Chapter 44: Blonde

“Fly us,” Elara said as they stood at the edge of the clearing.

Alvia adjusted the strap of her pack and did not look at her.

“No. I can’t carry both of you at once. And I am not putting my hands on that filth.” Her gaze flicked once toward Amara, who stood silently a few steps behind, eyes down. “I’m already tired of hauling your burdens.”

Elara opened her mouth, then closed it. There was nothing useful to say. They started walking.

The hidden house disappeared behind the trees. The road ahead was long, and none of them spoke.

—

Far to the south, in the heart of the demon citadel, the great library had not seen this much activity in years.

Shelves that usually stood in perfect, dustless order were half-emptied. Ancient tomes, scrolls bound in scales, and tablets of black stone lay open across the long central table. Crimson light from the floating crystals caught on yellowed pages and faded ink.

Lilith stood at the head of the table, one hand braced on an open volume, red eyes moving rapidly across lines written in languages most of her kind had forgotten. Nyx sat cross-legged on the table itself, another book in her lap, black hair falling forward as she read. Thalira stood a respectful distance away, silver braid perfect, scanning a scroll with professional focus and saying nothing.

None of them had slept much.

Above them, in her private chambers, Morgana stood under falling water that steamed against her skin. She stared at her reflection in the polished black stone of the bath wall. Dark hair—her usual color—clung wet to her shoulders and the elegant curve of her horns.

She tilted her head.

“Would blonde suit me better…?”

The thought was quiet, almost reluctant. Elara’s face rose unbidden: that ridiculous golden hair, those blue eyes, the way Lilith looked at her. Morgana’s mouth twisted.

“Is that why she gets so much attention? Because of the hair?” She snorted under her breath. “I doubt it. I’m not going to lie to myself.”

Still, curiosity won. She lifted one hand. Magic slid through her wet hair like warm oil. The dark color drained away strand by strand until pure, soft gold spilled down her back and over her breasts. Against her pale skin and amber eyes the contrast was sharp, almost luminous. She turned her head, studying the effect, then reached up and touched one of her horns.

“It suits me… but these ruin it a little. What if I just cut them off?”

A short, self-mocking laugh left her.

“I’m talking nonsense.”

She shut the water off, dried herself, and dressed without changing the hair back. Then she descended the long spiral stairs, still muttering.

“Hello? Anyone alive down here? Is no one listening?”

She stepped into the library.

Three pairs of eyes lifted at once.

Lilith’s gaze locked on the new color and stayed there.

“Sister. What did you do to your hair? Why is it blonde?”

Nyx stared openly, almost entranced, the book in her lap forgotten.

Thalira’s stomach turned. The thought that rose was immediate and vicious: Disgusting. Her expression flattened into careful neutrality, but the sour taste remained.

Morgana shrugged, walking further into the room as if nothing were unusual.

“I felt like a change. So? What are you all doing? Are we not eating today? Where is the food?”

Nyx slid off the table and patted the space beside her.

“Come sit, sister. You won’t believe what’s been happening.”

Morgana raised a brow but sat. Lilith did not look up from the book for a moment longer, then began to speak while still turning pages, voice low and slightly uneven.

“You were right. The ash events… they don’t seem connected to the Goddess of Light the way we thought.” She paused, searching for words. “Elara—she… she tore the Archangel’s wings off while the woman was still alive. But it wasn’t her. Not really. Her eyes turned pure gold. Her hair went grey, like ash. She spoke a language I couldn’t understand. There was an army of things made of ash circling her, worshipping her. Then the Goddess of Light sent down an Eye—enormous. Elara… answered it. She actually pushed back against that power. After that I lost track. It looked like the Goddess of Light won, but I can’t be sure.”

Morgana’s amber eyes had gone wide. Her mouth hung open slightly.

“Wait. You’re serious.”

Lilith hesitated.

“…Yes. I think so. I’m not certain of everything.”

Morgana stood so fast the chair scraped. She slammed one palm on the table, then began to pace, one hand shoved into the new blonde hair.

“I told you. I told you we should have killed her!”

Lilith’s jaw tightened. “Stop exaggerating. The Goddess of Light already dealt with it.”

“Dealt with it?” Morgana spun on her. “Then where is Elara? Is she dead?”

