Page 72 of Higher Demon

“Good,” he says cheerfully. “I’ll come after one of your suits with scissors if you injure my brother.”

I shudder. “Humans are barbarians.”

“Really?” Connor says, hearing that last part as he approaches. “Youwere the best choice for ambassador?”

Exchanging a glance with Ian, I reply, “I was the only choice.”

He glowers. “Let’s go. Kieran’s waiting.”

* * *

Hours later,in the small room I’ve been allocated, I muse that dinner wasn’t all that bad. Connor’s surly temper when Ian insisted I be included was amusing, and it was somewhat of a revelation to see Ian interacting with his older brothers. I especially enjoyed when Norval joined us and scolded Connor for ten minutes because he hadn’t told him that Ian was coming.

There’s a quiet knock on the door, and I go to let Ian in. “Uncle Norval has news for us,” he announces immediately, giving me a warning look, and sure enough, the ghost is right behind him.

“And you both thought it would be acceptable to interrupt my peaceful evening? How lovely.”

“Still hospitable, I see,” Norval declares, making himself at home on the bed. “I’ve had an update since the last time I was in California.”

“I wait with bated breath.”

“Don’t be a dick,” Ian chides. “What update, Uncle?”

“One of the ghosts I spoke to at the York compound says there’s a diary in their archives that belonged to a Highett. The archivist who found it read the first page, identified the author, and put it aside. They have higher priority items to read through first.”

I consider the information. “There’s little chance that whoever this Highett was wrote anything that could be of use to us. Surely not even a human could be so stupid?”

Ian pulls a face. “I wish I could agree with you, but I’ve seen people do some pretty stupid shit. And none of the Highetts I know are all that smart.”

“People write all kinds of things in their diaries that they shouldn’t,” Norval adds sagely. “For some reason, they never think about what could happen to it if they die suddenly.”

“Would their family have left a diary behind without checking it for anything incriminating?” Ian wonders. “This isn’t just one person doing something stupid. They’d need to look out for the whole family line. I can put in a request for the diary, but it’s going to look weird. Can we be sure it’s worth it?”

“That’s the other part,” Norval adds. “It was found recently in a box under some floorboards during renovations.”

“So it’s possible the family never knew it was there.” Ian looks at me. “I think we need to see it. If it mentions a name…”

“All I need is a name,” I agree. Even an alias—most higher demons use the same few over and over. “Norval, find out exactly where the diary is being kept. I can go and get it, but the less time I’m poking around in the archives, the less chance of this causing any upset.”

Norval frowns, his bushy brows drawing together. “I don’t take orders fromyou, demon. And I’m not giving you information so you can rob a Collective archive!”

I look at Ian. “Why are all your relatives so difficult? Some genetic flaw?”

“Uncle,” he says, ignoring me, “Marc getting the diary would be a lot easier—and faster,andget less attention—than me putting in an archive request. Could you please just see what you can find out? If nothing else, I need some kind of identifying information so I know what to request.”

Norval harrumphs. “Fine. But only because you asked nicely.” He shoots me one last glare before disappearing.

Ian sighs and throws himself face down onto the bed. “What even is my life?” His voice is muffled, but I can hear him clearly enough to know that question needs no response.

“Get your shoes off the bedding.”

He rolls onto his back. “Make me.” The words are challenging, but his smile promises something else entirely, and the flood of emotion threatens to overwhelm me.

I take my time stripping off my suit jacket and hanging it up. “You have exactly one minute to get your shoes off the bedding before I make you beg for mercy,” I inform him coolly, removing my cuff links.

“Mercy, huh? You wish.” He tilts his head. “I let you get away with the suit all day today, so tomorrow you have to wear jeans.”

“That will never happen. Forty seconds.” I remove my shirt and carefully toe off my shoes.

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