Lita smiled as she waited in the stairwell, leaning against a wall. Light filtered down to her from a line of windows in the corridor at the top.

She’d found the study.

It must’ve been common knowledge among the enforcers because the first person she’d asked, a child, knew where it was.

Unfortunately it was down a hallway off the training room. With the constant activity in there she’d never get in during daylight without being seen. That meant a long vigil tonight.

What she should be doing is taking a nap and preparing for it. Instead, she was here. Waiting for Dalius.

I deserve a break, she told herself fiercely and firmly. Her nerves had been so strained for… for years, really. And she hadn’t slept well since Nakos’ death. Maybe tonight she’d finally crash.

After searching the office. After a long afternoon meandering around the city.

“Well, aren’t you pretty today.”

Lita jumped. Then sagged as she lifted her chin and smiled at the man. Dalius bowed dramatically and grabbed her hand, raising it to his lips.

“For someone who just wants my company, you’re laying it on thick.”

Dalius laughed and dropped her hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep our date last night.”

She shrugged and pushed off the wall. “You’re here on official business. With demons watching your every move. I get it.”

“I knew you would.” He grabbed her hand and casually looped her arm through his. “Which way, my lady?”

“We’re going to take the servants’ stairs and then out the kitchen.”

“Avoiding demons?”

“Exactly.”

Morning was long gone so Lita had left behind her shawl. She’d also changed into her best skirt with big beads, made from some amber stone, sewn into the waist.

And no matter how much she told herself that this was just a friendly outing, her stomach turned with butterflies and she grinned far more than she should have. It helped with ignoring the looks from people in the kitchen. Looks that ranged from sly grins to disapproving and jealous scowls.

Yes. Dalius was hot and she had his attention for a few hours.

“This way.” She pulled him toward the gardens. “If we take this path there’s a gate that hardly anyone uses. I think even the demons don’t remember it’s here. I’ve never seen it inspected like the other gates.”

That didn’t make it easy to open, though.

She tried first. Usually the hole she could force open was enough for her and she easily slipped out. Getting the gate open large enough for Dalius, though, took some more effort. And lots of laughter.

“They couldn’t have made it more non-passable if they’d sealed it.” Dalius finally scraped his way out.

His clothes were a mess from the tight, dirty space.

“No. If they sealed it, it would be sealed.” She waved a hand. “All the Brethren have secret chambers inside. And if you don’t have demon touch, you don’t get in.”

“How so?”

She described the way the doorways were opened and closed, with the walls moving out of the way under a demon’s hand.

“Sounds like you’d need a battering ram to get them down.”

“At the very least.”

Dalius batted his shirt as clean as he could while they walked through a jungle of plants and finally onto the main road.

“Do you go this way often?”

“I don’t get out often.” She shrugged, steering them down the fork that would lead them to the dock. “When I do I usually take the main gate. Otherwise my Mistress will hammer me with questions about where I’d gone and why she couldn’t find me.”

“They notice everyone’s comings and goings?”

“Mostly.” Lita looked around then lowered her voice. “They’re paranoid about spies.”

“So I saw.”

The mood turned grim and Lita felt sick for a moment. She was glad she’d been able to look away that night. It didn’t fix it, but it helped.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Where are we going?”

Dalius reclaimed her arm as soon as he was done batting at his clothes and they talked. He told her about being a magistrate, what a pain it was to deal with the local demon (Leo) who didn’t know when to stop talking.

Then he asked her about life in the Palace and about Diana Veran, 'The demons’ scariest enforcer.'

Lita snorted at that. “Aridon is the scariest one.”

“Aridon doesn’t usually leave the Palace and harass everyone.”

Lita thought about that then nodded. “I’ll give you that.”

“So, what’s it like serving her?”

She shrugged and frowned, looking down the sloping road. The part of the dock she was aiming for was on the very edges of the market. The best place to get fresh fish, she was told. Though she’d never had to buy any while in the Capital before. There’d always been someone else who did that.

“Mistress Veran keeps mostly to herself. She grumbles and throws tantrums. I frequently find her room destroyed, though I’ve never had to do more than clean some glass.” Lita bit her lip, thinking. “Really, she’s actually pretty easy. Mostly she just ignores you. Or makes you join her training sessions.”

She shuddered dramatically and Dalius laughed.

That was when she noticed that he’d slyly moved his looped arm down until he was entangling her fingers with his. For a moment she thought about telling him that this was not how you casually spend time with someone.

She glanced at her hand and pinched her brows together before coming to a decision.

Honestly, she liked this version of male attention.

As long as I don’t let it go any further, I won’t be the next one he woos.

She nodded to herself and didn’t push his hand away. It felt… nice. Very nice not to be alone. Even if it was just for a moment. Just for the afternoon.

The street began to widen as they left the more residential areas surrounding the Palace and entered the dock and market.

Immediately she saw one of the little advertising groups for the Circus. One woman was standing on her hands while contorting her body to lay, midair and horizontal to the ground. While her partner urged a trained dog to jump on her back.

The people watching, especially the children, laughed and clapped with each trick the dog performed on his human platform.

“Let's go this way.”

She tugged Dalius’ hand the other direction.

“You don’t want to talk to them?”

“I don’t want them to see me.”

Dalius winked and allowed her to pull him behind a large group heading the same way. “Embarrassed to be seen with me?”

Her face flushed and burned. “No! I just- I haven’t talked to most of them in five years. I just don’t want to see anyone if I can help it.”

