I extended a hand to the woman. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Fina didn’t respond with her words. She just jumped forward and wrapped her arms around me. I barely had the time to move my arms over her head as she clung to me. Her tears and sobbing spoke volumes. So I let her cry. There wasn’t a reason to stop her. I embraced her and held her.

“It hurts.” The first words out of Fina caught me by surprise, which were immediately followed by more sobbing, but I took her words as progress.

I closed my eyes. “I can only imagine.”

After Silver died, I was a bit of a mess. He was someone I could call a friend, but he wasn’t my mate. Fina lost her mate last year during the fire season. I never asked how; just asking her when was painful enough for her. And this was her first mating season without him. Every year, she’ll be reminded of his death and how she won’t be able to move on.

I rubbed her back with one hand and ran my other hand through her red hair. She slowly quieted down. After wiping her face on her arm, she straightened up and looked me in the eye.

“Sorry, but thank you,” Fina said. She wrapped her tail around her waist as her stomach growled. “Um, food?”

I smiled. “Yes, Lentilee left you some food.”

Extending an arm towards the scent of food, I led Fina to the table of food. Her steps seemed a bit shaky. I noticed her leaning on me as she walked. It wasn’t much to help hold her up, and I gladly did it.

She’s just as fatigued as Lexia and me, maybe more so. She probably spent the morning crying. Actually, how much of the last two weeks has she spent crying? Like us, she probably didn’t get out much. We helped around the house sometimes, but we never left the house.

Fina almost climbed into the chair with how slowly her body was moving. I grabbed a chair and sat next to her, keeping a hand on her back while she ate. She saved the fat for last. Fina has willpower that I don’t. After the last piece of fat entered her mouth, the lynx almost looked content. Her eyelids looked like they drooped a bit, but that was likely because she was ready for a nap.

I watched Fina lick her fingers clean with her eyes closed. And while I was scratching her back, it felt like she was purring.

That’s adorable. But any port in a storm. Maybe I’ll stay with her while she naps.

Fina turned towards me after she finished cleaning her claws. “Can you stay? I need a nap.”

It was hard not to smile at the woman. Maybe if I smile enough, she will too. “Of course. I help.”

Fina flattened her ears as she quickly snapped to look at the table. I thought I saw just the slightest hint of a smile.

“You help,” she said in a whisper so quiet I barely heard her.

While we walked back to her room, she wasn’t leaning on me as much, but she never let go. I sat on the edge of her bed as she curled up into a tight ball around her pillow. Wow, she’s flexible. Even though there was a twelve-inch height difference between us, our tails were the same length. Fina curled her tail around her legs to cover her face.

Her cuteness is irresistible.

I didn’t move and watched her until I heard her breathing change into a rhythmic cadence of sleep. The more I watched her, the more my eyes felt heavy.

It wouldn’t hurt to take a nap here. Lexia’s taking one too.

Gently, I laid down on the bed next to the lynxkin. I didn’t want to wake her, and I don’t think I did. She stirred for a moment, nudging closer to me, and started purring, but her heart rate didn’t change. I closed my eyes and let myself drift to sleep.

A loud bang woke me up.

I shot up, and Fina leaped out of the bed, her fur puffing out in every direction. After scrambling out of the bed, I watched Fina. Her eyes darted everywhere as her ears swiveled constantly.

There was another bang. It sounded like wood slamming against other wood.

Fina hunched over and extended her claws. I followed her lead. The sounds came from outside, and if Fina is in fight mode, then I better be too. I let my vision slip into my focused state. The side effect of my vision turning red was almost comforting.

A third sound resounded. I was able to pinpoint it as being on the other side of the house. When I turned to look at Fina, she nodded. So I took the lead and headed towards her window.

We climbed out and crouched low. There was nobody around to see, but I heard footsteps heading towards us. Without looking at Fina, I waved my hand down to tell her to get lower. Then it sounded like there was a flapping of wings.

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“I know you’re there, my pet,” a husky feminine voice called out.

No way!

To spite me, the sin of lust flapped into view. But she didn’t look like how I remembered her. I know my memory isn’t like my sister’s, but it isn’t that bad.

The demon leaned forward while still flapping her wings. “Now I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is yes. While I‘ve learned something incredible, there were some—how should I say this—aesthetical alterations.” She straightened up and waved her hands at her new cherry-red skin. There still wasn’t an inch of cloth covering anything, exposing her to everyone. Her hooves were also a strange sight.

I created a spiked ball of ice and threw it at the demon’s wing. She flicked her wrist. A wave of water washed over the projectile and carried it away. There was a distinct scent of salt in the air.

The demoness pouted in midair. “That wasn’t friendly. I came here to chat, and you throw things at me.”

I growled. “If you come down here, I will properly tear you apart limb from limb until you are nothing more than a pile of dismembered limbs that nobody will be able to put together.”

She laughed. “I may have taken that Rider’s power, but I didn’t inherit his stupidity. I’m not going anywhere near you.”

