Instead of answering, I turn from her, my muscles shuddering in protest as I stalk past her and toward the exit. Come. It’ll be dark before long, and you deserve a reward for all your hard work before bed.

“A reward?”

A silent chuckle shakes my chest at the sound of Dagny’s hurried footsteps following me up the stairwell. Her excitement rolls off her shoulders in waves and zests the air with a sweetness that clings to the tip of my tongue and causes my mouth to water.

As soon as we step into the sleeping chamber, Malice’s glowing red eye snaps toward Dagny, searching her expression for any sign of distress. “How did it go today?”

Fantastic. She’s getting stronger every day. I answer before Dagny has a chance to diminish her accomplishments, cutting her a glance to show her I mean every word. She was able to hold it for several minutes before it broke free.

“That’s our girl,” he murmurs, his gaze beaming with pride as he raises a carved stone cup into the air. “This deserves a toast.”

“Did someone say toast?” Roark’s eyes spring open, his voice graveled as his body is yanked from a deep slumber. “I heard someone say toast.”

Lir, Cyprien, and Fenryr wake a moment later, blinking lazily as they stretch out on the massive bed of furs.

“Is Dagny back yet?” Cyprien mumbles, rubbing a hand over his face as a yawn tears from his mouth. “She’s been down there with Kaebl foreve—DAGNY!” Cyprien springs out of bed, lunging across the room and crashing into Dagny with such force it sends them toppling backward to the floor. His arms circle around her back and head, protecting her from the icy ground and keeping her pressed against his chest as he peppers kisses across her face and neck, a low-toned purr vibrating in his throat. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Cyppy,” she says, a laugh bubbling past her lips as the other three demons race over to join the cuddle pile. “I missed all of you—but it was only a few hours, and you were asleep for it all.”

“It felt like an eternity,” Lir says. “It always does when we’re apart.”

“But now you’re here, so there’s double the reason to drink!” Roark says, pumping his fist in the air. “Malice?”

“Already pouring the cups,” he says, filling five more mugs with shimmering welwig sap. “Kaebl? Are you going to join us?”

I stand frozen in place as Dagny and her other mates move to the bed of furs, sitting around in a half circle as Malice hands out the drinks. If I stay for an hour, I’ll want to stay the rest of the night, and I need to keep my distance and keep an eye out for Syn in case she decides to disobey me and bond with Dagny.