Dimri’s mind was stuck on what Roque had just said.He was enjoying his time with Dimri?Why would he say that?Was he trying to fluster Dimri to convince him to do what he wanted?
He was right.Dimri had promised they would talk to Abath after spending five days watching him, and it had been four days.He could insist on waiting another day, but what would be the point?They had something to ask Abath now.They had proof that he was hiding something.It could be nothing, but Dimri was ready to bet that whoever the person Abath was talking to was, they weren’t there to sell him flowers.
The hooded demon gestured at Abath, who stumbled back.He looked afraid, which didn’t bode well.He raised his hands, then nodded, and the hooded figure leaned back.They held out a hand, and Abath reached into his pocket to place something into it.
“What do you think it is?”Dimri asked.
“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out.”
“Because we’re talking to him once this is over.”
“Damn right we are.I need to go back to the palace, and I suspect you want the same.We have work to do and a prince to protect.”
Roque stared at Dimri for a moment as if expecting him to argue.Dimri wanted to, but that was mostly because he enjoyed arguing with Roque.He really had spent too much time with the other demon, hadn’t he?He now found Roque’s stubbornness endearing.Hewantedto bicker with him.
“The demon’s leaving,” Roque murmured, turning back toward the window.
Dimri took a moment to gather his thoughts.Why was it so hard to focus on work, dammit?“As soon as we’re sure they’re gone, we can go downstairs and talk to Abath.”
“Do you need to say goodbye to your friend, the tavern owner, first?”
Dimri glared.“She’s not my friend.”
“She was a little too familiar with you earlier.”
Was that jealousy?It couldn’t be.“She just found it funny that we still haven’t left the room.You can’t blame her for that, especially considering what she must think we’re doing in here.”
Roque slowly turned to Dimri.“And no one thinks it’s strange that they haven’t heard any noise related to that yet?Because let me tell you, if that was what wehadbeen doing, you’d be making a lot of noise.”
Dimri was not going to allow himself to get flustered by Roque’s words, dammit.He also wasn’t imagining what Roque would be like in bed.He couldn’t afford to do that right now.“Are you ready to go?”
Roque turned back to the window, where Abath was closing his front door.The hooded figure turned around the corner, and just as they did so, they looked up, and their hood slipped a bit.
Dimri swore.It got Roque’s attention, but Dimri shook his head before Roque could ask what was going on.Roque wasn’t going to be happy.
“I’ll talk to the owner,” Dimri said as he stepped away from the window.
Roque looked like he wanted to push, but instead, he nodded and glanced around the room.“I’ll check that we’re not forgetting anything.”
It took them less than ten minutes to step out of the tavern.Dimri was surprised to realize that he’d miss the place.It had been nice to be away from the palace for a little bit, especially since this time, he hadn’t been alone.He briefly thought about taking a vacation once this was over, but he already knew it would be different if Roque wasn’t there with him.He didn’t actually want a vacation.He wanted to spend more time with Roque.
Dimri allowed Roque to take the lead when they reached Abath’s door.He’d taken Abath’s involvement hard, and Dimri would be happy for him to find out that Abath had nothing to do with the spies.
Roque knocked.It didn’t take long for the door to open and Abath to peek out.He blinked when he saw Roque, and his eyes widened just a bit at the sight of Dimri being there, too.His shoulders slumped, and he leaned against the door.“Are you here to arrest me?”he asked.
“Did you do anything that would warrant you getting arrested?”Roque asked.
“Not really.I mean, gambling isn’t illegal.”
Dimri cleared his throat.“We’re not arresting you for gambling.We just want to talk to you for a few minutes.”
Abath looked confused, but he nodded.“All right.What do you want to talk about?”
“The demon who just walked away from your home,” Roque said.
* * * *
ROQUE COULD TELL SOMETHINGodd was going on, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.He needed answers and to go back to the palace.
