“You need to eat! Eat all you like. There’s plenty where this came from.”

  Ivy’s blush faded slightly as she took the bread, then delicately nibbled at it. She was still a princess, no matter how hungry she was... and she must be absurdly hungry after living on broth and water for eight days.

  Trent wondered if Ivy and Victoria would keep to the same manners if they were alone. If it was just the two of them at a table, would they devour their food as voraciously as he and his parents had often done at home? Bethany poked his side.

  “Husband?”

  Trent hopped up. “Right. Yes. Everyone, could I have your attention?”

  Ivy nibbled her bread as Kari watched him with one eyebrow cocked. Bethany watched with her hands resting on her belly. Revca rose as well, though she turned to keep an eye on their surroundings.

  Trent pondered how best to explain a decision that would alarm his wives. He would start by focusing on the positives. He had good reasons for his decision.

  “While exploring the morass that had claimed Ivy’s soul, I met another chaos mage.”

  Kari’s eyes widened. “How long had he been there?”

  “Three hundred years.”

  “Gods! I can’t imagine what it was like to be trapped in the Firmament that long. How’d he survive? Is he still sane?”

  “Sane enough. So far as I could tell.”

  “And who is he? Did he mention an academy or a province? Where’s he from?”

  “No. He came from... somewhere far away.”

  Kari frowned. “Your heart is pounding all wrong, hon. What aren’t you telling me?”

  Trent knew how Kari felt about devil mages. He knew how her academy felt as well. Yet he wasn’t going to lie to his wife, and Kari had repeatedly shown him that her loyalty was first to him and their tribe, not her academy. She had also proven open-minded.

  Kari’s gaze narrowed as she realized what he hadn’t said. “Is he human?”

  “I... don’t actually know.”

  Kari groaned and rubbed her temples. “Gods. What was the deal?”

  “Only that he could ride back to this realm while attached to my soul, and that he would teach me to use the chaos mage spell forms he’s mastered over many battles. He cannot influence or control me in any way, and the moment I say he’s gone, he’s gone.”

  Kari’s fist clenched in worry. “You can’t trust a devil mage.”

  Revca stepped to his side. “I agree. However, I heard all the details of this deal while in the Firmament. It is not ideal, but it also does not place Trent at risk. The mage now attached to his soul cannot control or influence him. He must also leave at Trent’s command.”

  Ivy stopped nibbling on her bread enough to speak up. “I heard the deal as well. I do not believe there are any loopholes Spike can exploit. The deal was simple, direct, and clear.”

  Kari shook her head. “I don’t like this.”

  Trent firmed his expression. “None of us do. But if not for Spike⁠—”

  “Spike?” Kari interrupted with a frown. “That’s his name?”

  “He wouldn’t give his real name. It’s one we agreed upon. But to finish what I was saying, without Spike, I’d never have found Ivy’s soul in the morass that had claimed it. And when we were ambushed by devil mages in the Firmament⁠—”

  “You were ambushed?” Bethany pushed up with a grunt. “How many?”

  “Two devil mages, and they seized Revca as a hostage. They were going to cut her mage bond and kill her, but Spike saved her on my orders. In the space of one breath, he used a chaos mage spell form that allowed him to kill both devil mages and save Revca from harm.”

  Kari frowned as she considered him. “What sort of form?”

  Trent decided to test his new bond. “Spike? What is the spell form you used in the Firmament to destroy those mages? Does it have a name?”

  Spike answered immediately, and Trent nodded. “It’s called chaos step.”

  Kari was looking increasingly incredulous. “And he can use that form in the Firmament? Despite mages being unable to channel ether there?”

  Trent asked about that as well, then nodded. “Blade mages are capable of killing devil mages in the Firmament. They can summon an ether blade, which is, well... a blade made of ether. He used that blade to cut apart both mages and others in the realm of dreams.”

  Kari shuddered. “That’s terrifying.”

  “And useful.” Trent held Kari’s worried gaze. “I know the dangers of this deal. I also considered what we could gain if I can learn how to channel the rare ether I can draw after we defeat a devil mage in battle. All Spike asked was the freedom to pass on. It was a good deal.”

