"I always expected it, Sigmore," Ze replies smoothly as he exits. Maros follows suit, and the door to the library locks with a click.

I release a deep sigh of relief as I stretch my body, a little tense from keeping myself frozen to the spot.

The conversation I overheard was as confusing as it was revealing—at least when it comes to Ze's behavior with others. And therein lies my conundrum. He can be nice. But ninety-nine percent of the time he chooses not to be.

"Interesting choice of reading material," an amused voice rings out.

I scramble back, my eyes wide as I watch Ze grab my book, his brows going up in surprise as he reads his name. "If you are curious about me, human, you need just ask. These... accounts can be embellished."

"So you didn't execute all those people?" I fire back, still trying to get my bearings together from his sudden appearance.

"This is merely a fraction of the people I have executed," he mentions casually.

I purse my lips, narrowing my eyes at him.

He places the books back in their place on the bookshelf before redirecting his attention to me.

"Since when did you know I was here?"

"The moment I entered the room." He shrugs.

"Did... Did the others know, too?"

"No. Do you think they would have spoken freely with a human within earshot? I shrouded your presence from them."

"Why? Do you not care about what I overheard?"

"No. Not particularly," he says, and he surprises me by taking a seat on the floor next to me, sliding his legs through the empty spaces between the balusters.

I blink at him in confusion.

He's dressed in a black shirt and a pair of black loose pants, his sword faithfully at his waist. His dark hair is tied at his back, emphasizing the presence of his face tattoos.

"You will need to understand the politics of this world at one time or another."

"Maybe I don't want to," I grumble under my breath.

That somehow elicits a half-smile from him as he watches me from the corner of his eyes.

"The situation is as dire as you heard, Luce. And it does not only affect Aperion. In fact, I would wager that Aperion would bear the least brunt of it." His voice is serious, his features tight.

"What do you mean? I know there's a demon problem, but I thought there's always been one?"