“You want something,” Fina called out from behind me.

The sin of lust grinned at us. “Ah, finally. Someone who uses her head for more than just wanton acts of visceral carnage. Although, even I can admire such acts.” She gave me a wink. “But right now, I need you to do something for me.”

I created two spiked ice projectiles and threw them one after another. The demon sighed and flapped her wings hard. My makeshift missiles flew harmlessly under her as she flew higher in the air.

“And why would I ever do anything for you?” Come on. Why can’t I hit her? Hold still.

“This interests you too. But if you don’t want to hear it...” The sin of lust shrugged and closed her eyes.

I created another spike and prepared to throw it until Fina grabbed my arm.

She shook her head. “No good. If she wanted to hurt us, she would have done so as we napped.”

“You really should listen to her. She uses her head.” The demon pointed at Fina. “But back to business. There’s another rider.”

My vision returned to normal. “What? How?”

The demoness pinched the bridge of her nose. “Did you really think that Greed would put all her eggs in one basket? No, she had Envy working in another part of the continent. Envy summoned the Rider of Death. And he’s headed this way.”

“How do you know?” Fina asked.

“I’m bringing him here.” The nonchalant tone of the demon worried me. “I know something that I shouldn’t. And the other riders won’t take kindly to that. So they’re drawn to kill me. But I want you to kill them first, or at least try to. Just like you did the Rider of Pain. He was delicious, by the way.”

“He, he was dead.” I turned to face Fina. “Wasn’t he?”

I turned to face the demon when she started laughing. “Oh, my sweet, dear little pet. You have so much to learn.” The demon wiped a tear from her eye before continuing. “An attack like the one your sister did would certainly do in a sin. But to kill a rider, you can’t leave the body. You need to destroy them utterly.”

“Thanks for telling me how to kill you and all your little friends.” Now just get down here so I can tear you apart.

The succubus smirked before chuckling. “Knowing won’t make it any easier. Also, I’m not friendly with them anymore. To them, I‘m nothing more than an abomination that needs eliminating.”

“Why tell us? Why now?” Fina tried to pull me back but couldn’t.

The flying demon looked almost bored. “This might sound odd to you, but I don’t want to die. Yes, if I die here, I’ll return to the demon realm, but that is a fate worse than death. Here I stand a chance to live.”

There’s something not right here. “But what’s your goal? If you simply wanted to live, you wouldn’t be acting like you want something more from us. You would just keep running away or hide.” I doubt she’ll just answer me outright. She’s been rather dodgy this entire time.

“I want to kill the demon king,” the demoness said with a straight face.

I was wrong.

I shook my head. “You, what?”

Lust crossed her arms as she continued to hover. “You heard me.”

“Why?” That’s mine and Daric’s job. I don’t get it.

“I’ve had the taste of true power, and now I simply want more.” She turned her head and waved a hand. “My plan is to absorb the power from all four riders and challenge the demon king while he is in this world. Where our power would be the most equal.”

Fina and I couldn’t help but stare at the blatant declaration of a potential takeover.

The demon floated towards the ground. “Why am I telling you this?” She didn’t touch the ground, but she was close. “Because the enemy of my enemy is supposed to be my friend.” She grimaced for a moment before forcing a smile again. “But seeing you so on edge makes me believe you’re not my friend, but I‘m not your biggest threat. And we might be able to work out an arrangement where both parties benefit.”

I wanted to shove Fina back and charge her badly. My instincts were on the fence about it too. They really wanted to tear that smug look off her face, but something about her new form left me feeling cautious, more so now that she was closer to the ground.

I can’t believe the words that are about to come out of my mouth. “What kinda deal?”

The demon’s tail flicked behind her as her grin grew wide. She extended a hand. “So the big bad wolf can negotiate. I...”

“I haven’t agreed to anything yet!” I snapped.

She recoiled her arm and stood silently for a moment. After she resumed her usual posture, she nodded. “You’re right, you haven’t agreed—yet.” There was something about the way she said that last word that caused my fur to stand up. “I have no interest in this world. While having my pets here has been fun in the past, I don’t want to limit myself to just this world. The demon king is obsessed with this world, but I can’t figure out why.”

It was hard not to interrupt her again after hearing about multiple worlds. Does that mean there is a way to get to them? Can I go back to Earth? I shook my head. Stop it, Lucia. Now isn’t the time. Concatenate on the extra powerful demon in front of you.

“The deal is simple: help me become the new demon queen, and I’ll leave your world in peace for as long as I reign.” The demon’s wing flapped hard, causing the demon to take to the sky again. “I don’t expect an answer right now, but know that I’ll be watching. You’re going to help me one way or another. So why not get something out of it?”

I created another ice spike and hurled it at her as hard as I could. She twisted and dodged it easily. The demon laughed as she turned invisible and hid the sound of her wings flapping.

I turned to look at Fina. She leaned forward and focused her ears on me. “How am I going to explain this to Mom?” I asked as I titled my head back.