Dimri didn’t know how to respond to that, so he didn’t.Instead, he turned his attention back to his soup, even though he could feel Roque watching him.
“Thank you,” Roque said after a moment.
“For what?”
“For getting me out of that alley alive.”He gestured vaguely at the space around them.“For taking care of things.”
“It’s my job.”
“No.Your job is gathering intelligence.Saving my life was something else.”
Dimri felt heat rise in his cheeks.He hoped he wasn’t blushing, but he couldn’t swear on it.“We’re partners.We’re supposed to watch each other’s backs.”
“Are we?Partners, I mean.We work together because Berith ordered us to, but neither of us was happy when he did.”
Dimri thought about the fight in the alley, about how natural it felt to be sitting here sharing a meal with Roque, but also about how they’d initially clashed.They’d learned to work together, and Dimri couldn’t wait to see what came next for them.“Yeah,” he said quietly.“I think we are.”Possibly in more ways than Roque was thinking about right now.
Roque grinned.“Good.Because I’m starting to think we make a pretty effective team.At the very least, I need you to stick around to continue saving my ass.”
For the first time in years, Dimri didn’t feel like he was facing the world alone, and he quite liked that.
* * * *
ROQUE HADN’T EXPECTEDto end the day like this—wounded and sitting at a table in Dimri’s safe house, eating soup and talking to the spymaster.He certainly hadn’t expected to end the day feeling like he knew Dimri better than he had when he’d woken up this morning.Considering the day they’d had, he was surprised that both of them had lasted long enough to finish their meal and sit in a comfortable silence the way they were.
Dimri was too close.The house was nice but small, including the kitchen.Maybe it was because Dimri rarely used the place.Knowing him, he probably didn’t see a reason to make it more comfortable than it already was, especially when he wasn’t planning on using it regularly.They both fit at the table, but they kept bumping into each other.
Roque didn’t mind, and he didn’t think Dimri did, either.He kept glancing at Roque, and the only reason Roque knew that was thathekept glancing atDimri.Something was simmering between them, and it wasn’t soup.
After the conversation they’d just had, Roque felt like he understood Dimri better.He wouldn’t have thought it possible just a few weeks ago when they’d been clashing over how to handle the situation.In the end, though, they both wanted the same thing.They were trying to protect people.They didn’t do it the same way, but they didn’t need to.Dimri’s spying was just as effective as Roque’s sword.He was just much more secretive about all of it.
Dimri was secretive about a lot of things, which was one of the reasons Roque had a hard time believing the spymaster had told him all that about how he’d grown up and how he’d ended up at the palace.Why had he told Roque of all people?Was it because they were working together?
Roque suspected that might be part of it, but there was more.He’d noticed the way Dimri kept looking at him, and not only during dinner.It was the same way he kept looking at Dimri.They hadn’t talked about it, but they both wanted more than the friendship growing between them.
It was a very bad idea.
Now wasn’t the moment to do something like that.They needed to focus on surviving and on making sure that Berith and his territory would survive, too.They couldn’t afford to be distracted, but it was hard to remember that when Dimri smiled from the other side of the table.Roque wanted to reach for him and pull him closer.He wanted to promise Dimri that he was there for him and that he wasn’t going anywhere.Dimri didn’t have to be alone anymore.He’d never have to be alone again if he didn’t want to.
But Roque couldn’t make that kind of promise.As much as he wanted to, neither of them knew what would happen.They might manage to defeat Ramiel, but there was a high chance that they wouldn’t be able to, or that one of them would get hurt in the process.Could Roque really go into this wondering if they’d both make it out alive?Would they be able to put aside their feelings for each other if they had to?Because they would.They wouldn’t be fighting Ramiel together.Roque’s place was with Berith, while Dimri’s was wherever he deemed it necessary.
Roque was pretty sure the answer to that question was no, yet he still found himself leaning closer.Dimri blinked, still watching him.He didn’t move, but he also didn’t try to stop Roque when he invaded his personal space.He had to know what Roque was about to do, right?He had to have noticed that Roque couldn’t look away from him, even when he should.
Roque could see Dimri watching him.He licked his lips, smiling when he heard Dimri suck in a breath.Yes, they both wanted this, and for once, Roque was willing to throw caution to the wind.It wouldn’t hurt anyone if he acted on this, would it?It was their business, not anyone else’s.
The sound of a door slamming in the distance made both of them jump.Dimri was on his feet before Roque could say anything.For a moment, Roque thought he was running from him, but he realized that wasn’t the case when Dimri took out a knife from one of the drawers.“I’ll check and make sure no one’s coming,” he murmured before stepping out of the room.
Once again, he was protecting them.Roque wasn’t surprised, but he did wish they hadn’t been interrupted.He could be kissing Dimri right now, for fuck’s sake.If someone had found them, Roque would kick their ass for interrupting.
But Dimri returned a few moments later and shook his head.“A cat.”
Well, that was Roque’s plan ruined.He couldn’t exactly kick the cat’s ass, although he was tempted to try because instead of sitting next to him again, Dimri grabbed their empty bowls and started cleaning up the kitchen.Roque watched him, mourning the opportunity he’d had.
Maybe it was better that way.Even though they clearly both wanted each other, they couldn’t afford to be distracted.Ramiel would take advantage of that, and neither of them would ever forgive themselves if something happened because of that.They needed to get rid of Ramiel.Once they did, Roque and Dimri would have all the time they wanted to explore what was growing between them.They just had to survive until then, which was easier said than done, unfortunately.
Theywoulddo it, though.Roque was sure they could.Knowing that he would have this waiting for him once everything was over would give him one more thing to fight for—not that he needed it.He hadn’t been planning on dying, even before he and Dimri started whatever this was.Still, it would be nice to have Dimri to come home to as a celebration for kicking Ramiel’s ass.
And in the meantime, Roque could watch Dimri.He could imagine what his future with Dimri would be like.He’d have to put together a gift basket for Berith once things calmed down.He was pretty sure the prince had done this on purpose, but even if he hadn’t, the least Roque could do was thank him.His friend had tried playing matchmaker, and he’d succeeded.
