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"There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain..."

She was trying to read him but it wasn't easy. Did he still have eyes on Iromar? She wouldn't go down without a fight, no matter her aging body. She would fight every step of the way, though something about his relaxed state didn't speak to her of double crossing or challenging. He seemed to be studying her in a way, reading her for future interactions. Finally, he spoke of the fun being gone and she tilted her head, thoughtful before she responded. "If you're having fun, then you're not doing it right." Not that her life as an alpha was miserable or boring. She considered it a duty, not a hobby. Hobbies were fun. Chasing a deer and taking it to the ground, ridding the swamps of dangerous snakes, making sure the mother alligators stayed away from any pups around Iromar, she could consider those little actions as fun. But the actual task of ruling Iromar?

No, it wasn't fun. It was her job, her duty to the land, and she took it very seriously. He spoke of other pursuits, then mentioned her coming from a line of Demons. She gave a wry smirk at that before shaking her head. "You've heard wrong. My blood is only that of bad mothers and Angels, ironically enough. I was raised by a Demon, but I did not share his blood." Andras would always be more of a father than her than her own ever was but that didn't mean she ever considered herself a Demon. She always admired their way and their pride in heritage, but she knew better than to throw herself in with them. In a way, she never felt worthy. Something about his bark of laughter told her he was trying to taunt her, get under her skin. He'd have to do a lot better than that. He spoke of Angels and Demons and said his own father thought he housed a god that eats souls. He asked if that would make him a Demon and she raised a brow.

"It would make him mad, among other things. Color was just markings, markings they were proud of, no doubt, but markings, none the less. It went much deeper than fur or even blood, but I couldn't expect you to understand." It was her turn to purr the words now, her orange eyes gleaming with intelligence as she waited to gauge his reaction. He could make of this conversation what he wanted but he was a fool if he thought she'd let him lead or control it. No, she wouldn't give him that satisfaction.