  Kari eyed him in frustration. “So is he gonna be there when we fuck?”

  Trent blinked. He actually hadn’t considered that question until now. Yet before he could fumble through even forming the question, Spike spoke in his head.

  “Ask, and I will sleep until you call for me. I have no interest in observing the minutiae of mortal lives, nor your private affairs. When I sleep, I will be conscious of nothing, including whatever you might be doing. When you wish me conscious again, simply will it.”

  Trent nodded in relief. “No. He won’t be conscious or awake unless I ask him to be, which will only be in a situation where I require his guidance in combat. He also won’t be staying permanently. Once he’s passed on what he knows, he’s going to depart from my body.”

  Kari crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “I still don’t like it.”

  They all waited anxiously for Kari to say more. As their ambassador to the Primal Academy, which explicitly opposed any devil deals, her opinion held weight. After a long moment, she uncrossed her arms.

  “I also can’t say it won’t be good to have someone who knows how to use that ether of yours, even if he is a devil mage. Just don’t agree to anything else, hon. At least not without talking to us first.”

  Trent loved her all the more for looking past her biases. “I won’t. What I’ve described is the extent of our deal. For what it’s worth, Spike has dealt with me honestly since we met, and aided both in Ivy’s recovery and saving Revca from those devil mages. I feel we can trust him.”

  Ruby perked up. “Me too, Mistress! He seems like a nice man.”

  “I hope that’s the case.” Kari relaxed. “So... what now?”

  Trent looked at the sky to find the sun a great deal further down the horizon than it had been when he stabbed himself. “The Enchanter asked for time to survey some nearby monument, and Kari, you already said Ivy needs to rest before we travel. These ruins are defensible, and they have a number of places that we can shelter to stay out of the rain. Let’s camp here for the night. We’ll set off for the portal tomorrow, once Ivy has her strength back.”

  Ivy stood hesitantly. “I’m fine now. Really, I’m certain I can walk.”

  Kari touched her arm. “Don’t push yourself. Trent’s already said we can stay the night, and I’m inclined to agree with him. Plus, after all my worryin’ today, a rest would do me good.”

  Bethany took his arm. “Yes. A rest is warranted, and I could also use a foot massage.”

  Trent glanced at her. “Right now?”

  “Soon, husband.” She squeezed his arm. “For now, if we intend to stay the night, let’s get our tents up and ready a firepit. Then you can give me a foot massage.”

  Ruby stood hopefully. “Master, can I also have a foot massage?”

  Trent smiled at her. “I’ll certainly do my best.”

  Kari walked over. “That devil mage still in your head?”

  Trent pondered, then focused on his bond with Spike. “I’d like you to sleep for now. I’ll summon you when I need you again.”

  “Understood. Until then.”

  As Spike’s thought faded, so did the faint feeling of his presence. Only in its absence did Trent realize what he’d felt. Spike’s consciousness was like a faint chill always present on his skin, scarcely noticeable until it vanished and Trent warmed again.

  He nodded confidently. “He’s gone.”

  “Good. Now, you and me are gonna have a long talk about everything he told you.”

  “I really should⁠—”

  Bethany squeezed his arm. “It’s fine, husband. We’ll set up camp while you two speak. Ruby? Why don’t you gather stones for a firepit? And Ivy? You can help me set up our tents while Trent and Kari discuss our next move.”

  Kari frowned at her. “You shouldn’t be doing all this heavy work, hon.”

  “I’m pregnant, not an invalid. But if we need anyone to bend down and stake a pole, Ivy can do it. Agreed?”

  Ivy nodded calmly. “Agreed.”

  Kari took his arm. “All right, hon. Let’s get outta their way. We need to talk.”

  Trent nodded as they walked off to give the rest of his tribe room to set up camp. He and Kari strolled for a bit until they found a stone outcropping that had likely once been some sort of building. Earth and grass had buried it deep, but the stone roof remained.

