“I do,” Dimri confirmed.He always did.
* * * *
ROQUE WASN’T SURPRISEDto find out that Dimri’s plan had worked.He’d realized a while ago that between the two of them, Dimri was the smart one.That was okay.Roque didn’t mind being the muscle, especially when it meant following Dimri’s orders.
Once again, Dimri had been right.They’d discussed how much time they’d wasted spying on Abath for nothing, and Dimri had wanted to find another way to draw the spy out and identify them.Well, they had, and since they now knew what Ramiel’s plans were, they could act accordingly.
“I’ll have the spy taken down to the cells,” he said as he moved toward the door to tell Berith’s secretary to get two guards.
Dimri nodded.He looked distracted, which wasn’t a surprise.They knew that Ramiel was coming, but they still had to plan for his arrival.
Luckily, they didn’t need much from the spy.Dimri was relieved to find out that it wasn’t someone he trusted, although once all of this was over, he’d have to talk with the people who hired the servants, the cooks, and everyone else who worked in the palace.They needed to do better and to stop hiring spies.The maid had been smart, though.She’d moved around the palace all day, every day, but most people hadn’t noticed her.That meant that she could sneak into rooms and listen to private conversations.
Not anymore.
When Roque walked back into the office, it was to find Berith and Dimri talking about what their next step should be.Mel hadn’t left, but while he was still on the couch, Berith was now at his desk, his head close to Dimri’s as they’d plotted.Mel didn’t seem to mind.He was watching Berith with a soft expression, but Roque could see the worry in his eyes.Roque couldn’t promise Mel that everything would be all right, but therewasa promise he could make.“I’ll keep him safe even if it means I have to sacrifice myself,” he murmured as he stepped closer to the prince’s consort.
Mel shook his head.“I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself for him, and he doesn’t, either.”
“It doesn’t matter.It’s my job, and even more than that, I care about him.He’s a friend.”
“I know.”Mel sighed.“I just wish we didn’t have to go through all of this.”
“Hell isn’t a peaceful place.You knew that when you decided to move here.”Roque remembered that he’d been worried that Mel wasn’t the right choice for Berith, but the human had shown him otherwise.He’d stood by Berith through thick and thin, and Roque didn’t have to ask to know that he’d do so this time, too.He might be human, but that didn’t mean he was weak.In fact, he was one of the strongest people Roque knew.It took a special kind of strength to be a teacher, especially in the palace of a prince of Hell.
“I’m aware,” Mel said.“Hopefully, we can make it a little more peaceful once this is over.I don’t like the thought of anyone fighting, but I realize it’s necessary.”
“Once Ramiel’s gone, you won’t have to worry about anything.”If Berith could pull this off, he’d show the other princes of Hell how strong and powerful he was.That would make them think twice about attacking him to try to take his territory.It would give Berith and everyone else here years of peace.
They just had to deal with Ramiel first.
The office eventually filled with other people.Berith warned everyone that Ramiel was coming, and together, they worked on a plan to keep the palace and the people inside of it safe.They’d do their best for everyone else out there, but their priority had to be Berith and his family.
By the time an hour had passed, people were running in and out of the office.Everyone had something to say or to ask, except for Roque.His job was to protect the prince.He knew where he would be when Ramiel attacked.He knew what his job would be, too.He didn’t have to be part of this plan, although he was grateful to be involved.The palace was his home.He didn’t want it destroyed, even though that wasn’t the most important thing.
“Are you going to admit that I was right?”Dimri asked, suddenly appearing next to Roque.
Roque glanced at Berith, but he was talking to Mikal and wasn’t paying attention to what Roque was up to.That meant that Roque could take a few seconds to talk to Dimri.“Right about what?”he teased as he brushed a hand against the small of Dimri’s back.
Dimri rolled his eyes and leaned into Roque.“My plan worked.”
“It did.I’m impressed.”
“I live to impress you.”
They both knew that wasn’t true, but also that Dimri did want to impress Roque.He didn’t need to.Roque was already a sure thing.Dimri could have him whenever he wanted.
It was a pity that now wasn’t the right time for that.
But soon, it would be.Now that they had a date and a plan in motion, things would be both easier and harder.They wouldn’t get to spend a lot of time together, but once Ramiel was gone, they wouldn’t have to be apart ever again.They just needed to push through these next few days, and when they did, they could start planning their future.Roque was sure that Dimri would be eager to do just that.He was a planner, after all.
A planner who’d saved Roque’s life and would probably save the life of everyone who lived at the palace.Roque hadn’t been thinking about falling for anyone, but he was glad it had been Dimri.They worked well together, even though Roque would never have believed that a few weeks ago.Hopefully, that would translate to a life together.
Hopefully, they’d have the opportunity to see if it did.
Chapter Nine
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