“In a coma. His injuries have healed, but the fae says that the struggle against the compulsion caused his brain to shut down. It’s unlikely that he will wake.”
I turned away, stalking toward the window, where I stared sightlessly down at the city. Behind me, Samael relayed a few more orders to the demon.
It wasn’t truly my fault. Iknewthat. The blame belonged to whoever had gone after that demon. And yet, my mouth tasted like ash at the thought of how terrified he must’ve been. Whoever had managed to make him get that close to the knife was powerful.
A hand on my shoulder jolted me from my thoughts and I let Samael to turn me to face him.
“I won’t allow you to blame yourself for this.”
In spite of myself, I had to smile. “Oh, you won’tallowme, your majesty?” The smile fell from my face. “If I hadn’t stored the knife here–”
“That could’ve been you.”
I flinched at the thought of being under someone’s control that way. I shook his hand off and strode back to the sofa, where I sat and rubbed at my temples. “How powerful was the demon?”
Samael followed me to the sofa. I breathed through my mouth in a useless attempt to not get distracted by his scent.
“Low level. His name was Golen, and he barely had enough power to travel through the portal without being summoned. Whoever did this knew exactly whom to use for their best chance at getting close to the knife.” The muscles around his eyes tightened.
“I’m sorry.”
He closed his eyes. “Thank you.” Samael sat down and reached for me, dragging me to him. I allowed it, taking comfort in the feel of his arms around me.
I’d let go any minute. Any minute now.
Another knock on the door. I pulled myself out of his arms, ignoring his muffled oath as I got to my feet and moved back toward the window, where I could hopefully locate my sanity.
Bael’s expression was rage incarnate. “There’s been another murder.”
Samael tensed, his fury sucking all of the air out of the room.
“Who.”
“Tarel,” Bael said, his expression somber. Samael let out an audible breath and ran a hand over his face. He’d known this demon personally. And he’d liked him. Perhaps even called him a friend.
Something uncomfortable took up residence in my chest. This whole time, I’d assumed the only reason Samael gave a shit about these murders was because they werehispeople, being killed inhisterritory. But he alsocaredabout these demons. I didn’t quite know what to do with that information, but I shifted my gaze to Bael, giving Samael a private moment with his grief.
“Where?” Samael ground out, and Bael’s eyes met mine before he addressed his boss.
“A gas station in Brightleaf.”
I tensed at that. The murderer was either escalating in an attempt to give Samael a giant ‘fuck you,’ or they were getting sloppy.
I got to my feet. “Let’s go.”
Samael raised his head. “I’m going with you.”
I nodded, and Bael cleared his throat. “You have a meeting with the unseelie king.”
I lifted one eyebrow. I hadn’t been able to get an appointment with either of the fae kings, but Samael could obviously meet with whoever he chose. I’d love to be a fly on a wall for that conversation.
Samael opened his mouth and then snapped it closed. “I want a full report as soon as I’m finished with this meeting,” he ground out.
Despite myself, I couldn’t help the urge to wipe that expression from his face. This was the first time I’d seen Samael sad. And for some, unknown reason, it was… disconcerting.
“I’m happy to take the meeting with the dark fae king if you’d like to switch places,” I said brightly. “I’ve heard he’s so beautiful, the sight of him can make your heart stop in your chest.”
Samael went still. Then his eyes darkened as he shifted– the movement predatory as he slowly unraveled his huge body from the sofa. He took two steps closer to me, the hopelessness in his eyes instantly replaced with fury and… lust.
