blackrose knows the depth of your imagination when properly motivated.”

Arabella’s eyes blazed, but I cut in. “You wanted to discuss magical disturbances. I suggest we remain on topic.”

“Indeed,” Lady Vespera murmured, straightening. “The Syndicate detected vestiges of dominion magic radiating from Skyspire. We suspect you could upset the power balance if you continue on this path.”

“How dramatic,” I drawled. “Our charter allows independent research unless it threatens other Chairs.”

“Research or weaponization?” Vespera challenged. “These energies are not minor experiments.”

I shrugged, shadows curling out from under my throne. I didn’t bother to rein them in. “Speculation. I see no clear evidence presented here, just your prattling about vague concerns.”

Zaraiah leaned forward. “If you want to quell our fears, show us what you’re doing. Provide transparency. Then we won’t need to worry.”

I gave a short laugh. “Invite the Syndicate to ransack my private workrooms? Absolutely not. My projects remain my own, under the protections of the Charter.”

Vespera’s expression shifted to something more formal. “Then I invoke Protocol Seven. When a Chair holder’s actions risk destabilizing the region, they must provide full disclosure upon unanimous demand, or face censure.”

I stared coldly. “Be very sure you want to cross that line. We both know invoking Protocol Seven without cause carries penalties. I can think of a certain former Chair who still can’t hold a spoon.”

“We’re prepared to face any verdict,” Vespera said, unflinching. “Syndicate stability comes first.”

I glanced at Arabella. She watched me steadily, clearly taking in every word. “Fine,” I said at last, “then I invoke Article Three, Paragraph Four: proprietary research can remain confidential if I offer assurances of no direct threat to the Syndicate or its interests.”

The Alchemist’s twitching fingers froze mid-air. “So you refuse disclosure?”

“I uphold my rights under the Charter,” I corrected. “My work is delicate, and revealing it now would compromise everything.”

“You ask us to trust your word,” Lady Vespera said skeptically.

I spread my hands in a near-mocking gesture. “For almost a decade, the Syndicate has found me reliable enough to hold a seat among you. My integrity hasn’t changed.”

Zaraiah laughed. “How conveniently vague. Forgive us if we find that insufficient.”

Shadows licked up the arms of my throne, responding to my temper. “I don’t recall asking for your forgiveness. You can speak to my shadow warriors if you’re not satisfied.”

Zaraiah and Vespera exchanged a knowing look, some silent conversation passing between them. Then Zaraiah stepped back into the fray. “You’re so fun when cornered, Kazimir. It’s almost nostalgic.”

I sighed. “I’m not cornered—I’m bored. Is there anything else, or shall we end this charade?”

She cast a smug glance at Arabella, then pressed on. “I recall your fascination with demonic anatomy. Has your new wife heard stories of that incident?”

My pulse spiked as a hot spark of terror burned beneath my anger. Of everything she could have mentioned, that was theworst. Arabella caught my reaction, confusion clear in her face, but Zaraiah wore a self-satisfied smirk.

“You mistake desperation for strategy,” I said harshly. “But you’ve always lacked genuine understanding.”

Zaraiah’s smile curdled. “Strategy? So that’s what you call it, letting that monster?—”

CRACK.

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