The heat deformed the air trapped inside the upper keep of the central citadel belonging to the Demon Realm. Red-black stone formed the walls and the banners of the current regime hung heavily from the ceiling in the thick atmosphere. Daniel walked the span of the open chamber in the middle of it, bare-chested, with unstable demonic authority manifesting in his skin in form of dark veins of light. On the other side of the chamber Ruka sat on the edge of the throne dais, elbows on knees, staring at the floor between his boots
Neither of the brothers had gotten any proper sleep since Nyx's impromptu convocation.
Daniel halted at a distance from his brother and turned to face him. "You're holding back."
Ruka didn't raise his eyes. "I'm not. I've already chosen."
"Our mother's gone," Daniel said. "And the seat is open. The authority is pressing against us both. Every cycle you keep this up, you only make it worse."
