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It didn't matter.
It didn't matter that the Golden Guard wasted all his (limited) free time "mentoring" Darius Deamonne.
Even with the door closed, Lilith could hear the unmistakable sound of Darius' laughter coming from the Golden Guard's office. Clearly, important knowledge was being imparted.
It would have been less of a waste if Darius was at all interested in joining the Emperor's Coven, but no, of course he wasn't. Access to every kind of magic and the opportunity to do the Titan's will and he'd turned it down for what? Nasty purple-pink goop.
Nevermind that there were other, equally talented witches who were actual members of the Emperor's Coven right there waiting for additional training. Who wouldn't waste time on frivolity.
The door opened, and Lilith glared daggers.
Darius didn't seem to notice — his smile never faltered — and his cape swooped elegantly annoyingly after him.
"Is that report ready?"
Lilith looked up guiltily, but that mask was impossible to read.
"Not yet, sir."
"Best get to it, then," the Golden Guard said mildly.
And she did, quill scratching fast and furiously into the night.
***
It didn't matter.
It didn't matter that Lilith would only be replacing the Golden Guard in one of his roles.
Head of the Emperor's Coven was nothing to sneeze at. She still had scouts at her command. She was still responsible for recruitment — not just for the Emperor's Coven, but for all covens. She still reported directly to the Emperor. She was still just two degrees separated from the Titan Himself.
And yet.
She'd found the Golden Guard's seal among the stacks of paperwork she'd inherited, and she couldn't help tracing its outline.
She wondered how she'd look in gold.
She wondered if she could pull off a cape of her own.
She wondered if perhaps one day the Emperor would promote her again.
She wondered how she could prove herself.
And then she got back to work.
***
It didn't matter.
It didn't matter that the Emperor had finally chosen a new Golden Guard after a decade of going without.
It didn't matter that it wasn't her.
It didn't matter that he'd promoted a half-grown runt who tripped over his cape as often as not.
"I look forward to working with you, Head Witch," he said with an annoying voice that still cracked.
She sniffed, and looked down with as much dignity as she could muster.
"I live to serve the Titan."
Who didn't find her worthy.
***
It didn't matter.
It didn't matter that the Golden Guard now had her old job in addition to his own.
It didn't matter that posters of him now covered up posters of her.
She didn't work for the Emperor any more. She didn't even want to.
Lilith ripped the top layer of paper off the wall.
It felt extremely satisfying to tear the posters in two.
***
It didn't matter.
It didn't matter that he'd been a thorn in her side for years.
It didn't matter that he'd learned to bait her as much as she baited him.
It didn't matter that they'd been enemies as much as coworkers.
Luz had added him to her ever-growing collection of siblings.
And that meant ex Coven Head and ex Golden Guard would need to get along.