Page 38 of First Snow

“I think he would like it,” Annikki continues.

“It’s dangerous,” Jareth growls. It’s bad enough he can think about little else than the way Arttu smiles sleepily when Jareth hands him his first cup of coffee in the morning, how Arttu’s strong, compact body feels when he’s writhing beneath Jareth’s weight, the way Arttu’s eyes light up and he starts gesticulating wildly when he’s passionate about something. Jareth doesn’t need anyone to fuel his infatuation.

Annikki only snorts at his words. “You’re greatly exaggerating.”

Jareth has a sharp reply on the tip of his tongue when he senses someone passing through the veil and entering the castle grounds.

“Stay here,” Jareth tells Annikki and stalks toward the door. He opens it at the same time the trespasser arrives. Jareth scowls at the creature that blinks up at him. At least it looks startled by Jareth’s appearance.

It takes Jareth a second to recognize his uninvited guest. The creature regards him with glowing red eyes, black horns peeking out from his equally black curls. It’s Lemaire, Briar’s bodyguard. Jareth is also convinced he’s looking at the red-eyed demon Thorfinn spoke of. Now that’s a surprise.

“Good evening, Mr. Lemaire,” Jareth snarls. The rage at the insolence of this creature, who dares to invade his most private sphere, makes his blood boil. He drops the glamour hiding his Fae features, letting Lemaire have a good look at his fangs and claws.

Satisfyingly, Lemaire’s eyes widen. But his self-control cracks only for a second, before a sly smile crosses over his features. “Greetings, Master Faeling. Although, seeing how you reside here, I guess that isn’t your true name.”

“I hope you have a good reason for trespassing on my lands,” Jareth says flatly.

“I’m here to submit an invitation from Lord Briar. My lord would like to courteously invite you to his hunting residence to an exclusive party with his friends.”

Jareth lifts an unimpressed eyebrow.

“And why would I consider such an invitation?”

Lemaire smirks at him, and Jareth wants to wipe the smug look from his face. With his fists.

“Because now you know that we’re the real thing, just like you. And you’re curious.”

“Oh, but that isn’t true,” Jareth says with dark glee. “You’re just a summoned demon. A glorified pet. It doesn’t take realpower to summon one of your kind, only a recipe.Any child can do it.”

Lemaire snarls.

“And to make matters worse: you have absolutely no idea who I am.”

Jareth senses Annikki behind him, and his grin widens. Despite having told her to stay back, he now appreciates that she makes the fucking demon even more uncomfortable by lingering threateningly in the background.

“You are Fae,” Lemaire grits out.

Jareth chuckles. “Yes. And won’t your master be pleased to learn this information he was too stupid to obtain on his own?”

Something dark crosses over Lemaire’s face, gone almost too fast to catch.

“My master can surely offer you something that appeals to you,” Lemaire says. “We’re always interested in learning new spells, and we can pay handsomely.”

“Do I look like I’m in need of money?”

“But you’re a connoisseur of antiques and we can grant you access to powerful artifacts. Whatever you’re interested in, Mr. Faeling; power, wealth, entertainment— maybe relics from your kind… We can offer it all.”

Jareth snorts. “You know what, tell your master to send me an offering. Let me see how much he’s interested in my knowledge and I’ll consider visiting him.”

Lemaire nods. “I’ll deliver your message to Lord Briar.”

Only when the demon has vanished in the gathering fog at the edge of the lake, and Jareth can sense that he left the premises, does he turn around and close the large oak door. Annikki is still standing a few steps behind him, hidden in the shadows of the hallway, a hunting rifle held casually in the crook of her arm.

“A demon? What the ever loving fuck?” Annikki says, not without amusement.

Jareth grins at her. “That’s the little pet demon of the man who’s behind the spell book Thorfinn brought to us.”

They share a bottle of Bordeaux in front of the fireplace. Annikki sets up her phone and starts a video call. Thorfinn picks up after Annikki lets it ring for a long time.