"Feed us." She tossed back her head and roared. She dug her claws into his shoulders, and his blood seeped. "Feed us the flesh of mortals. Not weredragons." She spat. "Weredragons taste like the piss of gods. We crave the sweeter meat." She licked her chops, already imagining it. "Feed us the pure mortals of your kingdom, the blessed forms of Taal, untainted with the reptile disease. The silver god of purity is vain. For ten thousand years, he laughed as I screamed in my prison. I would feast upon his sons and daughters."

Raem stared at her, and only the slightest sneer found his lips. "No. You will not feed upon my kingdom. You may eat weredragons, and you may eat the flesh of animals. But the people of Eteer are blessed with Taal's form. I will not allow a horde of diseased, impure creatures to consume my pure people."

Angel sneered, the hunger for human flesh twisting in her belly. She needed his blessing. She was still bound to him, still his prisoner, even here in the sunlight. Even here the ancient laws bound her.

"Feed us!" she screamed. She lashed her arm, knocked over a stone vase, and shattered it. Sparks flew from her flaming hair. "Feed us the flesh of Eteer. Feed us and we will grow. Your demons are still small, King of Mortals. We have shrunk in our prison. We have grown weak. Feed us pure man-flesh and we will become larger than dragons. How can we fight dragons unless we grow to their size?"

Raem snorted. "The weredragons cower. They hide in cellars and sewers. You are more than capable of flushing them out, even with your smaller forms. You will obey me, Angel. If I discover one drop of pure human blood consumed, I will hold you accountable."

Angel snickered. Fast as a striking asp, she thrust a claw, scratching Raem's cheek. Blood spilled. Angel brought the claw to her lips. She licked Raem's blood and a shiver ran through her. The cracks on her body of stone widened, spewing droplets of lava.

"You taste of reptile." She spat. "The weredragon disease flows in your blood. Did you think I could not smell it? I knew of your shame my first day here. You—"

He slammed his sword against her cheek.

Her stone face cracked, spilling smoke, and she laughed.

"You forget your boundaries," Raem said, glaring at her.

Lava dripped from her shattered cheek as Angel cackled. "You do not like me speaking of your secret, do you? Perhaps I will trumpet the news from the city walls. Perhaps all shall know that Raem, King of Eteer, is a filthy were—"

"By the light of Taal!" he shouted, interrupting her. "Angel, Queen of Demons, harken to me. As King of Eteer, I hereby banish you back to the Aby—"

She shrieked.