“I understand.” He turned very serious and sad, tightening his grip on her fingers. “I avoid them, too. I bet they’d probably welcome you back if you wanted to go.”

“Probably.”

She didn’t want to talk about this. Maybe he sensed it because he changed the subject.

“Have you seen those hovering things above the dome?”

“You’ve seen them, too? Any guesses about what they are?”

“I was thinking some sort of magical bird.” With one hand he dramatically imitated the hovering. “With the dome so solid, perhaps they’re building a nest? Soon we’ll have eggshells and twigs raining down on us as they attract more and more of the creatures for this perfect nesting site.”

Wouldn’t happen, but she laughed anyway as he imitated the idea of eggshells dropping to earth.

“The demons did do one thing right.” Dalius looked around as they entered the square that included the edge of the dock. Further down was where the fishing vessels were actually stored when not in use.

“What’s that?”

He pointed to the large fountain in the middle of the square, surrounded by benches, patches of soil and trees, and other places to get out of the sun. A miniature garden.

“They can make some beautiful things. Right?”

Lita smiled ruefully. “Too bad we can’t keep that talent and get rid of them at the same time.”

“Shh, Lita. An enforcer might hear you.”

As they entered the little rounded garden he abruptly turned and grabbed her by the waist.

She was so surprised that she didn’t have time to protest before he was hoisting her onto the edge of the fountain.

“There! That completes it. One beautiful woman is all this lovely place needed.”

Lita flushed. “You.” She pointed a finger at his nose. “Are the worst kind of scoundrel.”

“And what’s that?”

“A heartless flirt.” She stuck up her chin and propped her hands on her hips, enjoying being a couple heads taller than him. “Don’t you think I know that you’ll go back home and forget all about me?”

“I won’t forget.” He grinned and held out a hand to her, helping her back down.

When he kissed her hand instead of pulling her into him she was almost disappointed. Easy, Lita. Don’t let your fancies get away with you.

“I won’t forget.” He repeated. Then laughed. “At least, I’ll remember by the time I’m summoned back here. Unless.” He looked slyly to the side at her as he again looped her arm through his. “I can convince you to go back to Kahnay with me?”

Ah.

If he were serious about settling down…

“No.” She said it firmly but with a regretful smile. “Ask again when you stop flirting with other women.”

“Ooh.” He slapped a hand against his chest. “But, that’s part of my charm!”

“And your downfall.”

When he laughed she started laughing with him about a heartbeat later.

This feels amazing! Walking around with a good looking man rather than stressing about what information I can get.

I wish I could do this forever.

“Let’s find somewhere to eat. Know any good places around here?”

“I haven’t actually eaten here.” Lita looked around. “I guess we can just pick somewhere. How about the first eating stall we see?”

“Lead the way, my lady.”

When they finally found a place it resembled the eating house that Dalius had taken her the first time. Patiently she sat down and waited for him while he sat in a surprisingly long line to the vendor. As she waited she looked around.

Why haven’t I come here before?

Dalius was right. The only good thing the demons had done was to create such beautiful places.

She was about to turn back and watch the line, well, watch Dalius’ handsome figure, when she spotted a couple of faces she wasn’t expecting. Abruptly she jumped up and backed away from their table, which had been at the edge of the eatery, and hid behind a potted tree at one of the pillars.

Verona had just tripped. And Lita’s brother, awkward and smiling like he’d had sunshine in his breakfast, caught her around the waist.

“Is something wrong?”

Lita barely glanced at Dalius before pointing and whispering. “Guess who’s here?”

He followed her finger and, with a start, also hid behind the tree with her.

For a moment they just watched Sheldon and Verona as they continued up toward the docking area. Probably to see the fishing boats, she thought as she watched them get swallowed by the crowd.

“Is there a reason you’re avoiding Sheldon, too?” asked Dalius. It was only then that she noticed how tense and rigid his stance had become, glaring openly in the direction her brother had gone.

“Are you alright?”

He visibly shook himself and sighed. “Sheldon and I didn’t part on good terms,” he admitted. He held out one of the bowls he’d been carrying and she took it.

“What happened?”

Dalius shrugged, boldly took her hand and led her to another table. The first one had been taken while they were hiding.

“Some pebbles, well, a lot of pebbles, came up missing right after you left. You and I were both accused of stealing them.” He shrugged. “Among a few others. In the end he believed the stories of three people who claimed it was me and I got kicked out.”

“No!”

“Yes.” He forced a smile as they both sat down. He kissed her hand again. She was beginning to enjoy that. “I think it was those three, personally. But, it turned out well. I got a much better job offer.”

“Why’d they think I took them?”

“Because you just disappeared.” He smiled faintly. “If it weren’t for the three witnesses you might’ve been blamed for the whole thing. It’s ridiculous, of course.”

“And unfair.” She squeezed his hand sympathetically. Then realized what she was doing and quickly let go with a blush.

“Anyway, poor Reddie.” Dalius blew on then took a bite of food.

“Reddie?”

“Verona’s husband. She left him and is now going after Sheldon apparently.”

Sheldon? Verona got married? And to Reddie? She tried to remember something about the man and failed to recall anything specific. Beyond being a stagehand who ignored her.

She frowned into her food. Maybe she should warn her brother about Verona.

They were out for about five hours, returning just before dinner. After sneaking through the hidden gate she led him back to the top of the stairs where she’d met him earlier.

Instead of immediately kissing her hand and leaving to get ready for dinner, Dalius lingered. Holding her hand. The silence between them lengthened and her heart began to pound furiously.