“We also have something to report that we thought might be of interest,” Lucareoth added quickly.
Bel’aliol’s eyes narrowed but he allowed him to continue.
“It turns out we’re not the only House operating in this space,” Lucareoth said. Out of view, the tip of his tail lashed back and forth.
“We have good intelligence that another company, GreenField UnLtd., has signed their own Deal,” Morgan added.
Bel’aliol looked at Lucareoth. “Pets may be visible on calls, but only if they’re not disruptive.”
Morgan glanced around to see if Rix had snuck out of Gisele’s room and then took his meaning. She shut her mouth with a snap. Lucareoth’s tail curled around her ankle apologetically.
“I’m reasonably certain the signatory is a human named Hawk, a male of approximately forty human years of age with two descendants, born in the sign of Sagittarius. Baptized but apparently lapsed, no magical lineage I can find.”
“I’ll have it looked into,” Bel’aliol said. “But you need to deliver something to your client that’s better than pens and event invitations. Get those charges racked up, you’re still netting negative.”
“We have a meeting scheduled with Ravenfell,” Lucareoth promised.
“Yes,” Bel’aliol hissed. “Bleed the bloodsuckers for all they’re worth. But be careful; they’ll try to turn the terms on you. I don’t have to warn you not to be overconfident.”
“No, sir,” Lucareoth gulped.
The smoke suddenly dissipated, leaving them alone in the apartment.
The oven timer beeped.
“Well, that was unnerving yet anticlimactic,” Morgan said, pulling the rolls out of the oven. Lucareoth picked one up and she gasped. “You’ll burn your fingers!”
“The metal isn’t even glowing, I’m not going to burn my fingers.”
“Fine, next time you can take the pans out of the oven, Mr. I Don’t Need Oven Mitts,” Morgan said.
“Is it safe to come out and get butter?” Gisele poked her head out of her room.
“Yeah,” Morgan said, grabbing the butter from the fridge. “I’d say to leave them until they’ve cooled, but I already wrecked the structure by letting them proof too long, so we might as well slather them in butter and make the evidence disappear.”
They paused for a moment to give the rolls the respect they deserved. She was right, the rolls were over-proofed. But the giant uneven holes in the structure only gave more room for the salty melted butter to pool into. Lucareoth closed his eyes in bliss.
“Did you get what you wanted out of the meeting?” Gisele asked after a suitable pause.
“If you mean, ‘did I get called an animal and receive no information in exchange,’ sure,” Morgan said, trying not to be too offended by being insulted by a demon. Although if Lucareoth could be held to human standards, so could Bel’aliol.
“I’m so sorry,” Lucareoth said. “Next time, I’ll talk to him alone.”
“No, I want to hear,” she insisted. “It’s not your fault.”
The smoke suddenly roiled back up. Morgan yelped anddropped her roll. Rix happily grabbed it and ran behind the couch before someone could take back his prize. Gisele looked around wildly and then crouched behind the kitchen counter.
“Sir?” Lucareoth said through a mouthful of roll and then choked it down.
“You’re right,” Bel’aliol said, again without a greeting. “And it’s House Valefar, bless them to the Upper Planes. They’ve slipped into our sales territory right under our noses.”
“Oh no,” Lucareoth said. Morgan tried not to wince. Weren’t they the ones Ravenfell had bested? They’d really be out for blood now. Maybe literally.
“Oh nois right,” Bel’aliol repeated. “The ones Upstairs are not going to be pleased, and it’s us who are going to pay. This breaks the accord, you realize. Valefar has claim to Paris and Washington, but New York and London are supposed to belong to House Berith.”
Rix put his paws up on the counter and panted happily at Bel’aliol’s image. Bel’aliol’s voice changed abruptly to something lighter than Morgan had realized he was capable of producing. “Oh, hello there. Are you being a good boy?”
Rix ruffed and wagged his tail.
