Page 21 of By Mistake

It was dusk when Oresti woke from his nap, and he felt more rested than he had for ages. Apparently sleeping in the bed of his beloved, far away from court and work, did wonders for getting a restful sleep.

But now that he was rested, his stomach was loudly demanding food. Climbing out of bed, Oresti pissed, washed up, and went in search of food.

He found Shimari first, standing in the hallway addressing a line of servants—or rather, dismissing them, clearly having just finished a dressing down or giving orders or whatnot. As they cleared away, he finished descending the stairs, movements catching Shimari's eye. "What was all that?"

Shimari grinned in that mischievous way of his. "We've had to take on additional staff in the few hours you were asleep, and I was giving updated orders on the running of the household, especially as pertains to visitors, especially unexpected or unfamiliar visitors."

Oresti's brows rose, but he felt nothing negative along the bond he now shared with Shimari and Andrus, a low, constant thrum of awareness that he'd only ever read about, never expected to experience.

"Come and see."

He spun on his heel and strode off, and Oresti followed dutifully in his wake.

He was led into what seemed to be a study, given the beautiful, mostly empty bookshelves, the worktable by the rounded bay window, an old globe that was probably decades out of date at least, beautiful deep blue drapes tied back to frame the window.

The middle of the room was taken up by a sofa and chairs, and at the far end was an enormous desk, the kind meant for scholars, businessmen, other types always inundated in paper…

and behind the desk, looking more than a little frazzled, was Andrus.

His head was in his hands, and he was just barely visible behind a heap of correspondence. "Did the entire city send you letters?"

Andrus jumped, head jerking up, and then laughed sourly, half-hysterically, as he slumped back in his chair. "I think so. I've more invitations to tea, soirees, dinners, balls, and garden parties than I can count. All thanks to your damned father."

"The damned king, you mean?" Oresti asked dryly.

Casting him a scathing look, Andrus pushed to his feet and rounded the desk, coming at him in a way that would normally have Oresti worried he was about to get punched.

That wasn't really Andrus's style, though.

Even before, when he'd found out Oresti's secret, he'd just crushed him with guilt and anguish—far more effective than trying to break his nose or jaw.

True to form, all Andrus did was jab him in the chest before giving him a half-hearted shove that didn't really move him at all.

"Yes, the damned king! I was bothering nobody!

All I wanted was to do my shopping and flirt with a handsome investigator I stood no chance with!

Now I am inundated in invitations to social gatherings I don't care about from people I don't know and mostly don't like, because your family is a bunch of controlling, interfering busybodies! "

Oresti captured the flailing hands and reeled him in for a quick, firm kiss. "You do know you can just ignore them all, right? You're a friend of the royal family. You can do whatever you want or don't want."

"Oh, to have a life that easy," Andrus retorted. "Your spoiled brat is showing."

Grinning, Oresti chucked his chin and stole another kiss. "You can't be too upset if you're being feisty."

"Why do I keep putting up with you," Andrus said with a sigh that said he was the most long-suffering person in the city.

"I'm rich and pretty?" Oresti asked, and laughed when that got him another playful smack on the chest. "What have I missed other than a flood of invitations?"

From the window, lurking by the curtains where he was nearly invisible in the recently fallen dark, save for the soft glow of his red eyes, Shimari said, "We have a creeper."

"We what?" Andrus said.

Oresti squeezed his shoulder reassuringly before looping around the study to avoid crossing the window and came up just beside and slightly behind Shimari. "Show me."

"Across the street, the dark green house. Third floor, second window from the left. Watch close."

It didn't take long for Oresti to see it: the barest, tell-tale flicker of a shadow candle, favored by all those who did covert work but still needed light to see by.

The flames were purple, subdued, enough to see by for things like writing or checking the time, and highly unlikely to be noticed unless one knew to look.

There was no reason at all for an attic window to be flickering with it in a good neighborhood on the quiet side of the city. More likely to be used by some young noble sneaking out for a night of debauchery. No servant would waste hard-earned money on such a thing.

No, this was a hired professional. Given they were skulking in an attic, they probably weren't hired to harass or harm the owners of the home he was inhabiting. If that was the case, he'd be somewhere lower, and well away from any windows.

