In order to most efficiently update her workforce on what she was doing, Valen called a meeting of her most trusted and organizationally-gifted reapers, her Deputy Executive Officers. Once she had filled them in, they could fill in the regional managers, who could then inform the baseline reapers. Even if she was being forced to alter her practices because of this ‘deal’ with July, she was going to do it in an orderly fucking manner.

“Sorry for the short notice,” she called once all fifteen of her DEOs had shown up from various parts of the world. They were gathered in a meeting room at the Albany International Airport, and she stood before the table where they were seated, quickly signing as she spoke for the one of them who needed it. “I’m sure you’ve probably all looked at the schedule revisions by now, which means you know they aren’t individually that drastic. Thing is, I’m going to be here for a while, meaning I won’t be able to travel for my usual jobs. That means I have to pass them out to the rest of you. The bigger issue with that is—” One of her oldest employees, a middle-aged Greek named Ikaros tentatively raised his hand, and she paused to nod at him.

“Am I understanding this correctly? You’re going to be here? Only here? For two and a half years?” He looked up from his tablet, which displayed the updated roster she had sent them. Although plans were subject to change as people lived their lives, usually by the time Valen scheduled them, she’d determined with certainty how and when their deaths needed to happen. Once she had actually sent out the assignments to her people, it was very rare she should alter them.

“That’s right. I have a project I’m working on here, but once it’s finished, it’ll be back to business as usual.”

“Entáxei,” he conceded skeptically.

“Look, day-to-day, these changes are affecting baseline reapers more than any of you,” Valen continued. “What I need from you is to keep in contact with me, keep in contact with your subordinates, make sure things are going to plan. And if they’re not, for God’s sake, tell me so I can tell you how to fix it. Like I was saying, that’s the real downside of me setting up shop here: I can’t be everywhere at once solving problems. So congratulations: you’re all about to get a better understanding of my day-to-day workload.”

They spent the next hour looking more closely at the group-wide changes she’d implemented and what was still the same, how she would still give them assignments to distribute and they would still meet with her to report each year. Professional as always, she answered every question and smoothed every kink until they were all fully confident in the new plan.

“Okay. That’s all I have for now. If there are no more questions, you can go.” Once they’d left and she’d finished a much-needed cigarette, Valen went downstairs for a meeting of a different nature.

Careful to avoid contact with any of the surrounding mortals, she made her way to baggage claim and stood to one side to await a particular arrival. A nonstop flight from San Francisco had just come in, so she wouldn’t be waiting for too long. In the meantime, she checked her watch, then scrolled through a long list of ‘what the fuck’ emails she was still receiving from her regional managers.

“Valen!” A sweet, high-pitched voice caused her—along with several others in the area—to look up, and she found Savina on her way down the escalator, waving. Despite her small stature, her thick curves and bright smile made her impossible to miss. Dark curls bounced with every step as she hurried across the room to put herself in Valen’s arms. “I’m so glad to see you, Muertita! It’s been forever.”

“It’s only been a month,” the Reaper argued, leaning down significantly for a kiss. “How was your flight?”

“Long and terrible,” Savina whined dramatically, snuggling into Valen’s ample chest. “But it was worth it to visit you. I’m excited for my surprise too.” That made sense, considering Valen rarely bothered with that sort of thing. This happened to be a special circumstance, though.

“I bet. Do you want it now or should I make you wait?” She only hoped her uncharacteristic nerves weren’t evident in her voice.

“Ooh, you’re such a tease!” Savina giggled. “I want it now, Valen. Please give it to me.”

“All right, all right, you don’t have to beg. Come on.” After waiting around long enough to retrieve Savina’s luggage, she called a cab to take them to her ‘surprise.’ During the ride, Savina cuddled up against her, the same way she always did when they’d been apart for an extended period. Not that Valen was eager to turn her away. With one arm wrapped around Savina’s shoulders, gloved fingers lost in dark hair, she asked, “What time’s your rehearsal?”

“Seven. We have plenty of time for whatever it is you have planned.” As if there was any ambiguity as to where the afternoon was headed. Savina was a succubus, so it was par for the course that their meetings should involve sex.

“Whatever you’re expecting, you’re probably way off.”

