“If demons can’t do it, why can’t a human like me?”

“How dare you!”

Duke Winterly trembled with fury.

It looked like he was shivering, either from anger or the cold.

I shrugged as if to ask, “What are you going to do about it?”

“If we’re late to the birthday party, what will you do? Even if you’re going to kill me, think of it this way: at least use me before you do.”

“If you survive, that is.”

At that moment, Duke Winterly sneered as though I was laughable, lifting one side of his mouth in a mocking …