Another slap landed on Shir's mangled face.
When she was finally done venting her anger, the demoness stepped back and let out a slow breath.
Her face relaxed into a light smile—not of joy, but of release.
She crouched beside him again.
"Don't get me wrong, demigod," she said in a soft tone. "I only wanted to pay you what I owed. Now that we're even… there's no hate between us."
Shir looked at her, dazed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Sifrona kept smiling.
"I remember you told me I could keep my life if I changed my faith," she said. "Even offered to spare me if I bowed down and accepted your god. How noble of you."
She paused, tapping a finger on her lips thoughtfully.
"I don't have the authority to make the same offer on my own. But…" She leaned closer, her voice teasing. "I could ask my liege for you. If you ask me nicely."
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