“What I expect is to be surprised. I’m sure you’ll deliver on that.” They were only in the car for a few minutes before they reached their destination. Savina got out, looking for a hint as to what awaited her, while Valen paid their driver. The cab had dropped them off downtown in front of a tall but relatively nondescript building. Reading the sign in the window, she asked aloud, “Condos?”

“Mm-hm.” After retrieving her luggage, Valen nodded toward the door and led her inside. Savina followed her curiously into the elevator, which carried them up to the seventh floor.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, calaca. Being so secretive really isn’t your style,” she said as Valen unlocked the door to one of the units. Despite her argument, however, she strolled into the room to have a look around. “A hotel room wasn’t good enough? You had to rent out an entire luxury condo?”

“Bought. This isn’t the kind of place you rent.”

“You’re kidding. Surely you didn’t do all this just for the few nights I’m going to be here.”

“About that…” Valen shut the door behind her and set aside both her attaché case and Savina’s luggage, then roamed into the living room. The far wall featured four floor-to-ceiling windows, and Valen took a seat on the couch in front of them. “I have a work thing keeping me here in Albany for a while. A little more than two years.”

“Keeping you? In one place?” Savina asked, coming over to curl up on the couch next to her. “What’s going on?”

“That’s going to take some explaining, and I’ll get to it later. But since you were going to be nearby for your show anyway, I figured now was as good a time as any to let you know.”

“So this is my surprise?” Savina asked with a smile. “You’re putting down roots somewhere? I’ll admit I’m a little disappointed that this ‘thing’ is keeping you here instead of at the House with me, but—”

“Hang on,” Valen said, shaking her head as she took her shades off. Why was she making this into such a big goddamn deal? She was certain she’d had her offer carefully planned out before, yet there she was stalling like an idiot. “My point is I’m not going to have time to visit for a while. So I was wondering”—she hastily continued as Savina’s face fell—“if maybe you’d want to stay here. With me.”

Savina’s brown eyes grew wide. “You mean. Live with you? You would be here all the time? No running off to work for weeks on end or cancelling plans last-minute?”

“I can’t make any promises, but that’s the idea.” Valen reached up to loosen her tie, trying to keep track of her breath. She couldn’t tell whether it was Savina’s allure—the natural, passive air of attraction and temptation that came from her being a succubus—or stress that was making her so hot.

Savina soon dispelled her fears, crawling into her lap and kissing her hard on the mouth. Gloved hands grasped her hips tightly, and she draped her arms over her lover’s shoulders. When the kiss ended, as Valen was making an effort to continue the conversation rather than throwing her down against the couch, Savina nuzzled sweetly into her neck. “I can’t think of anything in the world I’d like more than that, Muertita.”

“Yeah? That’d be okay for you to do? What about the House?” As always, business came before pleasure in the Reaper’s mind. For Savina, they were one and the same.

“I’ll go back once in a while, but I can manage things from here. Besides, the girls can handle it while I’m gone.” Her work schedule was much more flexible than Valen’s, after all; she owned a well-known BDSM chateau in San Francisco and only saw people by appointment, so she wasn’t tied down. So to speak. As Valen started to trail kisses down her neck, she tilted her head back and mused, “I’ll have to run back and pick up some more clothes on Monday. I didn’t realize I would be here for so long!”

“No need.” The Reaper was slipping her fingers under the hem of Savina’s blouse to push it up and off over her head. As the dark red of her lips met the warm russet of Savina’s skin again, she spoke between kisses, “We’ll go shopping tomorrow. Madison Avenue. Prada. Chloé. You like Kate Spade lately, yeah?”

“Mm, you’re spoiling me so much this weekend,” the succubus laughed breathlessly, sliding her fingers through her girlfriend’s scarlet hair as the familiar ache of her touch started to set in. For a mortal, a single brush with Valen’s bare skin was lethal. For a demon like Savina, there was only a certain amount of pain that came with prolonged contact. And it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“Sure, and it’s a hundred percent selfless on my part,” Valen chuckled. With a glance at her watch, she added, “Tonight’s just a dress rehearsal. So I don’t have to worry about going easy on you, huh?”

“Oh, please don’t.”