Simon looked from Sonya to Akaza.
Sonya was grinning. Akaza wasn't, but the outlines of his extra arms had still not settled beneath his skin.
Neither of them was joking.
Simon closed his eyes and released a tired sigh. He had just returned from Vhal-Sar, survived a conversation with a Daemon God, and learned that the Demon Realm had been on a leash for longer than anybody could remember.
And now his friends wanted to fight him.
"Fine."
Sonya's grin widened.
"But not here," Simon added before she could stand. "Not in my house. And definitely not in my courtyard."
"The courtyard is big enough."
"I haven't even walked around it properly yet. I'm not letting you two turn it into a crater before I do."
"This Honourable would have been careful."
Everybody looked at her.
"The market in Spine City would disagree," Akaza said.
Sonya glared at him, and Virella quickly covered her mouth.
Enigma rose from the couch with the expression of a man who had already accepted his fate.
