Page 52 of By Mistake
Little did Farthing know, those protections were greater now and demon-made.He would never possess Andrus's house or anything within it.
He'd never get his own demon either.
Unfortunately, being backed into a corner made men dangerous, and men like Farthing were that much worse.
"I'll appoint guards, overt and covert, and relay your suspicions to my sister and father as well.With all that on top of the protection you already provide, he should be safe."
"What about you?"Shimari asked.
"I'm a prince; that's generally protection enough.If not, well, I have bodyguards and Greivs, and now you, though if you have to choose between us, choose him."
Shimari scoffed."I am the demon that demons fear.If the situation is as dire as that, let me off my leash and you will see what I can do, even when pulled in multiple directions."
"Hopefully it won't come to that.Now let me sleep, and wake us up in a few hours however you so like."
"Sleep, then, noble prince.I'll keep watch."
Oresti kissed him goodnight, then did precisely that.
He stirred a few hours later, driven awake by a grumbling stomach, and found he was alone in bed.A quick sweep of the room revealed no Shimari, but there was a beautiful, moon-bathed apparition on the balcony, half-swallowed by a too-large dressing robe.
Throwing back the blankets, he strode naked to the balcony."I know you have twenty of your own dressing robes now," he said, pulling Andrus close and kissing him softly."What are you doing awake?"
"Got hungry.To judge by the sound of your stomach, the same problem woke you."
Oresti grinned."What did you request from the kitchen?Is there enough for me to steal some?"
Andrus stared at him, brow furrowed."I didn't request anything.It's nearly midnight.Breakfast is only like six or so hours away."
"Andi…" Oresti held his shoulders, pushing beneath the dressing robe, thumbs running softly over his skin.Then he slid them up to cup his face, thumbs stroking those too-delicate cheekbones."Beloved, you do not have to go hungry anymore.The royal kitchens are always open, though only the small one operates at night and on a limited menu.Back home, your staff are paid more than enough to do whatever you want whenever you want.You are ice-cold to the touch.Go enjoy the fire, and I will get food ordered.Is there anything in particular you want?"
"I have no idea whatlimited menumeans, Your Highness.Something sweet."
"It shall be done."He led the way inside and went to grab his own dressing robe before stoking up the fire."Where is Shimari?"
"He wanted to prowl around now that it was late at night, 'see what people really get up to,' and he seemed far too excited about it.I think our demon might be a gossipmonger."
"That does not surprise me remotely.You never did say why you're wearing my dressing robe.Not that I ever mind seeing you in my things."
"I just wanted yours," Andrus said, cheeks flushing."It's heavier and warmer, and it smells like your cologne."
Oresti smiled, kissed him, and then finally actually went to see about food.
By the time it arrived a little while later, Shimari had returned, padding into the room like a little shadow, and shifting back to his human form as he reached them.Watching him shift was strange, though not because of the shifting itself.It was because in that moment of in-between, when he was no real shape at all, there was a flickering on the edge of things, as though glimpsing something through a heavy fog, and the glimpse he caught was of a looming figure with blood-red eyes and an enormous scythe, wearing darkness like an old cloak.
"Learn anything interesting?"Oresti asked as he gave Andrus a truly impressive mountain of cake with coffee to cut the richness.
Shimari sprawled in an extra-wide, plush chair like he still thought he was a cat."The woman with extremely dark skin, almost a true black, with vivid red-brown eyes…"
"Lady Waterson, she's the wife of a nothing-baron who never leaves his country estate, and the mistress of the Queler ambassador."
"Well, she's also fucking a pretty girl who I think is the daughter of a different ambassador.Winsome thing, almost translucent skin and hair the same.Not albino, though, just naturally ghost pale."
Oresti sighed."Stepdaughter of Ambassador Jin from Saltmoore.His wife is having an affair too, I think.I mean, around this place who isn't?But the wife is sleeping with Mai-Falla, the poison ring woman.And Mai-Falla is supposed to be getting engaged this year, and her likely-promised is sleeping with her bastard half-sister.I think.If you really want the dirty details of the night court, you'll have to gossip with Latasha."
"I think I will, if she doesn't mind gossiping with a mere personal assistant."
"My sister knows who has all the real information in the palace, and it's not the spoiled rotten nobles who can't even get dressed without assistance.Nobody sees staff, and staff sees everything.There is wine here for you, if you want it."
