“Thank you,” I said. Samael tensed, obviously still expecting me to refuse. Joke was on him. If he’d attempted to get me to borrow a gaudy diamond necklace, he would’ve been waiting until the end of time. This… this was different.

I reached for it, and he let out a slow breath, some of the tension draining from his body. Pleasure sparked in his eyes as I pulled off my other sheath, slipped my Nim Cub out, and replaced it with his gift.

He took a step closer. Then he leaned down and brushed my lips with his. I allowed it. He held out his arm and I took it, allowing him to lead me to the elevator.

“I thought you’d want to fly down.”

Samael shook his head. “Not tonight.”

The elevator opened to the ballroom on the 70th floor. I’d been here once before, on the night that I stole a strand of Samael’s hair, broke his ward, and stole his dagger. I’d been so pumped with adrenaline that night that my vision had tunneled, my focus entirely on the demon at my side.

I surveyed the room, studying the high ceilings. Balconies jutted out at regular intervals, a few of them with their dark curtains pulled.

“What’s wrong?”

“If I wanted to kill someone here, I’d sit up in one of those balconies with a gun or a crossbow.”

Samael gave me an indulgent look. “My security would never allow such a thing.”

I rolled my eyes. Arrogance, thy name is Samael. I let my eyes scan the rest of the ballroom. An orchestra was set up in the corner furthest from the door, and couples were already swaying on the dance floor, while demons and dark fae gathered in small groups.

Like the light fae representative’s headquarters, the ballroom had been done in gold and white. But while their building leaned toward ostentatious, Samael’s ballroom was muted elegance.

Agaliarept approached, eyeing me as he murmured a few words to Samael. It was the first time I’d seen him since he fell into a coma, and he was looking healthy. He’d definitely dropped a few pounds though. I nodded at him and he gave me the barest acknowledgement before walking away.

Agaliarept didn’t like me. To be fair, he hadn’t liked me before I saved his life. Keeping him from hitting the big slide was the final nail in the coffin that held our potential friendship. Maybe he was embarrassed that his ass had needed rescuing.

Steve walked past, then did an exaggerated double take. I gave him the stink eye and he moved closer.

“You guys look good together,” he murmured while Samael said a few words to Bael. I glowered at him.

“Don’t make me throat-punch you.”

Steve chuckled and I nudged him with my elbow. “Any more luck with the video?”