Ronnie stared, dumbfounded.

He sighed. “I also told you, on my honor, I would neither offend nor force you. That stands.”

“Good.” She flopped down on a chair, leaning away from the other as far as possible. “Then I shan’t be offended if we spend the next hour as far apart from each other as possible.” Ronnie did her best impression of an English accent.

Earnest sighed again and sat beside her, dumping pillows on the ground as he sat. “If you intend to separate yourself from Vent, there are things you must know.”

She couldn’t help herself, turning to face him once again. “And you’re just the planar to clue in the human, right?” Glancing down at her dress, she realized the fabric hadn’t lost its green color. “Shut this shit off, now.”

“It’s … complicated.”

“Uncomplicate it.”

Earnest scooted closer to drape an arm around her. Ronnie stiffened. “Eyes and ears, Ronnie,” he whispered in her ear. His breath tickled her skin. “We are not yet alone. Remember that.”

“Fine. Say what you need to say.” She wanted to cross her arms but settled for putting her hands on her knees.

“After the show, we still have to find Eve. We’ll play some cards until we find her. Once we’ve got what we came for, I give you my word that I will explain what you need to know.”

Ronnie scowled. “Great. Fantastic. Wasn’t my question.”

Earnest pinched the bridge of his nose. “A man has limits, Ronnie. That dress is pushing mine.”

“Seriously?” Momentarily forgetting her anger, Ronnie gritted her teeth and muttered, “Twenty years of loyal service. I know what I look like.”

He lifted his other hand to lift her chin, his touch feather-light. “I don’t believe you do.” She tried to pull away, but he held fast, eyes molten and emerald green. “My word, this isn’t a manipulation of any kind.”

“I don’t believe you.” The words were a whisper, and Ronnie found her eyes flicking down to his lips again.

“That would be the other complication to your request.” His eyes searched hers. “Ancestors damn it, my honor, Ronnie.”

Ronnie felt a shiver run down her spine. “If you aren’t doing this,” she said slowly, “then what-” 

“Attention, patrons,” a voice boomed from the stage, making Ronnie surge forward. Without missing a beat, Earnest wrapped his arms around her, and despite her misgivings, she relaxed into his warmth.

“Our main show will start shortly — please order your refreshments now!” Shifting slightly, she turned to the stage. A yiwang was holding the microphone, gesturing to the crowd, and flashing both sets of his sparkling teeth. “Just a reminder, we do not serve humans on our interdimensional show menu. Substitutions are available; please ask your server.” 

“That’s fucking cheery,” Ronnie muttered as the announcer strode away, the flame at the tip of his tail flicking back and forth as he moved. Shuddering, she settled into Earnest’s arms and vowed not to eat anything that she couldn’t immediately identify. “And you really think we’re gonna find Eve here?” 

At that, Earnest chuckled, sliding over a placard from the center of the table- Ronnie’s hand flew to her mouth, staring at him as if he’d lost his mind. “You’re shitting me.” 

“I wish I were,” Earnest replied, his eyes and her dress swirling with rich greens and bright yellows. “Looks like we came on the right night, after all.” 

“Guess so,” Ronnie mumbled, shaking her head as she read the advertisement for the upcoming planar drag show, with an option to meet and greet the performers afterward. “I… I have no words for this… this cannot be a thing.” 

“Oh, so only humans get to have all the fun?” Earnest asked, causing her to roll her eyes. “Lighten up, Ronnie,” he murmured, brushing the top of her ear with his tongue. “We’re here, and we have to wait till the end of the show to get our intel… might as well enjoy it, right?”

The lights flicked off, pitching everything into total darkness for about ten seconds before a dozen spotlights lit up the stage. Ronnie covered her mouth to smother the laugh. This…was not what she expected, given the rest of the evening so far. All twelve performers stood statue-still. 

The most apparent planar was a troll dressed as a very busty female Santa Claus—complete with a beard. Deciphering what planar race everyone belonged to was more difficult for the other drag contestants. Still, Ronnie had never seen so many costumes that were both incredibly accurate and incomprehensible at the same time.

David Bowie. Cher. Kim Kardashian. Ronnie was sure she would never unsee the current Queen of England in lingerie, and while she was confident that Cleopatra never used live snakes to accent her attire, Joan of Arc was…

No, Ronnie refused to even think about that. 

Dolly Parton. Ronnie squinted — no, make that three Dolly Partons. And because no show would be complete without a superhero, a Black Widow pranced onto the stage. 

And finally, they saw what must have been Eve. She was such a tiny presence compared to the other players, but her Marie Antoinette, complete with a sled of cakes drawn by a man dressed as a donkey, really filled the stage. Baffled, Ronnie laughed again and shook her head. 

How the hell were they going to talk to Eve like this? And would anything serious come of the conversation? Ronnie giggled helplessly, a snort sneaking out of her nose. Earnest chuckled beside her, their bodies comfortably pressed together as if they were enjoying the show. For the moment, there were no strings, no manipulations, no bargains or expectations. Fuck, she really needed to get out more.

Well, hopefully, she could get out more and have a normal life, just as soon as this contract with Vent was finally over. 

“Son of a bitch,” Earnest hissed. He grabbed her hand. “We need to leave. Right now.” 

“What? Why?” She frowned, hating how she felt disappointed about the night suddenly being over. “We still need information.” 

“Ronnie, please, I’ll explain, but now—” 

“No, you’ve been doing that all damn night.” Then she stalled, feeling a ripple across her skin, and she sunk into the seat to get away from it. This felt like when she’d wake as a child, the ceiling above her splattered with pieces of other worlds, a mix of nightmare and beautiful. “What the fuck?” 

