“I wear your dress, and I only have to stay for two hours.”
He stepped closer, and every nerve in my body seemed to come to attention. “You wear my dress and accessories, and allow my team to help you get ready. You stay four hours.”
“Three hours and I’ll wear the dress and let them help me with my hair. If you have shoes, I’ll take them too. But that’s it.”
He raised his hand, and I barely breathed as he tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. Satisfaction radiated from him, and I had a feeling I’d agreed to much more than he’d expected. Sneaky demon.
“Very well.” Two women walked through the doorway in the direction of his bedroom, and I shamelessly stepped behind Samael. He’d had this planned, and now I was stuck.
“Wait, wait, wait. It’s only five pm. I have things to do! I’ll get back here in an hour and you guys can pretty me up then.”
Samael seemed entirely too amused by my cowardice. “I don’t think so. As mydate, you will need to look the part.”
The women were already approaching, both of them impeccably put together. The woman on the right was clearly unseelie fae, her pointed ears and dark hair displayed to her best advantage. She took one look at me and clapped her hands.
“In the shower please.” She shared a look with her partner. “We have work to do.”
* * *
Samael
I closed my file on the little witch and lifted my head, gazing out the window of my office and to the city below me. The more information that my people found about Danica, the more my suspicions proved correct.
If she was who and what I suspected, she could lead me to everything I’d ever wanted. But only if I managed her carefully. Without enough oversight, I risked losing everything.
Including the witchling herself.
I ground my teeth. For the past weeks, I’d allowed her absence at Monday dinners. After her fury when she realized I wouldn’t be removing my bond, I’d given her some time to cool off. However, my patience was drawing to an end.
A knock sounded at my door.
“Enter.”
Bael stepped in, a thick file in his hands. “Ag believes one of the grimoires may have surfaced in Myanmar. He’s leaving after you sign the pact with Finvarra.”
My every sense sharpened. I itched to go hunt for the grimoires myself, but my enemies watched me too closely.
Nine black books. The search had taken centuries, as had the forming of alliances across the realms. With the grimoires in my possession, and an army of paranormals at my disposal, I would finally be able to strike.
My vengeance was so close I could almost taste it.
Unfortunately, there was still one unknown. One tactical consideration that had to be accounted for with every step. Thanks to my suspicions about who and what Danica was, the playing field had changed.
Finding the grimoires and striking at my enemies quickly had just become more important than ever.
“How is Danica’s training?”
Bael studied my expression, keeping his own neutral. “She is learning from the witch. Selina.”
I nodded. “She’s powerful. That is acceptable. For now.”
“We need to talk about the traitors,” Bael smoothly changed the subject.
Two demons had betrayed me to the McCormick coven, and where there were two, there were more. Just a few years ago, I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but my enemies had a long reach, even from the underworld.
I waved my hand. “What do you know?”
“Sitri has examined Malgron and Botis’ electronics.”
