He was actually kind of sad at the thought of doing that.He’d enjoyed his time with Dimri, which had surprised him.He’d expected the spymaster to be annoying to live with, but he’d being surprisingly laid-back.Roque couldn’t help but wonder if they’d keep in touch once this was over.They still had to find the spy because Roque didn’t think Abath had anything to do with it, but that didn’t mean they would be working as closely as they had been these past few days.It wouldn’t be the same.
Maybe that was a good thing because Roque was having a tough time not thinking about Dimri in less-than-professional settings.He should be focused on Abath and what the demon was hiding, but instead, he couldn’t stop thinking about how Dimri’s lips would taste if he kissed him.He was pretty sure that Dimri would kick his ass if he tried, so he hadn’t dared, and now, he’d missed this opportunity.
Maybe that was for the best.What was happening with Ramiel was more important than getting a kiss.Roque just hoped he’d have the opportunity to do so after the war with Ramiel was over.
“What do you want to know about him?”Abath asked.
“That was Vallin, wasn’t it?”Dimri asked.
Abath blinked at him.“Yeah.How do you know?”
Dimri arched a brow.“You know who I am and what I do for the prince, Abath.”
Abath’s eyes widened.“Yeah, but I didn’t realize it meant you knew everyone in town.”
“Not everyone, just the people who could be a danger to our prince.”
“Vallin’s not dangerous, not to Berith anyway.”
“But he’s dangerous to you?”Roque asked.
“Let’s just say he wasn’t happy when I told him I didn’t have his money a few days ago.I got it eventually, though.That’s why he came by today.”
Roque frowned.“He was here because you owed him money?”
“Well, yes.He said that he wouldn’t let me bet again, but I’m sure I can change his mind.”
Roque didn’t say it would be better if he couldn’t.What Abath did outside of the palace was none of his business, even when it was clearly a mistake.
“Can you tell us a little bit about Vallin?”Dimri asked.
“I can tell you what I know, which isn’t much.I met him in a tavern when I heard someone place a bet with him.Initially, it was just a few times for fun, but it became more serious when I realized I could earn a lot of money.It’s great when I win, you know?”
Roque almost asked him if what Berith paid him wasn’t enough, but he realized it didn’t matter.Abath wasn’t gambling because he needed money.He was gambling because he enjoyed the sensations it gave him.
This had nothing to do with the spy, did it?Dimri had been convinced that Abath was the person they were looking for, but it didn’t look like he was.They were back to square one.
“Abath?”a woman asked from inside the house.
Abath’s eyes widened.“That’s my wife.Please don’t tell her about Vallin.She doesn’t know.”
Roque had no intention of outing Abath’s secret to anyone, least of all his wife.He also had no intention of sticking around long enough to talk to her.“Your secret is safe with us,” he promised as he hooked a hand around Dimri’s elbow and guided him away from the door.“I’ll see you at the palace.”
Abath looked confused but waved.To Roque’s surprise, Dimri didn’t argue when Roque pulled him away.In fact, he was surprisingly silent as they weaved their way through town on their way back to the palace.
“So it wasn’t him,” Roque eventually said.
“It wasn’t,” Dimri confirmed.“I recognized Vallin earlier when I saw his face.”
“You knew who he was?”
“I wasn’t lying when I told Abath that I know anyone who could be a danger to Berith.It’s my job.”
“What now?”
“Well, we’ve been over the list of possible suspects, so we move on to one of those.”Roque was about to ask Dimri why he was taking the fact that he’d made a mistake so easily when movement caught his attention.He didn’t get the opportunity to speak because he had to let go of Dimri’s elbow, which he was still holding, to defend himself from the blade coming toward him.
“Down!”Dimri shouted, tackling Roque sideways just as the blade slammed into the stone wall where Roque’s head had been a second before.
