“What are you all looking at?” Alice leans across me to look at the glass, then glances up, shaking her head. “It’s just a free shot.”

I blink, then realize Alice can’t see the aether. “Not quite.” I look up at both boys. “Help me out here?”

“She, or someone else, called the invisible element of aether into visibility,” Sel explains, eyes on the glass and voice low. “And with that called aether, cast a small, self-sustaining, spinning sphere over the liquor.”

William’s gaze has turned scientific. “Does she expect you to drink it?”

“It would seem so,” Sel murmurs. The light of the aether is reflected in his own golden eyes, making them shine bright across the table.

“Can you?” I ask.

He looks at me over the glass. “Technically? Biologically? Yes. The cuffs block my body’s ability to access ambient aether and use it. Ingesting it should be possible.” He looks around the Lounge, a frustrated expression on his face. “I’m a bit more concerned that she could detect what I am so effortlessly.”

I follow his gaze and immediately find at least three other people consuming beverages with wisps of silver aether spilling down the sides. I can’t tell if they’re human or demon.

“She said it would be a pick-me-up.” William’s attention sharpens. “Could this drink help fortify you? It’s aether, but could it make up for the Oaths you can’t fulfill?”

“Possibly.” Sel stills and his fingers twitch at his sides, as if any display of aether can’t help but trigger a reflex to call his own. “Probably.”

“How?” I ask them.

William pauses, looking to Sel for permission. He rolls his eyes, tossing a hand as if to say, Go ahead.

“We know that all demons originate in the hell dimension, and that’s where they thrive. But”—William leans forward, elbows on the table, eyes lighting with barely restrained enthusiasm—“when they cross over via Gates to the living, human plane, they become a form of undead, and require two metaphysical elements to survive.” He holds up his pointer finger. “First, human energy. Demons are chaotic, spontaneous, animalistic creatures, so humanity in some form offers order through mental clarity. If a demon wishes to survive for any amount of time, they need to be able to think past their instincts.” A second finger to join the first. “Aether, on the other hand, is like food. It affects the body and provides physical sustenance, and all pure-blooded demons need it in some capacity in order to maintain their forms on this plane.”

“Back up a minute. When you say ‘human energy,’ do you mean eating people?” Alice asks, eyes wide. “Is that what Kizia wanted?”

“No. Kizia wanted Bree’s aether. Her root. Human energy primarily means human emotions. Anger and fear, in particular.”