“You think I’m not capable of handling this?”
“The things I think you’re capable of would astound you.”
I felt like my brain was melting, along with everything else inside of me.
“I’ve got to go. I’ve got a meeting.” I spun, walking away before I did something crazy, like kiss him. I walked the rest of the way alone, refusing to check on Hawk’s location even as I could feel his eyes still on me.
Xazier appeared the moment I reached the square. He held out his arm. “Are you ready?”
I smiled, reminding myself how I’d told everyone else this wouldn’t be a problem. I believed that. I did. I definitely did.
“Where are we going?” I laid my hand on his arm, knowing it was that or make a scene. The strange feeling that Hawk was still watching wouldn’t let me do that, no matter how panicked I was.
“Somewhere warmer. I detest the cold.”
A second later, the sun was bright and the air was warm. We were no longer on the cold streets of Xest but standing on a terrace in the sun, overlooking the sea with a smattering of blue and white buildings scattered along the shoreline.
“Are we in…” I lost my words as I took in the human man, or human-looking man beside me. Gone was the red skin and horns, replaced by golden hair and blue eyes. His jacket and suit had been swapped out for a short-sleeved button-down and linen pants.
“We’re in Greece. I keep a place here, among others. As for the other changes, it goes over easier with the human servants. May I?” He raised his hands to help me out of my jacket.
I turned, shrugging out of it but not before I palmed the stone from Hawk. Luckily I had, because Xazier didn’t just help me with my jacket but my entire outfit. I was in a flouncy little white sundress that wasn’t shy on the cleavage.
“Hope you don’t mind, but I figured it would be more comfortable.”
“It’s perfect. Thank you.”
I wouldn’t have worn this in a million years. For all its cleavage, it had eyelets and a gathered hem. It was romantic and pure looking and everything I hadn’t been since I was five, watching my mother get dragged away to the asylum the first time. I won’t even get started on the strappy heels that wouldn’t be worth the thread that held them on my feet if a fight broke out.
We took a seat at a bistro set that was on the terrace, overlooking the coast.
“Wine?” He raised his hand, summoning someone over before I could answer. “The new Cabernet that just came in.”
As soon as the servant left, I said, “Are they human?”
“Yes. Demons make horrible servants. They really aren’t built to please. Whereas these humans can be controlled and paid off. Plus, if they complained, who would listen?”
“They don’t get alarmed when you just appear?” I asked.
“They had some notice I’d be arriving with company. As far as my mode of arrival, it’s not their business to ask questions or care either way.” He spoke like someone who was above the law, the human race, all of it. As if nothing could touch him, and it probably couldn’t.
The servant returned with a bottle and glasses that he filled.
“Try it. It’s lovely. Won this at an auction last month.” Xazier smiled, raising his glass to me.
I clinked glasses and took a sip for the same reason I pretended to like the dress. There weren’t many other options right now.
“I’m not that familiar with wine, but it tastes wonderful,” I said.
“Trust me, it is. Would you care for a snack or light meal?”
“No, I already ate. I wasn’t sure where this meeting would take place. I didn’t know if we’d have to go to your…place of business.” This had never entered my imagination, not once. There had been days in Xest I’d missed the warmth of summer. Now the only thing I missed was the cold of Xest and the heat of the fireplace in the back room.
He threw back his head and laughed. “I certainly wouldn’t bring you there. Oh no, not there. Right now, you’re still an unknown to my colleagues. I think I’d like to keep it that way, until I get to know you a bit better myself.” He continued to watch me, leaning forward and resting an arm on the table in between us. “There’s something about you I find intriguing, and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. You present yourself like a common witch, but I’m not so sure you are what you appear.”
“I am just a common witch. I have no delusions of grandeur. I couldn’t even work a spell that well until a couple of months ago.” How was it that my freak flag waved so brightly? Was it my hair? Was it something I did? How was I triggering people’s radar? I need to figure it out and then shut that signal down.
“Maybe that’s because you weren’t meant to work a spell? No, I’m never wrong, and I can sense there’s something different about you. I’m going to figure it out, too.”
“Well, if you figure it out, you should share it with me.” I took a big swig of wine then put my glass down before I repeated the mistake. Drinking myself out of this conversation wasn’t a good plan considering my tolerance, or lack of. “A friend of yours, Lou, visited. Wanted me to tell you he was aware of the situation.”
He leaned back, swirling his wine in his glass. “I figured he might come by. That’s all right. He tends to be nosey that way.”
He was staring at me over his glass, the same way he’d stared at me in the office the day we met. His human appearance didn’t make it any more comfortable than the first time.
“So as to Xest, there’s not much to tell you about at the moment. I appreciate the drink, but I don’t want to take up too much of our time.” I got up from my chair, hoping he’d follow suit.
He remained seated. “I thought maybe we could spend time getting to know each other a little better.”
I nodded and then took a seat again.
“I heard about the immigration trials. Why don’t you tell me about those in your own words? Or what it was like when you first got to Xest? Your childhood in Salem. I want to hear everything.”
We stood in front of the broker office several hours later, and I wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed. A marathon would’ve been easier than the mental chess I’d played, trying to dodge any answers or details that might come back to bite me. Not exactly a piece of cake, since I had no clue what to avoid. The questions had been nonstop until I’d begged exhaustion from the time difference. That hadn’t been a lie.
“It was a lovely evening. I will see you very soon,” Xazier said as we stood outside, looking into the darkness of the office.
I didn’t completely relax until he disappeared.
I walked in, let the door shut, and then leaned against it, a long, slow sigh flowing out, carrying all the tension of the evening with it. The first meeting was over. In retrospect, it hadn’t been that bad. It had gone more along the lines of a blind date than a meeting with a demon. It had been manageable, if a bit unpleasant.
I pushed off the door, making my way across the office. A shadowy figure sat at my desk. I would’ve been more surprised if Hawk hadn’t been waiting.
“How did it go?” he asked, standing up and walking in my direction, his gaze taking in my bare legs. The only piece of clothing Xazier had returned to me was my jacket.