He nodded at someone who carried a table and chair up to the platform. The dark fae king sat and signed the alliance while cameras clicked. The room was so silent you could’ve heard a mouse fart.
Samael took his place, glancing up until his eyes met mine for the barest moment. Finvarra followed his gaze, then shifted his attention back to Samael as he signed the papers in front of him. Both males stood for a few moments, murmuring to each other as the cameras clicked, and then it was all over.
I glanced at Vas. “This seems like a big deal.”
He nodded. “It is. You want to tell me why you’re so upset?”
“I’m half demon.” I swallowed around the lump in my throat, glancing at Vas. “That means I’ll have a half-demon’s lifespan.”
“Ah.”
“Ah?”
He shrugged. “I’m not surprised that you’re not all witch. I’ve seen enough of your power. In fact, I’d bet money that as soon as your suppression spell is completely gone, most people would know you’re a demon simply by looking at you. I like having you around, Danica. You’re fun. I’m not going to pretend to be sad that you’re not going to die on me like most humans.”
His face twisted and I stared at him. Something told me that Vas, the kid who’d played with humans at the park when he was a small child, was starting to see what immortality truly meant. Those kids would be in their eighties and nineties now. Many of them were likely already dead.
“It’s not the lifespan that’s the issue. One day, I’m sure I’ll be… happy to be given so much time to play with. But I don’t want to see everyone I know die, Vas.”
“Everyone like your sister.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, attempting to ease some of the tension. “Yeah.” Let’s face it, it’s not like I was surrounded by family and friends at all times. “How do I tell Evie that she’s going to grow old and die, and I’m still going to stay young and live for at least a few more centuries?”
Vas laughed. “You’re assuming something won’t take you out before she grows old. You jump into danger with two feet, you never back down from a chance to fight, and you do crazy things like insult the unseelie fae king within moments of meeting him. If I had to put money on who’d live longer, it wouldn’t be you.”
Vas was humoring me. But I liked it. “Yeah,” I said, slightly mollified. “You’re right.”
“Little witch,” Samael’s voice was low and I scowled over my shoulder at him. He ignored Vas and I almost rolled my eyes. Samael often wrestled with jealousy, especially if he thought I was opening up to someone who wasn’t him. “It’s time for us to go.”
It wasn’t. I’d already checked my phone. Thankfully, the demon wasn’t holding me to our deal. I followed him downstairs, watching how the crowd gathered in the ballroom parted for him.
“Danica Amana?”
I peered down at the goblin. “Hi.”
Her green face was tight. “I thought you might be here. I was hoping to talk to you.”
“Sure.”
Samael watched me through darkened eyes as I stepped away from him and closer to the wall, leaning down so I could better hear her.
“My name is Yexa. My father was murdered a few nights ago,” she said, her huge eyes filled with tears. She sniffed, shaking her head, and her long pointed ears flapped against her head. “I live out of state, and I just got back. My father’s name is Merrill.”
That made two lesser fae store owners, one dead, one fighting for life.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you. I know you’re investigating what happened to Gary, and I was hoping you could help with my father as well.”
“How was your father killed?”
“His store was turned upside down.” She gave a wet sniff. “Someone beat him to death.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” There was nothing I could say to help her. All I could do was try to find out who’d killed her father. “I’ll go check out his store tomorrow,” I promised.
“That won’t be necessary.” We both turned at the low, dangerous voice. The unseelie king stood a few feet away, his guards nowhere to be seen. Dark power poured off him, and everyone was giving him a wide berth.
“Excuse me?”
