And maybe… there was something he didn’t know about himself.
19
THE MONSTER ATTACK BEFORE THE CHAOS
Rosalind
Rosalind was greeted with an envelope slapped atop her work, unable to read the contents with a pale blue hand spread across the surface.
“Oh great and brilliant Mozke,” the very demon began in a dramatic imitation of Rose’s voice. “However will I repay you, for I have been so morose despite receiving regular orgasms from two?—”
“Oh my gods, close the door just once!” Rose scrambled out of her seat to close the meeting room door. She spun on her heel and glared at the demon. “And I havenotbeen morose.”
Mozke rolled their eyes, but they were smirking. “You’ve also not been getting laid?—”
“Give methat envelope.”
“Say something nice first.”
Rosalind pinched their shoulder as she slipped back into her chair. “Oh great and brilliant Mozke, to what do I owe the honor of your presence in my humble place of work?” Rosalind sat up straight. “Wait, is this theevidence?”
She whispered the word, even with the demons around the office much too distracted by their own work to care about their conversation behind a closed door.
“Not quite, but maybe something better.” They removed their hand so Rosalind could see the script across the front of the paper. “Your deed and all the proper signatures for the greenhouse in the art district.”
Rosalind squeaked and grabbed the envelope closer, holding it to her chest in pride. The one benefit of her early proposal to Argeth was his approval of a small amount of funds alongside Kizros’s purchase. A donation with the specific function of assisting the humans.
And a bench dedicated from their office. A much better use of funds than a shrubbery.
“I can’t believe it already went through,” Rose sighed, leafing through the papers just for her own reassurance. “I assume I have you to thank for that?”
Mozke grinned. “Maybe you’ll tell me what’s had you bummed out the last couple days?”
Rosalind slumped in her chair again. “Sorry, it’s…”
Personal? That wasn’t the right word, because it was only partially related to her.
The truth, which she couldn’t share with Mozke, was thatdespite Davarox coming clean about Temptation the other day, he hadn’t talked to Lazerath about the second secret he held.
That he was in love with his best friend.
It was a secret that weighed heavily on her heart, knowing that not only was Dav in pain, but also it was her introduction that had made things worse. As much as she believed Lazerath wouldn’t let Dav’s confession change their dynamic, she knew it would change for Dav. And she didn’t want to be the reason their friendship crumbled.
Davarox was trying. She knew. But he couldn’t hold onto it forever, and that was what broke her heart.
Rosalind shook her head. “It’s complicated.”
Mozke studied her, like they were reading into every pause and inflection, possibly even reading her mind, but then they nodded. “If they’re not treating you well, I will personally break into their bakery and rearrange one small thing daily until they think they’ve lost their minds.”
“That’s a very real threat.”
“I’m very threatening when I need to be.”
Rose was very grateful Mozke still liked her, but she made a mental note to bring home their favorites from Lovable Loaf to keep it that way.
Mozke waved a silver-adorned hand at her. “Back to those papers you’re holding like a disgustingly adorable, hornless newborn demon?—”
“Newborns are hornless?”