  Kari settled with her legs dangling off the edge, and Trent settled beside her. After a moment, she rested against him, and he wrapped his arm around her. She sighed.

  “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I don’t trust it. Devil mages never offer anything without wantin’ something in return.”

  “He wants to cease to be, Kari. I felt that in his head. He wasn’t lying about it.”

  “Just ’cause that’s what he says he wants doesn’t mean that’s all he wants. Also, what he wants could change, especially once he sees the Enchanter’s monastery and what the realm is like right now. I can see how three hundred years in the Firmament would make anyone want to stop being there, but now? He’s back. He’s in this realm again. And he might want to stay.”

  “All I need to do is ask him to depart, and he will.”

  “Sure, but what if he convinces you that you don’t want him to go? What if you start using these chaos spell forms only he knows, and you start feelin’ like using those is the only way you can protect the princess, or me, or your tribe?”

  “That won’t happen.”

  “I know you feel that way, hon, but it’s happened again and again throughout history. We got all the records back at the academy. It’s not all about what they offer. It’s about what they make you want. That’s how they get their hooks in you, and then they drag you down.”

  “I’m well aware of that. I’m also confident I can continue to serve my princess and protect Dalry with the skills I have in hand. Also, do you remember what Xorumon said when we spoke to him in the Firmament?”

  Kari huffed. “He said a lot. Nothing much of use, though.”

  “Chaos mages may no longer exist in our realm, but Xorumon implied that Lord Adon may have some in his employ. We just found one who is neutral. We need to know what they can do if we encounter them, and more importantly, we need to know if we can defeat them in battle.”

  “I ain’t denyin’ any of that, but I needed to say my piece. I know why you agreed to that deal, and I know you had good reasons. Yet every devil deal makes sense when you make it... and it makes more and more sense the longer you got a devil in your head.”

  Trent touched her hand. “All right. I hear you, and I’m willing to do whatever you think is necessary to ensure I don’t fall victim to devil manipulation. What would you suggest?”

  Her features softened. “You’ll really listen?”

  “I will. I love you, but more importantly, I trust you. I won’t let this devil deal drag me down, because you’ll be there to guide me until it ends. So what would you suggest?”

  Her expression hardened. “Promise you’ll keep to this deal and nothin’ else. Don’t accept anything else, even if you feel you got no choice. And once you know whatever spell forms he can teach you, get him gone. He’s not your friend. He’s a threat.”

  Trent nodded. “Agreed.”

  Her lips tightened. “You swear to that?”

  “I swear, Kari. Spike wants dissolution. I want to give it to him. We will both keep to our deal until we both have what we want, and then we will part ways.”

  She breathed out and squeezed his thigh. “I hope it’s that easy.”

  “As do I. But for now? We’ve found Ivy, I’ve found someone who can train me how to channel chaos ether, and the chance to make peace with Corrin is once more within our grasp. I’d consider today a resounding win, and it’s a win we all earned. Our tribe did this.”

  Kari cuddled close again. “Well, when you say it like that, it gets real hard to argue.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lachlan returned once they had supper cooking in a big pot over the campfire. Sapphire and Emerald returned shortly after that, having confirmed that there were no soldiers, or anyone, for that matter, anywhere near these ruins. The Cridor Republic was a vast realm and these ruins were well away from any traveled roads.

  Still, it was a relief to know that both Tallun’s forces and Lord Adon’s were nowhere in evidence. They would set a watch tonight, but Trent wasn’t all that worried about an attack. And if devil mages did attack, well... if his tribe didn’t immediately destroy them, he could learn some new tricks from Spike.

  After supper, Trent ended up giving foot massages to not just Bethany, but Ruby and Kari as well. Ivy declined, though not out of any lack of desire. Trent got the impression she was still thinking about their kiss in the Firmament, especially given the blush on her cheeks.

  If Ivy wanted another kiss and couldn’t ask for it without seeming flighty, allowing him to massage her feet would only make her desire all the more torturous. Meanwhile, Lachlan excused himself to his private tent directly after supper, as he had done every night on the road.

