The Broken Halo

The Second Claw stepped through the pale curtain.

The loose robe had not fallen from her body when she rose. It had simply settled around her, its dark fabric hanging from one shoulder and crossing her chest in a careless fold. A narrow sash held it at her waist, but the garment had been tied so loosely that most of one thigh, the curve of her hip, and the upper line of her breasts remained visible.

She was the sort of demoness most males would notice before remembering to breathe.

Her skin was a deep, smooth red that appeared almost wine-dark beneath the crimson lamps. Long black hair fell in heavy waves to the middle of her back, framing a face with soft lips, high cheekbones, and half-lidded golden eyes that made even her bored expressions seem inviting.

Two polished horns rose from her temples and curved slightly outward before sweeping back. They were longer than Sava’s, with faint gold rings circling their bases.

The robe did little to hide the weight of her chest, the narrowness of her waist, or the broad curve of her hips. Yet nothing about the way she carried herself suggested that her beauty existed for the benefit of anyone watching.

It belonged to her in the same way her rank did.

On her exposed right shoulder was the mark of the Second Claw.

The Black Banner insignia had been tattooed in dark ink; a small banner hanging from a short vertical pole, its lower edge torn into three uneven points. Two pale claw marks crossed it diagonally, cutting from the upper right to the lower left.

This tattoo signified her rank and position as the Second Claw, and anyone within the Eastern Faction who saw it would know exactly who stood before them.

The two male attendants lowered their gazes as she passed. Neither attempted to look directly at her until she moved beyond them.

The Second Claw stopped in front of Sava.

"Raise your head."

Sava obeyed.

Her amber eyes lifted from the black rug and met the golden gaze above her. For a moment, the irritation that had filled her report disappeared beneath a quieter emotion.

The Second Claw studied her face.

"You always look beautiful when you are angry."

Sava released a tired breath.

"Master, this is hardly the-"

The Second Claw smiled and held two fingers beneath Sava’s chin, cutting her off.

Before her fingers even touched Sava’s chin, Sava moved forward almost before she realised what she was doing, allowing her chin to settle lightly against those waiting fingers. It was an old response, born from familiarity rather than command.

The Second Claw’s lips curved a little more.

"Now there’s my precious Sava."

Sava’s eyes flickered, but she did not pull away.

The fingers beneath her chin rose slowly.

Sava followed the movement and stood from her kneeling position. The Second Claw used almost no strength. By the time Sava reached her full height, the two demonesses were close enough for the edge of the loose robe to brush the front of Sava’s dress.

"Contact the Outsider," the Second Claw said.

The playfulness in her voice remained, but a sharper tone now rested beneath it.

"Tell him we accept the meeting."

Sava’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Both of us?"

The Second Claw nodded.

"Both of us."

"And his demand that we come without protection?"

The Second Claw’s thumb moved once beneath Sava’s chin.

"Tell him the meeting place must be neutral. It cannot belong to us, Black Horn, or any known Velmora faction. He may choose the exact position only after we agree on the region."

Sava considered the words.

"He may refuse."

"I don’t think he will."

A faint smile touched the Second Claw’s mouth.

"He wants control. Let him have enough to feel clever, but not enough to place a blade against our throats."

Sava remained quiet.

Her earlier frustration had softened. A private, familiar surrender entered her expression, while a faint light of lust and desire moved through her amber eyes.

The Second Claw noticed this, and her eyes also glinted with the faint light of lust and desire.

"You have handled this well," she said.

Sava’s gaze flickered.

"Despite my temper?"

"Because of it, sometimes."

The Second Claw let her fingers slide away from Sava’s chin and traced the edge of her jaw instead.

"Since the Kragh called Sonya killed the Eastern Warden, you have kept the remaining cells from panicking. You prevented the Needles from tearing one another apart over blame. You dealt with the Outsider even when every conversation made you want to reach through the Murmur Bone and strangle him."

The Second Claw leaned closer.

"And when the carrier died, the route failed, and Korran’s trap became clear, you brought the problem to me instead of hiding your mistake and blaming somebody else."

Sava frowned.

"It was not my mistake alone."

"I did not say it was."

The Second Claw’s hand moved to the thin black chain at Sava’s waist. One finger slipped beneath it, drawing her a little closer.

"Crownless Dawn was not built so one dead Warden, one failed convoy, or one arrogant Outsider could destroy it. The road’s bones matter, but the road itself matters more."

Her voice lowered.

"And you have protected that road better than most of the demons who outrank you."

Sava’s breath slowed.

The Second Claw brushed her lips against the side of Sava’s neck.

The contact was brief, then another followed beneath it.

Sava closed her eyes as the Second Claw’s hands loosened the chain around her waist and allowed it to fall against the rug. The dark-red dress shifted beneath careful fingers, revealing more of one shoulder.

Sava turned her head, offering the line of her neck willingly. The Second Claw kissed it again, slower this time, then let her lips travel toward Sava’s jaw.

"How do you expect me to get frustrated at you when you always do this to me," Sava whispered.

"It’s not my fault you’re so sweet to eat."

The Second Claw laughed softly against her skin.

Sava finally caught the front of the loose robe and pulled her closer.

Their mouths met.

The kiss began with the Second Claw’s usual teasing control, but Sava answered with enough hunger to erase the smile from her lips. One hand slid into the Second Claw’s black hair while the other closed around the robe at her waist.

For several breaths, the room became silent except for their breathing and the faint movement of clothes.

When they finally separated, the Second Claw licked the corner of her mouth and looked at Sava with open satisfaction and even more desire.

Sava’s amber eyes remained fixed on her, the lust in her eyes could not be hidden anymore.

"We will deal with the Outsider," she said, her voice lower than before. "But not this moment."

The Second Claw raised a brow.

Sava pulled her back toward the curtain.

"For now, stop teasing me and fuck me."

The Second Claw allowed herself to be led.

Behind them, the two attendants quietly withdrew, and the pale curtain fell and closed, hiding the couch and both demonesses from the rest of the room.

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