He laughed, the sound raising goosebumps on my arms as he pressed my head to his chest. I’d always thought him heartless, but there was his heart, thumping away.

“I don’t know, Danica, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. You will amuse, delight, and entrance me for centuries to come.”

“I think you mean decades.”

He was silent and I pushed against his chest.

“Let me go. Now, Samael, I mean it.”

He released me, angling his head as if confused. Fucker.

“Centuries?”

A languid shrug. “You’re half demon, Danica. You’ll likely cease aging in the next few years.”

The world had just hit me in the face. I was going to vomit. Everyone I knew would crumble into dust, and I would remain. My sister…

My lips were numb. My knees turned weak. Samael reached for my arm again and I retreated, slamming into the outside wall of his tower.

“If you break down here, there will be talk. Come with me, and your precious reputation will be spared.”

My eyes found his. I nodded, ignoring the hand he held out. Instead, I turned, stepping back into the ball. Samael was instantly at my side, catching my elbow with his large hand. He steered me toward the door, replying to the occasional greeting thrown our way.

I was vaguely aware of him leading me out of the ballroom and through another door.

“What happened?” Vas asked.

Samael ignored the question. “Take her upstairs and stay with her until I come to you.”

He gave me a lingering look, then turned and strode away.

“You look good in a tux,” I muttered to Vas. He merely stepped back, gesturing for me to walk up the stairs. I turned toward the door, and he shook his head.

“Samael’s orders. Don’t make me the bad guy here, Danica.”

I sneered at him and picked up the skirt of my dress, stalking up the stairs. The curtains were open, and I made sure to sit in the shadows, staring down at the ballroom below me. The music slowly stopped, and the crowd turned to where a dark fae male was standing on a raised platform. He waited until the room was silent, and then he spoke, the microphone charm in his hand allowing his voice to carry over the crowd.

“Tonight, you bear witness to a historical event like none other. Tonight, the unseelie fae and the high demons join forces in an alliance that paves the way for further cooperation and peace between our races for centuries to come.”

He nodded at someone who carried a table and chair up to the platform. The dark fae king sat and signed the alliance while cameras clicked. The room was so silent you could’ve heard a mouse fart.