  Trent didn’t know what the man was doing in there. He suspected Lachlan was entering the Firmament to handle matters only he was aware of. Having the man along had turned out to matter little, but Trent still appreciated that he’d come... even if Victoria had to insist.

  Sapphire volunteered to take the first watch alone, but Ruby insisted on joining her. Emerald volunteered for the middle watch, and Ivy offered to join her as well. That left Trent and Kari with the final watch of the night, as they had finally made Bethany agree to sleep.

  She needed rest. The baby needed rest. So she’d reluctantly agreed to sleep a full night’s sleep on their child’s behalf... or however much sleep she could manage while pregnant.

  After night fell and Sapphire and Ruby took up positions around the ruins, Trent crawled into his tent to find Bethany waiting expectantly. Even with her being six months pregnant, he could still take her from behind... which he did. Twice. He would sleep when his wife was satisfied.

  As they cuddled naked in their bedroll, with Bethany as his little spoon, Trent found his hand gently tracing the curve of her belly. A barely perceptible thump followed his palm, and then Bethany laughed softly at the kick. Their child’s kick.

  “I think he knows you’re here, husband.”

  Trent raised an eyebrow. “He?”

  “It’s just a feeling.”

  “I thought we agreed not to know until they came. Did you learn something new?”

  Bethany snuggled more firmly into his hug. “It’s just a feeling. Son or daughter, our first child will be loved and cherished. I can’t explain why I feel our first child will be a boy, but I have grown increasingly certain over the past few weeks.”

  “Mother’s intuition?”

  “Or Mother’s flights of fancy.” She sighed. “We’ll need girls, too, but boys will be the ones to carry our legacy down to future generations. Growing our tribe will be easier if our first child is a boy, since mean lead our tribes, but girl or boy, all our children will have a choice.”

  Trent nodded thoughtfully. “Like you offered me?”

  “Yes, and like my father offered me. I want our tribe to grow strong, but we won’t force any of our children to accept the Windborne way. I was never forced, and neither were my mothers. Two of my sisters chose to take a single husband and join other tribes. We wished them well.”

  “I’m glad. It’s occurred to me recently that I haven’t met most of your extended family. Simply your father and his wife.”

  “Some aren’t even in Dalry. Others have moved to be with their tribes. We had good childhoods and remain close, but my place is with you, husband, as well as with my sister wives, and soon, our children. Still, perhaps we could invite some of them to the royal wedding.”

  “That was the plan. It’s nice that we won’t need to change it.”

  “Very nice.” She craned her neck to glance back at him. “So? How was Ivy?”

  Trent tilted his head. “How do you mean?”

  “She’s been hesitant about being close with you and with us. Do you think that will change now that you’ve saved her soul from an eternity in the Firmament?”

  “After she saved my life, remember?”

  “And lied to you. To us. About a very important and dangerous prophecy.”

  “She’s already apologized to me for that, but I expect we’ll discuss it as a tribe once we get back to the monastery. But to answer your question, yes. I don’t know why she kept her distance before now, but in the Firmament, she let me kiss her⁠—”

  “She let you?” Bethany asked teasingly.

  Trent gently poked her in the side. “Yes. She allowed it, and she seemed to enjoy it. She also made it clear that she wishes to marry me, but that nothing will occur beforehand.”

  “Then how will she bond Revca and remain safe from those devil daggers?”

  Trent hesitated. “I haven’t talked to her about that yet.”

  “You should. Had Ivy bonded Revca the same way Revca bonded Kari before the attack, it would have been far simpler to retrieve her from the Firmament.”

  “Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The devil mages had some sort of dagger that could sever a mage bond and kill the person attached to it. So not being bonded may have saved her life.”

  Bethany went very quiet for a moment. “You never told us that.”

  “I should have. Sorry. Either way, I agree that having Ivy bonded to Revca would be useful in regards to both our safety and our ability to coordinate. But if Ivy isn’t comfortable with what’s involved in making that happen, we’re not going to force her.”