Trsiel leaned against the wall, arms crossed. After a few minutes, he shook his head. “Go and find him, then.”

Chapter 34

34

I FOUND KRISTOF IN HIS OFFICE AGAIN, THIS TIME alone and hard at work, which seemed the perfect excuse to slip off and find another demon mediator. But, as always, the moment I arrived, he knew I was there, and when I tried to retreat, he called me back. His welcome cooled when he realized I was there on business.

Of course, I had to tell him everything, and this confession was ten times tougher than it had been with Trsiel. As much as it hurt to admit to Kristof that, after everything he’d said, I’d turned around and gone back in to ask about the amulet, what hurt worse was the look on his face: raw pain, but not a trace of surprise.

When I finished, I stood there, mouth still half-open, wanting to say so much, but unable to form the thoughts into words. Instead, all that came out was “I fucked up, Kris.”

For a minute, he just looked at me, eyes searching mine. Then he gave a tiny nod.

“Let’s see what we can do to fix it, then,” he murmured.

Dantalian was somewhat put out that we’d engaged professional negotiation services. It’s so much more fun dealing with amateurs.

“So you want to know what the Nix was after,” he said, his tone bordering on bored.

“We know that,” I said. “The amulet you made for Lord Glamis.”

A moment’s pause, then he continued, sounding a bit more interested now. “Clever whelp. You did your homework. Then you know who I am?”

“Dantalian, Master of Transmigration, Duke of Baal.”

A warm breeze encircled my legs, wound up my body, around my neck, then slithered away. I knew he was still there, probably hovering right in front of my face.

“Say it again,” he murmured.

“Dantalian, Master of Transmigration, Duke of Baal.”

“Hmmm, yes, I suppose that will do. Lacking the proper degree of respect, yet not disrespectful. At least it’s better than fawning. That’s what she tried when she returned.”

“The Nix? She came back?”

“Of course she did. After she amended her attitude.”

“Uh-huh.”

He laughed, blasting me with heat. “My reaction, precisely, whelp. The only thing worse than fawning is fake fawning. As if I were some vain fool of a potentate, willing to grant any wish in return for a few strokes of my ego.”

“So you sent her away again? She’ll be back, then. All we have to do is wait—”

“Oh, I didn’t send her away. What would be the fun in that? Far better for me to set her on the trail…and then set you on it after her.”

“Great,” I muttered. “How long of a head start does she have?”