Earnest grabbed her arm more forcibly than before. “Come on, please.” 

Fear got her to her feet just as a second portal spread across the back of the stage. Simultaneously, the portion around their seats folded out like an accordion, closing the gaps with a gossamer veil. 

“Is that a fucking seal?” Ronnie’s stomach churned, and she touched for the coin, intent on breaking them out and having words with whoever decided this was fucking okay. Probably that bitch Lirianna. 

And then she almost collapsed on the seat, would have if Earnest hadn’t caught her. His soul rushed into her, the flames an inferno, and for a second, she thought the force of it might engulf and destroy her. She could be a mighty oak, centuries standing against the tide, but her roots took in his fire like water, circling through every part of her as her pulse thrummed. 

He jerked her hand off the coin. “Don’t, please, ancestors. Don’t touch the coin,” he hissed.

Eyes wide, she met his gaze, and she could have drowned in the endless, roiling green, shot with tendrils of molten gold, his glamour cracking again, his skin shimmering. God, he was fucking gorgeous. 

She reached for the hand she wasn’t holding, fingertips brushing a delicate cheekbone, and he shuddered bodily at her barest touch. “Friends and guests,” called the announcer, “Please welcome our surprise guest this evening, and do enjoy the benefits of his generosity.” 

She wouldn’t have guessed something could rip her attention from Earnest at that moment, but she felt the world's weight recalculate with the force of a new planar crossing the threshold to Earth. It wasn’t a man, even though he looked human, despite being way too tall. Everything about his reddened cheeks and full beer belly should have been laughable, along with the fauns and satyrs flowing from the portal, complete with carafes and cups and bottles and cornucopias.

Then he met and held her gaze from the stage, his grin absolutely lecherous. He held up a bunch of grapes and wiggled them seductively. Ronnie couldn’t look away, couldn’t do anything. The creature took two steps forward, and then Earnest’s body blocked her line of vision. She slumped into the seat, clenching her thighs together, digging her palms into her eyes to stop her head from spinning — this was a mistake. 

She tried to draw a rune without touching the coin, but of course, nothing happened — panic seized all her muscles, and she suddenly felt like breathing was impossible. Before she could spiral further, arms wrapped around her, and she clutched Earnest’s shirt. “What the fuck is happening?” Her voice shook, but she didn’t care; she just buried her face in his chest, needing anything to anchor her. 

“Bacchus. Dionysus. Lord of drink and hedonism. They’ve fucking linked his plane to Earth for this, letting the…benefits overflow. Bringing him across isn’t helping either. At least she has the wards in place to keep it inside this room.” 

“Don’t understand,” she said with a shudder, because fear was fading, and she realized just how warm his body was under the shirt under her palm. How he’d been teasing desire out of her all evening, and now it felt like it might swallow her whole, and she wasn’t sure she gave a single fuck. 

“Lirianna is feeding. That’s why she locked the patrons inside. The proximity to his realm is an emotional stimulant. It makes us feel everything more intensely and acutely. Hence, a siren feast. She won’t let the barriers down until the show is over.” He muttered curses in a tongue she couldn’t understand, and then she realized he was murmuring against her throat, his lips leaving fire in their wake. 

Anger flared over desire. She pushed herself away from him even though it fucking hurt, shaking her head. “More fucking manipulation.” 

She pulled her knees to her chest, burying her face. She could hear Earnest’s ragged breathing beside her, but he didn’t touch her. 

One time, she wanted to feel normal. Once. So she’d gotten drunk at a human bar and danced with a human man who said nice things and made her feel good — normal, like just a girl and a guy having a good time. The sex had been fun, but realizing that it meant nothing at all? Ronnie hadn’t loved that part.

In the end, it felt like shit, just like everything else. 

Shame curled under her skin, alarming her — she growled to fight it back. “Always fucking manipulation.”

Earnest forced her head up, palms cupping her chin. “No, Ronnie. He can’t create feelings that don’t already exist. He can only enhance those that already do, turn the dial up a few notches, and tip you over the border. We feel more, both human and planar, in his presence. But we still have our minds. We are still ourselves.” 

He blinked, lingering long enough she thought he’d closed his eyes, but then they opened again, the green, that fucking shade of green, making a whimper dart over her lips. “You’re beautiful, powerful, sexual. And I desire you. Someone has not tempted me like this in decades, and it is not a ruse or a game or any manipulation. And I would sooner pleasure you if you’d let me indulge ourselves even if we shouldn’t, not with this bridge and…” 

He shook his head. “But I will not be stuck in here with you and watch you drown yourself in whatever shame is consuming you. The bridge is bleeding over. I can feel too much of it, Ronnie, and I won’t abide you tearing yourself apart in front of me.”

“Then what do we do?” she asked, looking down, but not pulling away from his touch.

“I’m afraid we have to let the siren feed. The only thing that could break the barrier now is a full rune circle, and the wards prevent that.”

“Aether, then.” Ronnie leaned forward, close enough that their noses touched.

“Too dangerous.” Earnest pulled back and dropped his hands. “Ronnie, please.” His voice sounded strangled.

“More dangerous than staying?” Ronnie slid closer again.

“We’d end up deeper in his realm.”

It was her turn to make him look up at her. “Gets us out of here, away from him.” His eyes were still that molten green. She leaned forward, hands going back to his chest, toying with the buttons on his shirt.

“True enough.” He caught her hands. “You should know your eyes are just as green.”

“I don’t care.” Throwing all sense out the window, she wiggled into his lap, wishing her dress allowed her the range of motion to straddle him. It was all too much — Vent, this totem mess, her fucking sister — and the desire to just let go crashed into her. It didn’t matter if he was a grekelhind — he wanted her, and it was enough.