Page 27 of By Mistake

Oresti sighed. The answer had been obvious, but it was still depressing.

"She was found alone in her chambers, collapsed on the floor, dead from inability to breathe due to her severe allergy to shellfish.

Obviously this time someone managed to sneak it into her food.

So far we cannot find the servant who delivered her food, and my sister didn't offer anything about her personal healer either, so that must be another mystery. "

Andrus frowned. "This is about the changes made to sentencing laws, specifically the dread thirty. The majority support it, but only barely. He killed two of those players, bringing the whole matter closer to a tie."

"Just so," Oresti said grimly. "I'm not surprised you keep apprised of such things, despite having more immediate concerns to worry about.

" It was the crime of the century that Andrus had been left to languish and suffer, when he could have been a jewel of the court.

He could only imagine the difference he would have made being on the council.

The council. Andrus's family had been removed from the council as traitors generations ago, but Andrus had been reinstated by his father, which meant he legally merited a place on the council.

He'd have to speak to his father before he mentioned that to Andrus, though.

Especially with Farthing clearly willing to kill to get his way.

If Andrus went from frustrating and elusive to outright challenging him on such a big issue in public…

Hopefully Andrus wouldn't realize he could join the council now. Because the damned stubborn fool would, and then he'd be attacked from all sides.

Across the room, sharp eyes caught his and glowed ever so faintly, a blood red flame in the proverbial dark. How he had wound up with a demon coconspirator in keeping his lover safe, he didn't know, but with every passing hour, he liked the idea more.

Maybe that was the real reason nobody was allowed to summon demons.

Soft amusement rippled through his mind, and he could feel all over again that placating hand on his chest, calming without being controlling. Trusting him to listen.

"It behooves me to stay aware. Politics too often punish the poor and protect the powerful, and my poverty made me especially vulnerable to Farthing.

He's used the old system against me before, or at least tried to.

Spent thirty-six days in jail once before the case ultimately got thrown out for lack of evidence.

After that, I was more careful, but I was always at risk.

The changes to the dread thirty laws would have made it near impossible for him to punish me that way.

Last I heard, the vote was estimated at fifty-three to forty-seven. "

Oresti finished his tea and rose to pace restlessly, unable to hold still any longer. "Emergency councilors will be appointed, but it's no secret they'll vote against the changes. It's bullshit, they should vote as their predecessors intended, but that's politics for you."

"So the vote stands at fifty-one to forty-nine. Still a lead, but only barely. Surely, though, he can't keep killing everyone. Two deaths is already drawing too much attention. Even the dullest mind will realize what is afoot if he kills three more."

"He doesn't need to kill three more," Shimari said.

"As you said, even the dullest minds could sort this plot, and politicians are many things, but stupid is seldom one of them.

At least, in this they aren't stupid. People will begin panicking.

All he needs is for two of them to change their minds, by way of bribes or threats.

The trick is knowing who he'll likely approach. "

Oresti smiled, sharp as a blade. "Leave that to Alina and Latasha. They'll have names for me by morning, if not within the hour. I have my own guesses, but I'd rather they confirm it before I act."

"You could just let me kill him," Shimari said. "I can make it grisly. I can make it quick. I can make him vanish into thin air and leave a mystery for a hundred years."

"No," Oresti said sharply. "It may yet come to that, but I want him to suffer .

I want him to rot in prison for the rest of his life, and not some cozy nobleman's prison where he essentially is on house arrest in an apartment he doesn't even have to pay for.

I want him in a labor camp, or bonded to a ship at sea, or buried in a mine somewhere. "

"Know when to let your pride rest," Shimari said. "The simplest solutions are often the best, if not the most satisfying, and two people have already died."

Oresti drew to a halt in front of him, once more within touching distance. "I understand."

Those eyes drew him in, shifting from jewel green to brilliant red, mouth curved in a wicked little smile that seemed to say I dare you , and even with Andrus right there already settling into his heart, Oresti couldn't deny he wanted to dance in the flames that Shimari teased him with.

Shimari huffed softly in amusement and turned to look at Andrus. "Naughty, naughty, little—"

A knock at the door cut off the rest of the sentence, regretfully, but Oresti would definitely be bringing it up again soon.

Shimari opened the door and in swept Alina, beautiful and commanding as always.

Andrus rose to his feet and bowed. "Your Highness."

Princess Alina swept a gaze over him. "So you are the Lord Bothwell I've heard so much about. I can see why Oresti is so smitten."

"I will choke you with your own hair ribbons," Oresti hissed.

"Empty threat," Alina replied breezily. "I have the list for you." She shoved a piece of paper against his chest, forcing him to take it, then swept over to sit down on the sofa, dragging Andrus with her. "Latasha told me all about you."

"The pair of you are relentless," Oresti said with a sigh, not taking his eyes off the list as he moved to share it with Shimari. "Don't be a brat."

"That's rich coming from you, the biggest brat of them all," Andrus retorted.

Alina laughed, and took Andrus's hands in her own, leaving the poor man looking terrified.

To be fair, most people were either terrified or turned on or both when Alina gave them her full, direct attention.

"You're delightful. Anyone who can so easily put Oresti in his place is fine by me.

Most of them fawn and simper and flutter their lashes and agree with everything he says—or, with the older ones, expect him to be awed they would deign to give him their attention.

When everyone knows that Oresti is the prize of the decade. "

Oresti heaved another loud, pointed sigh.

He knew his siblings meant no harm, but the constant jokes did wear thin sometimes.

