In comparison to Naiyan's, Suiyan's palace was far more ornate and far more pleasurable. The walls of the ballroom were red and gold, and floating candles illuminated the space while providing sweet scents of vanilla. Refreshments were plentiful, and it made Tetsuda wonder if Tairo had just a bit of Gulam mixed in with his Avaritia nature.

Tyrannus's gloved hand had placed at least six cracks in the stone goblet he held, and his eyes had produced enough fire to melt the metal statues of past kings that decorated the room. It had taken all of Tetsuda's persuasive abilities as an incubus to keep Tyrannus from burning the place down.

"I'm going to kill him," he whispered as he drank his wine. "As soon as he comes here, I'm going to kill him…"

"Don't act rashly," Tetsuda said. "I don't doubt you're strong, but it'd be hard for even you to fend off all the demons here."

"You know so little."

"Attention all!"

The demons in attendance, Naiyanics included, looked to the double doors of the ballroom, where an Avaritia in a red uniform stood.

"Lord Tairo is making his entrance."

The Suiyanics clapped as their king entered, clothed in the same outfit he'd worn two weeks prior in Naiyan, albeit with more medals and chains shimmering in the light. His hair was neat, his eyes warm, and his smile spread in all directions.

"What a piece of shit," Tyrannus spat. "Needs fanfare everywhere he goes. Disgusting."

Seven cracks now, and then an eighth appeared when he approached Tyrannus and Tetsuda. Behind him was another demon, one that made Tetsuda's eyes widen. His hair was fluffy and orange, his eyes blue, his features stunning. He was smaller than Tetsuda, but still his body, partially-exposed by a deep-cut, side-slit robe, was flawless. He wore a similar expression when he looked at Tetsuda.

"Greetings, Lord Tyrannus. Prince Tetsuda. Have you enjoyed yourselves so far?"

"Cut the shit—" The goblet burst apart and fell to the floor. "—and make this quick."

Tairo's expression grew disapproving as he watched the red liquid drip down Tyrannus's hand. "So much for enjoying our time together. Ah, where are my manners." He gestured to the ginger demon. "This is Hirokan. You recognize him, don't you, Tetsuda?"

Slowly, he nodded. He couldn't recall the name, but he did know the demon had once been a friend of his in the monastery. How odd it felt, hearkening back to his human life after all this time. Especially now, when tensions in the demon world couldn't be higher.

Well, he supposed they could, but he didn't want to think about that.

"He's my personal attendant," Tairo explained. "Quite helpful with handling trifling affairs not worthy of my time."

"Yet you both appear here now," Tyrannus muttered.

His pleasant countenance unbroken, Tairo said, "Why don't we go somewhere a tad more private? No need to stir up anxieties among the guests any further. Your presences are already quite troubling to some."

Tairo's eyes twinkled as he led the demons across the ballroom. Tetsuda trailed a few steps behind Tyrannus, and Hirokan nudged his shoulder. "How did you become a prince?" he whispered.

"It's a long story," Tetsuda replied. "More importantly, what happened to you? How'd you become a demon?"

He looked away. "The same way you did, though...I didn't know he was a demon."

"He...seduced you, then?"

Hirokan nodded, and though his face was turned, Tetsuda could see his blush. "And then I was hanged at the monastery."

"At least you weren't burned alive."

"I suppose. How is it, though, being the prince to Tyrannus?"

"It used to be worse. Originally I was a sex slave, but apparently my skills developed quicker than most, so I gained his trust—and his heart."

Now Hirokan looked to him again. "You're lovers?"

He nodded. "We've been apart the past five years, though, since I had to be in Ceniyan to build up Ceniyan. We were only reunited a few weeks ago."

"Not the best situation to return to your lover in," Hirokan commented.

"I just hope it ends quickly."

Tairo led them to an alcove, separated from the rest of the ballroom with a curtain and featuring a rounded table and seat. He and Hirokan sat on one side, while Tetsuda and Tyrannus sat on the other.

"I do wish you'd quell that fire around you, Lord Tyrannus," Tairo said. "What good is discussion when your mouth is full of smoke and your head's full of fir?"

"And what good is your case when you build it upon weightless words?" Tyrannus replied. "Why did you truly call us here? We all know it wasn't just to reintroduce the incubi, nor was it to just enjoy a party."

Tairo shook his head with a bitter smile. "You're so perceptive it's appalling." When he met Tyrannus's eyes once more, he said, "All right. I'll tell you my true intentions. My issues with you run far back, so far that it sickens me. I resent you, but I don't resent your people. I don't want war. But I do want equity."

"Equity?"

He nodded. "You claimed Ceniyan as a buffer territory, yet you did so illegally, without my consent. I lost access to quite a bit of mining land because of that decree, but I didn't bother acting because I know you. I know you're particular and precise in your choices of officials, so I knew you'd expand Ceniyan into something valuable. And you did. And I want it."

With a sigh, Tyrannus leaned back into the seating. "If it means you leaving me alone, I can handle giving you portions of its trade."

"I don't want the trade, Tyrannus. I want the land. All of it. Not just what of Suiyan you took, but all of Ceniyan. And I want the prince that comes with it."

Tetsuda widened his eyes. "Me? What for?"

"Your abilities. Tyranus here is a great military leader and organizer, but he's letting your talent rot by keeping you in control of such a place as Ceniyan. You could do so much more, have so much more—all you need to do is pledge yourself to me."

"Lord Tairo—"

"You can't have him," Tyrannus snapped. To Tetsuda, he said, "And you will not call him your lord."

"Let the prince speak for himself," Tairo hissed. "You may be lovers, but you do not own him."

"The words won't change," Tetsuda said. "I'm flattered by the offer, but I won't give myself to you. I can't say that what Lord Tyrannus did was just, but I can say that no one's truly being hurt by Ceniyan's existence. If anything, Iyan's more stable. Those in Ceniyan aren't exclusively Naiyanic or Suiyanic, so there's no large-scale ethnic conflicts. If the mining lands are that important, I can at least give you those."

"You don't understand," Tairo said. "This isn't a matter of resources—it's a matter of honor. Tyrannus was smart to create a buffer, yes, but he should have consulted with me first. You know I'm receptive to ethical pursuits."

"No matter what you say about honor, you're still an Avaritia. Those mining lands have not just valuable ore, but also gems and gold—both of which would decorate your ornamental uniforms so well. What would you father say, hmm? What would the good King Jousin say about his son being outdone by the same whore who killed him?"

"Shut your fucking mouth," Tairo hissed.

"Gladly," Tyrannus said as he rose from his seat. "This discussion is through. You get nothing from Ceniyan, not land nor lackey. Come, Tetsuda. Let's get away from this disgraceful 'king.'"