“THEY’LL BE HERE INtwo days if they continue marching at the speed they are now,” the guard told Dimri.
Dimri nodded.“Good.You can go.”
The guard bowed lightly and ran out of the office.It was a scene Dimri had witnessed dozens of times over the past few days.Ramiel had already moved faster than they’d expected him to, and he’d nearly reached their territory.Soon, he’d be close enough to the palace to attack it.
And the palace would be ready to welcome him.
Dimri had dozens of people going back and forth.Through them, he knew where Ramiel was and what he was up to.Tracking Ramiel and his army had become his main job.He’d never been happier that he wouldn’t have to be involved in the palace’s security planning, or even in keeping Berith safe.That was Roque’s job, while Mikal was focused on the palace and the people who lived there.Others were working on protecting the city and the area around it.It wouldn’t be perfect by any means, but they were doing everything they could to minimize the number of people who would be involved in the fighting.
But Ramiel wasn’t a nice person.He was coming here to defeat Berith.He wanted the people in this territory to fear him, and he’d act accordingly.People would die, and there was nothing Dimri, Berith, or anyone else could do about that.They could only forge ahead and do their best to be quick so they’d be ready by the time Ramiel arrived.
Dimri looked around Berith’s office.They were all working from here because it made it easier to coordinate and share information.Even though it wasn’t where he usually was, Dimri enjoyed being at the center of what was happening.Even more so, he enjoyed being up to date without having to use his spies or to ask Berith what he was doing.
He also quite enjoyed watching Roque at work.He’d always known that Roque was good at his job, and with his friend Yakim by his side, they were a formidable team.Luckily for Berith, Yakim had returned as soon as he and Lucifer had found out about Ramiel’s approach.He wasn’t officially Berith’s bodyguard anymore, but he’d declared he’d work with Roque, and no one had said anything about it, not even Lucifer.
Of course, that could be because Lucifer was downright giddy tofinallyconfront Ramiel.He kept throwing out ideas that Dimri could tell wouldn’t work, and people just let him talk.He was on their side, and he was powerful and stronger than Ramiel.That was all everyone cared about.
Dimri got to his feet to get himself another coffee.He smiled when he noticed Roque moving toward him.They hadn’t told anyone about their relationship because there wasn’t anything to say about it since it didn’t exist yet, but Dimri hadn’t missed the way Roque always tried to spend time with him, even when the room around them was full and noisy.It was sweet, and it made Dimri smile.Those few stolen minutes here and there kept him going.
“You’re not going to be able to sleep tonight if you drink too much coffee,” Roque said, sounding fond.
“Do you really expect anyone to sleep tonight?”
“Maybe not.How long until he’s here?”
“Just a few days.”
“That doesn’t give us a lot of time.”
“No, but it’ll be enough.”Dimri would make sure of that.
He grabbed one of the mugs on the table just as Roque moved to do the same.Their fingers brushed together, and Dimri couldn’t help the smile that bloomed on his lips.He was pretty sure that if anyone was to look his way right then, they’d know exactly what was going on, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care.He wanted more time with Roque.He wanted Ramiel to be dead already.Unfortunately, that hadn’t happened yet, which meant that he and Roque had to deal with this the best they could.
Dimri wanted more, but it would be a while before he could have it, and that annoyed him.He’d kick Ramiel’s ass just for that, never mind him threatening Berith and trying to take his territory from him.
“Dimri?”Berith called out.
Dimri moved his hand away from Roque’s, but he made sure to do so slowly and to allow their fingers to briefly tangle together.Roque smiled at him, and even though it was fleeting, it gave Dimri the push he needed to continue his day.
Dimri turned toward Berith.“What do you need?”
Berith waved at him.“Come here.”
Dimri sighed and moved to do just that.He couldn’t wait for a time when these meetings weren’t needed anymore, but those days hadn’t come yet, and if he wanted them to, he had to make an effort now.It would only be a few days, anyway.
Then, Ramiel would be a thing of the past, and Dimri would be able to focus on his future.
* * * *
ROQUE WATCHED DIMRIwalk away.He wanted to pull him back, but they both had work to do.It was still hard to let him go.Roque felt like they were running out of time, and in a way, they were.Ramiel was coming.That meant thatwarwas coming.They had no way to know if they would both survive, and that scared Roque.As much as he wanted to believe that everything would be all right and that everyone he loved would make it, he couldn’t be sure.
Was the decision to wait and stay away from Dimri the right one?What if one of them got hurt, or worse?Roque couldn’t say which one of them would be in the most danger.He’d be fairly protected inside the palace, but at the same time, he’d be with Berith, who was Ramiel’s main target.If he found a way inside the palace, Berith and everyone around him would be in danger.
Dimri would be out there, though.Roque wasn’t sure what exactly he would do, but Dimri wasn’t one to sit and wait.If there was anything he could do to keep the palace and Berith safe, he’d do it, even if it meant putting himself in danger.He protected people.That was why he’d become Berith’s spymaster, and he was good at it.Roque had faith that Dimri could defend himself, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be hurt.This wasn’t just a fight.It had the potential to destroy everything and everyone Roque cared about, and that was terrifying.
“You know, if you’re trying to keep your relationship a secret, you should probably stop making eyes at each other,” Yakim said, suddenly standing next to Roque.
Roque jumped and glared at his best friend.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