Not that they were wrong. He'd always avoided the marriage market because that was precisely how it felt: like a market, and he was a prime head of cattle to be fought over.

"I cannot tell you how thrilling it is to constantly be described like a choice steer at market. "

"Don't be ridiculous, Ori, we all know you're a bull. Or do you not read all the lewd notes begging you to give various lords and ladies lots of children?"

Shimari laughed, loud and bright, as Oresti glared at his sister, face flushed scarlet. "Stop that! And you shut up." He jabbed Shimari in the stomach, hard enough he did actually stop laughing. "I'm going to hie off to Shadowrock and become a monk if this abuse continues."

"You'd get bored within a week," Shimari said. "Not nearly enough of other people's business to pry into and manage."

Oresti threw up his hands. "Does anyone have anything nice to say about me?"

Andrus rose and went to him, resting his hands on Oresti's chest as Oresti happily slid his arms around Andrus's waist. "If I didn't find your overbearing ways charming, I wouldn't be here right now.

And I promise I don't see you as a bull.

Anyway, I don't have the parts to provide children, so I hardly need you for all of that. "

"I'm not sure that was saying anything nice, exactly, but I'll take it," Oresti said with a sigh before kissing him softly. When they drew apart, he pointed the hand still holding the paper at his sister. "Go away."

"I'm not going anywhere." Alina stole the cup Oresti had been using to pour herself a cup of tea. "What are we going to do about the people on those lists?"

"Have them discreetly protected," Oresti said, eyes lingering on Andrus as he resumed his seat. "Limit the servants who attend them, keep it to as few as possible. I doubt any of them would be willing to leave the city until session is called."

"They might have before rumors started flying that the uncatchable prince himself had finally been caught. No one is going to miss a second of that."

Oresti sighed again. "I have reached my limit on the mockery today, could we please stop?"

"I apologize, of course," Alina replied. "I wasn't mocking that time, though. I sincerely meant it: the city could be on fire and people would still remain to see what happens between you and Lord Bothwell."

"You may as well call me Andrus."

Alina beamed at him. "Andrus, then. So charming in your soft, gentle way. Nothing like our loud, brash family."

"What will it take to make you leave?" Oresti asked through gritted teeth. "You're already married, stop cozying up to my lover."

"We both know that lovely though he is, he is not to my taste."

Oresti rolled his eyes. "Anyway, bodyguards, set servants. If they won't leave the city, then at least try to limit them to the palace. Dubiously safe, as that's where the other two have died, but it does limit how they can be killed."

"I'll attend it," Alina replied, and finally stood with a last squeeze to Andrus's shoulder. "Welcome to the family. I promise we will mostly behave."

Andrus smiled faintly. "I almost believe you, Your Highness."

She winked and then was gone, though the door hadn't closed before Greivs stepped inside. "Sorry it took me so long to join you. We received word about you lingering here, so I wanted to be sure all would be well at the manor before making my way here."

"I appreciate it," Andrus replied, "though I'm certain I'll be sent along back home soon enough for my own safety."

Oresti shared a look with Shimari, then said, "No, I think you should stay here. Farthing is getting meaner and nastier by the day, and he's going to have a much harder time hurting you while under my sister's sharp gaze."

"Your clothes and other items will be delivered shortly," Greivs said. "I left before the packing was finished, but it should have been close behind."

"Great," Andrus said, sinking into the sofa with a sigh. "I take it all back about your overbearingness being charming. I've been dealing with Farthing a long time. He doesn't want me dead until he's taken everything from me."

Shimari replied, "He's growing desperate, for reasons we don't know.

His murders of the council are sloppy, cocky.

He needs for this law to not pass. Why? Does that tie to his interest in Bothwell Manor?

How? We need these questions answered. We already know that the letter I spelled traced here, though I could not say exactly where as the spell has long faded. "

"We can guess," Oresti said. "All right, then Greivs and I are going out to find answers to some of those questions. Snoop around here as you're able, Shimari, but be careful. I don't want you to wind up ensnared by some old magical trap that time forgot with none of us near enough to help you."

"How sweet, little human, but never fear, I can take care of myself. Traps like that were seldom made for my kind."

"Try to stay out of trouble, then, brat."

"No promises," Shimari replied, nearly purring the words. "Maybe later we can all discuss the naughty thoughts filling your silly heads."

Andrus groaned and stood. "Absolutely not."

Oresti swept him up into a hard kiss, savoring the warmth of him, the sweetness, how earnestly he kissed every time. No artifice, no distraction, wholly in the moment, no matter what else might be happening.

When he drew back, he leveled his attention on Shimari, who matched it full measure with glittering red eyes. "Come here, demon."

Smirking in that smoldering way of his, Shimari prowled close, leaning up as Oresti leaned down, grasping at his face as Oresti fed at his mouth.

If Andrus was warm, then Shimari was burning, tasting of blood and magic and a strange something he could not capture enough to describe.

His fangs were sharp and teasing, reminding him of that bite to his jaw not so long ago.

Kissing Shimari could easily become as addictive as kissing Andrus.

This was not a development he'd expected, but he wasn't feeling anything close to upset about it.

Judging from the flushed face and avid staring as they drew apart, Andrus didn't have problems with it either. "Be careful, both of you. I'll see you…sometime tomorrow, I'd imagine. At which point exhaustion will probably get the better of me."

"Be careful yourself," Andrus said. "Summon Shimari at the slightest hint of real trouble."

"Of course." Resisting the urge to start another round of kissing, he gestured for a highly amused Greivs to follow him and headed back out into the night.