My hands itched for it. I met Samael’s gaze. His expression was carefully neutral, but his eyes told me how much he wanted me to take it. I fisted my hands, and he waited me out.
“Your current lanyard and sheath will stand out amongst those in attendance,” he said finally. “They will wonder what it is and come to the conclusion that you are armed. I know you don’t enjoy drawing attention to either yourself or your weapons.”
Andddd he was chipping away at my determination not to take anything else from him.
“You had this made for me?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw and he nodded. He rightly assumed that knowing he’d had someone create this for me made it less likely that I’d take it. But he didn’t lie to me.
I wanted it. I knew at a glance that it would fit my Nim Cub perfectly— and Samael should know, I’d been unconscious and armed in his presence often enough.
“Thank you,” I said. Samael tensed, obviously still expecting me to refuse. Joke was on him. If he’d attempted to get me to borrow a gaudy diamond necklace, he would’ve been waiting until the end of time. This… this was different.
I reached for it, and he let out a slow breath, some of the tension draining from his body. Pleasure sparked in his eyes as I pulled off my other sheath, slipped my Nim Cub out, and replaced it with his gift.
He took a step closer. Then he leaned down and brushed my lips with his. I allowed it. He held out his arm and I took it, allowing him to lead me to the elevator.
“I thought you’d want to fly down.”
Samael shook his head. “Not tonight.”
The elevator opened to the ballroom on the 70thfloor. I’d been here once before, on the night that I stole a strand of Samael’s hair, broke his ward, and stole his dagger. I’d been so pumped with adrenaline that night that my vision had tunneled, my focus entirely on the demon at my side.
I surveyed the room, studying the high ceilings. Balconies jutted out at regular intervals, a few of them with their dark curtains pulled.
“What’s wrong?”
“If I wanted to kill someone here, I’d sit up in one of those balconies with a gun or a crossbow.”
Samael gave me an indulgent look. “My security would never allow such a thing.”
I rolled my eyes. Arrogance, thy name is Samael. I let my eyes scan the rest of the ballroom. An orchestra was set up in the corner furthest from the door, and couples were already swaying on the dance floor, while demons and dark fae gathered in small groups.
Like the light fae representative’s headquarters, the ballroom had been done in gold and white. But while their building leaned toward ostentatious, Samael’s ballroom was muted elegance.
Agaliarept approached, eyeing me as he murmured a few words to Samael. It was the first time I’d seen him since he fell into a coma, and he was looking healthy. He’d definitely dropped a few pounds though. I nodded at him and he gave me the barest acknowledgement before walking away.
Agaliarept didn’t like me. To be fair, he hadn’t liked me before I saved his life. Keeping him from hitting the big slide was the final nail in the coffin that held our potential friendship. Maybe he was embarrassed that his ass had needed rescuing.
Steve walked past, then did an exaggerated double take. I gave him the stink eye and he moved closer.
“You guys look good together,” he murmured while Samael said a few words to Bael. I glowered at him.
“Don’t make me throat-punch you.”
Steve chuckled and I nudged him with my elbow. “Any more luck with the video?”
His brow furrowed and he lifted his hand, nudging his glasses further up his nose. “No. You know, my grandfather was a tech guy before the portals opened. He managed to stay alive through the Decade of Despair by hiding out in my family’s cabin in the woods for most of the decade. And when he talks about the technology before they opened…” he shook his head. “Seventy years since the world turned to shit and technology is only just catching up to where it was when my grandfather was working.”
“The world stopped. There couldn’t be any technological advancement when people were busy trying to stay alive.”
He nodded. “I know. But it’s a damn shame. Because if the portals had never opened, humanity would likely be far, far ahead of where we are now.” Steve flushed, looking past me, and I realized Samael was no longer talking to Bael. Instead, he was giving Steve a considering look.
I linked my arm through his, and he shifted his gaze to me, surprise evident in his eyes. Steve made a quick escape and Samael allowed me to steer him closer to the bar. Waiters were doing the rounds with champagne, but I had a feeling I was going to need something stronger tonight.
I tensed as voices raised behind us, and my hand slid toward my thigh. Samael caught it in his, lifting my hand to his lips as he glanced over his shoulder.
“The unseelie king is here,” he said, and my heart thumped harder in my chest.
