[She was the first in ten thousand years to chive lyctorhood, and she did it without the study notes, having reverse engineered the Eightfold Word megatheorem through various trials. If Zlatka went back on her word, Ianthe would just have to do it the long (really long) way. She did believe the Duchess would teach her, if only because Zlatka wanted to leave this fucking place as much a the rest of them, but she knew what John was doing, what he did when the lyctors of old betrayed him and how he controlled Kiriona. Best remember that applied to Zlatka as well. Ianthe would have Resurrection.]

I am a patient hunter, my love, but I am still a hunter. Though I may seem to be at her beck and call, I am just biding my time. I'm always biding my time. I won't forget who I am, though it may look like I have. I remember.

[Because shame was a privilege. Ianthe leaned in to kiss Gilia. Kiss her wife like she should have when she awoke.]