A faint hint of movement, like somebody shifted, and then it all faded away, as though the person stepped back away from the window. "They appear in the window every thirty minutes. Might be two of them, I can't tell for certain. There's a distortion spell on the windowpanes."

That was common in well-to-do homes, to ensure privacy. Shimari could break through the spell easily, but that would draw attention, alert the watcher they were being watched in turn. "Looks like I'm going hunting."

"Hunting?" Andrus asked. "Would you two stop ignoring me!"

"Someone is watching your house," Shimari said, slipping away from the window and crossing the room to Andrus.

"Specifically, they're watching you. Whoever hired them probably wants to know why you're suddenly wealthy and no longer a pariah, and hoping you'll lead them to the secret source of your success. "

"The secret to my success is a couple of overbearing wastrels."

Shimari smiled, slow and, if Oresti was being honest, incredibly hot. To judge by the slight flush to Andrus's cheeks, and the faintest thrum in the bond, he agreed entirely. Something to explore later, maybe.

For the present, he needed more suitable clothing for sneaking about at night.

Going home, though, would undoubtedly get him dragged into various other matters.

So he wrote out a note to be delivered to his staff, who'd send everything he needed.

Later, he would have to bring stuff here to keep, so he'd have clothes and tools more to hand.

He should probably ask Andrus for permission first, but the temptation to be presumptuous just to see him puff up like a kitten was irresistible.

Once he sent the note off, he turned his attention to the most immediate matter. "I'm starving."

"Then go find food, Your Highness," Andrus retorted.

Joining them in the sitting area, Oresti said, "That's no way to treat a guest."

"Guests are invited. They don't show up and presume all over the place."

Before Oresti could reply, Shimari said, "He had food prepared that would keep, and the moment he was told you were awake, he had them warm and finish it."

Andrus scowled at him. "Stop being such a brat."

" I'm the brat?"

"Can we continue all this ridiculous flirting over dinner, please? I really am hungry," Oresti said.

"I'm not flirting!" Andrus said, more unconvincing than a child telling their first lie, and strode from the room without waiting for a reply.

Oresti exchanged an amused look with Shimari. "Speaking of food, when will you require sustenance?"

"Not for a few more days. I availed myself while I was out acquiring money, setting up accounts, hiring staff and such."

"All right."

In the dining room, food had already been laid—a hearty looking soup that smelled of chicken, warm, toasted bread slathered in butter and melted cheese, and a pitcher of beer. Two places had been set, but a third seat had a cup filled with wine. "Smells wonderful."

"It really does," Andrus said softly, almost looking for a moment like he would cry.

Why wouldn't he though? When they'd met, he'd had absolutely nothing in his pantry aside from stale tea and a couple of turnips.

Now he not only had ample food, he had luxurious foods and things like alcohol, things most people took for granted.

And he had staff to prepare them. Andrus probably didn't know what to do with himself, with a life that had changed in the span of a heartbeat.

All because he'd accidentally summoned one of the most dangerous demons in existence.

As if that wasn't enough, he was officially being courted by a royal prince. Oresti was lucky he wasn't being thrown out again.

He pulled out Andrus's chair at the head of the table, ignoring his fussing and protesting until he finally sat, and then took his own seat.

Shimari sat across from him and sipped at his wine as they ate in silence for a few minutes.

After two bowls of soup and most of two loaves of bread, Oresti finally sat back and slowed down eating his third bowl of soup.

"I'll follow—" he stopped when he caught movement at the door and broke into a smile. "Greivs!" Pushing back his chair, he flew across the room to hug Greivs tightly. "I didn't know you were back!"

"Could never stay away too long," Greivs said with a smile as they drew apart. "Looks like quite a bit has happened in my absence."

"Sit, sit. Are you hungry? Is there more—"

"The lovely woman in the kitchen said she'd bring me soup and bread since 'those boys in the dining room have gobbled up enough for ten,'" Greivs said with a smile, taking the chair next to Oresti.

He smiled at Andrus. "Lord Bothwell, you seem muchly improved from the last time I saw you.

" He shifted his gaze to Shimari, smile fading. "You're not human."

Shimari quirked a brow. "Neither are you."

"I'm half-human."