“No. She escaped. I lost her.”

“How? How did you lose her?”

“The Goddess sent seven angels to retrieve the hero. I was busy with them. By the time I finished, they were gone.”

Morgana’s voice climbed. “And the Archangel’s body? Where is it?”

“I don’t know. Elara must have taken it with her.”

Morgana pressed both hands to her face, then dragged them down through the blonde strands until they stood in every direction.

“The Goddess of Light sent seven angels just for the hero. Do you understand what you’re saying? We’re finished. It’s over.”

Lilith’s red eyes flashed. She straightened to her full height.

“Enough. You are underestimating me. I handled every one of those angels. Stop making her larger than she is in your mind.”

Morgana’s voice dropped into pure venom, amber eyes twitching at the corners.

“And what exactly do you plan to do if the Goddess herself descends? What the fuck will you do then?”

“I’ll handle her too.”

“You’ll handle shit.” Morgana stepped closer, pointing. “I’m telling you—you’ll handle nothing. Who do you think you are? You’ve started believing your own legend.”

Lilith’s power flared in a visible crimson shimmer. She shoved the books aside and started around the table toward her sister.

“You are crossing a line.”

Nyx moved faster than either of them. She put herself between the two, black hair swinging, red eyes wide.

“Lilith! Enough!” The shout cracked through the library. “She’s not wrong and you’re talking nonsense. The Goddess of Light cannot descend into this world. Close the subject. The real threat right now is the ash.”

The silence that followed was thick.

Morgana exhaled hard through her nose, then dropped into the nearest chair. Her eyes still twitched with leftover fury; the blonde hair was a tangled halo around her horns. She forced her voice level.

“…Fine. What are you doing with all these books? Researching the ash?”

Thalira answered first, crisp and correct.

“Yes, my lady.”

Morgana’s gaze slid to her. She took in the perfect silver braid and gave a small, dismissive click of her tongue.

“You braided it again.”

“Yes.”

“Fine.” Morgana looked at Nyx instead. “Did you find anything useful at least?”

Nyx shook her head. “Nothing. There’s no mention of anything like this ash in any of these records.”

Morgana propped both boots on the table edge and tipped her chair back, looking at Lilith with a thin smile.

“Happy now?”

Lilith’s mouth opened. Nyx cut her off before the next argument could start.

“That’s enough, sister. Stop needling her.”

Lilith closed the book in front of her hard enough that the spine cracked. She turned without another word and strode toward the doors.

“I’m going to my rooms. I need rest.”

“What about the books?” Nyx called after her.

Lilith did not answer. The heavy doors shut behind her.

For a moment the library was quiet except for the soft hiss of the crystals.

Morgana’s attention returned to Thalira. Her voice was mild, almost conversational.

“Come to my rooms tonight.”

Thalira’s posture stiffened. The color drained a fraction from her face.

“…I’m not available.”

Morgana’s smile did not reach her eyes.

“And let your hair down. I don’t want to see it braided.”

Nyx looked between them, then gave Thalira a small, knowing grin that was not entirely kind.

“Have fun, you two. Tonight, I mean.”

She slipped out of the library before either could reply. The doors closed again. Only Morgana and Thalira remained among the scattered books.

Morgana rose and walked around the table until she stood close enough that Thalira had to tilt her chin up. The new blonde hair fell forward like a curtain.

“Did you enjoy last time?”

Thalira’s throat worked. “Enjoy what?”

“Don’t play stupid. It irritates me.”

Thalira’s gloved hands curled into fists at her sides. After a long second she forced the word out.

“…Yes.”

Morgana’s laugh was soft and pleased.

“Of course you did. I’m letting you taste me. That’s the best thing that can happen to someone. You’re very lucky.”

She stepped even closer, close enough that her breath touched Thalira’s ear. One hand settled on the commander’s waist and pulled her in. The whisper that followed was barely sound, yet every word landed like a brand.

Thalira’s grey eyes flew wide. Her mouth opened, closed, then opened again. Color flooded her face and the tips of her ears.

“I… I’ll be there tonight,” she managed, voice unsteady. “I understand.”

Morgana released her and stepped back, already turning toward the stairs, blonde hair swaying.

“Good.”

Thalira remained where she stood, staring at the empty air, the echo of that whisper still burning against her skin.