Page 23 of By Mistake
Shimari quirked a brow."Youarea lord.Did you forget that part?"
"Maybe," Andrus muttered.He hadn't, not really, but he'd never lived a single day of his life as he 'should' because being nobility was expensive.To suddenly be something that was always an afterthought at best in his life was…
Oh, no.Oh, no.He shot to his feet, chair falling over behind him, teacup toppling in its saucer, sending tea all over the tray."You've been paying people.Hiring people.That means they'retalking.That meanseveryone knowsthat I'm no longer a pauper."
Shimari rose to his full height."Yes?Why does that matter?Of course people are talking about you.They damn well should be.Idiots all of them."
"No, no,no," Andrus said with a groan, burying his hands in his hair so tightly it hurt where it pulled."You don't understand.Ifhehears about this, he'll come back and I can't—" He broke off, eyes blurring, and started to sit down before remembering too late he'd knocked the chair over.
Before he could crash to the floor, Shimari swept him up and carried him like a child back to the settee."You do like to make an absolute production out of everything, Master."
"Don't call me that.And I do not.You don't understand.He can't come, hecan't."
A hand rested on top of his head, like a parent soothing a child."Breathe, Master."
"What did I just tell you!"
Shimari laughed."Should have done a better job with your magic.I have to fulfill your needs and desires, not precisely heed every single command."
"Marvelous."
Another laugh, beautiful and bewitching."Who is this person you are so upset about learning of your improved situation?Someone who wants to hurt you?"
"No— I mean, yes, him too, but that's not who I'm talking about."
"Yes?Yes!" Shimari replied in an actual, real growl, his eyes turning to a darker red, like blood in moonlight.The entire room seemed to darken at the edges, and he swore for a moment there was something around and behind Shimari, a fierce, towering figure holding something like a staff, but—
Then it was all gone, and everything was normal again.Andrus trembled.A demon.He needed to remember that however Shimari behaved, however harmless he seemed, it was an illusion.A deceit.
"Now, now, little human, I have no intention of hurting you.I give you my word."
"Your word?"
"Sworn on my own name."
"Oh."That was no small thing.That wasbinding.Shimari really meant it.This demon more powerful than any mortal could comprehend had just vowed never to hurt him."I don't…"
"Tell me of this cretin who wants to hurt you."
"No.It's not your problem."
"Tell me who it is, and they won't be your problem either."
Andrus laughed despite himself."I don't care about him right now, I'm more concerned with—" He swallowed against the pain that just thinking about him brought."With Oresti."
"Who is Oresti?Other than someone you're in love with, clearly."
"I'm not in love with him!"At the unfairly condescending look Shimari gave him, Andrus muttered, "I'm not, but I won't deny I would have liked to be.But he's not who I thought, and who he is will never be for the likes of me."
"How defeatist."
"Shut up."
Shimari snorted in amusement but did fall silent.For a few minutes."So tell me about this Oresti."
"It doesn't matter," Andrus whispered, pinching his eyes shut."What matters is that he has to stay far, far away from me.I can't— I'm not good enough.And being too close to me will put him in danger.He's too important to risk it."
"Fine, I'll figure it out myself.Youneed to focus on permanent staff."
