Page 140 of Demon Touched

“What do you mean?” he says. “I’m engaging in some friendly relations right now, aren’t I?”

He kisses me so thoroughly that the noise of the party fades away.

“All right,” he says a few blissful minutes later, his voice ragged as he rests his forehead on my brow. “Now I really should go and make some alliances. I just needed to do that before I lost my mind.”

I laugh and give him a playful shove, then straighten my skirts and rumpled hair.

“Maybe I should let you mingle while I get us some drinks,” I say. “That way you’ll get some time when you’re not so distracted.”

I wink as he grins and saunters away. On my way to the drinks table, however, I run into Strickland. I saw him milling around earlier, but predictably, he was swamped by various Stratans wanting his attention.

“I see you’ve managed to escape your horde of admirers for a moment,” I say with a smile.

He grimaces. “I’m not sure many of them are admirers. It’s more like a lot of people who want a lot of things from me. But that is, as they say, part of the job.”

His words make me think about Syrus, the collateral, and Hathwell’s fortune. I thought maybe I would stop being pulled in so many directions after I left Aradis, but I’m not sure things are much simpler now.

“Will we begin work on the collateral soon?” I ask.

Even though I’m keeping my voice low, Strickland glances around, conscious we might be heard.

“Would you step out with me for a moment?” he asks.

He takes me out into the corridor, a little way down from the rooms where the party is being held.

“I’m sorry I’ve been so busy. I really would like us to start working on the collateral as soon as possible,” he says when he seems confident we won’t be overheard.

I nod. “I’ve been thinking about it. I’m not sure how the Dawnheart will react when I touch it, but that would be a start. Maybe then I can try imbuing it with some of my lightning? If it’s losing power, then that might help. I’m afraid I don’t know what else we could try.”

“That’s fine. More than fine,” Strickland says, waving a hand. “Just having someone with the powers we need will be a great starting point. And once you’ve taken⁠—”

“Thadeus!” a clear, bell-like voice cuts through the corridor, and I turn to see our host, Lady Roseingrave, sweeping down the hallway toward us. “I wondered who had squirreled away this lovely young woman here.” She tuts playfully at Strickland. “If you don’t mind, I would like a word.”

I’m about to step back until I realize she’s smiling in my direction.

“Wait, you want to talk to me?” I ask stupidly.

Lady Roseingrave glances at Strickland and laughs as if I’m being charming instead of obtuse. “Yes, of course. Just a little chat, woman to woman.”

Strickland raises an eyebrow, but nods. “Who am I to keep you from one of your schemes, Orealia? Just be careful with her.” Then he winks at me and returns to the party.

I study Lady Roseingrave cautiously. The last time I encountered her, she didn’t even glance in my direction, and now she’s desperate to talk to me? I privately promise to restrain myself if this has anything to do with her flirtation with Syrus. We’re supposed to be building bridges here, after all.

She starts moving down the corridor, away from the party, forcing me to follow. “Things are much cozier in my parlor, and I suspect you might appreciate the privacy,” she says. “That is a gorgeous dress by the way. Is it a Mistress Mavenier’s?”

I suppress a scoff, considering the idea of me wearing a dress by Strata’s most coveted seamstress.

“No, it’s from Infernum,” I say.

“Ah,” she looks disappointed as she opens a door into what is, she’s right, a very cozy parlor. “A shame. It’s so hard to get anything imported from Infernum. Perhaps you have a contact I could use?”

“I’ll er…ask the woman who organized it for me,” I say, looking around as I settle onto a couch and Roseingrave drifts over to a drinks trolley.

“I should probably cut to the chase, my dear. I’m sure the sudden change in your circumstances must feel like a difficult transition, and I just thought you might benefit from a little advice.”

I stiffen, mind racing as she pours wine into a couple of glasses.

“What circumstances?” I ask, the tension easily audible in my voice. Is she talking about me being nephilim? Or maybe learning how to combine my powers on the plains?