"Three weeks ago, you were a charity case. A nobody. Harold Maxton's unwanted burden. The ghost boy no one noticed, no one cared about, no one would have missed if he'd simply… vanished."
A beat.
"And now look at you. In my presence. Facing down my Consort. Negotiating for your life with threats that actually work. In three weeks, you've become someone whose disappearance would cause a stir."
The voice turned thoughtful.
"You're a Ryujin Tiamat, alright. The blood runs true."
Phei didn't know what that meant. Didn't know why his name—his real name—mattered to someone like this apart from the old money but blood... he'd also mentioned Tiamat Bloodline before. But he filed it away. Remembered it. Added it to the growing list of mysteries he needed to solve.
"I never intended to kill you tonight."
The voice was casual now. Conversational. As if they were discussing the weather rather than Phei's near-execution.
