Page 40 of First Snow

Jareth grits his teeth. “Of course not. With people like Briar, you can never be sure if an attendee at their events is really there of their own free will.”

“What’s the alternative, then?” Annikki presses. “I could accompany you, but neither of us wantsthat. And how is Arttu going to feel if he finds out you ditched him to take one of your previous hook-ups from Helsinki to an exclusive event?”

Jareth doesn’t know who he could ask even if he wanted to. He plays with many subs when on events, but he hasn’t bothered to ask for phone numbers and second meetings for years. Ever since he’d really understood that his Fae nature doesn’t mix too well with human expectations.

“It’s not that I don’t want Arttu there. But it’s too dangerous.”

Annikki shrugs. “I’ve seen him fighting off six guys, I’d say he can handle himself. And he has you to take care of the supernatural shit.”

Jareth sighs and grudgingly admits defeat. It’s not that he isn’t thrilled by the prospect of taking Arttu to a BDSM party, and he’d be lying if he said the danger doesn’t excite him. But Jareth knows Arttu might see it differently, and of course he can’t talk to him openly about it.

With limited options, Jareth decides to be selfish and indulge his desires.

Chapter 14

Arttu

It’spastmidnightwhenArttu unlocks the door to his apartment. He urgently needs a shower and is so tired that the bright light from the hall lamp hurts his eyes. If he goes to bed immediately, he can at least get the few hours of sleep he needs to be able to concentrate on work tomorrow. Or he can turn on the coffee machine and finish some more work so that he doesn’t drown in paperwork. Arttu kicks off his boots and takes a look at his cell phone. He finds an email from Sofia in his inbox. Shit. Coffee it is.

After a quick shower and equipped with a steaming cup, Arttu sits down in his small living room. He boots up his laptop and opens the files Sofia sent him. Apparently Mikael’s luggage was finally sent back to her from London, and Sofia had the great idea to go through it. Next, she decided to go to Mikael’s apartment to see if anything there is missing. If she had talked to Arttu about her plan, he would’ve tried to dissuade her. Relatives rummaging through a victim’s personal belongings is a nightmare for any police investigation. He would’ve preferred to take a look himself before anything was changed. But what’s done is done, and Sofia and Pekka actually found something. Or more precisely, they noticed the absence of a certain object.

Arttu opens the attached file. He stares at the picture Sofia sent him for several long minutes. It’s apuukkoknife, an antique weapon with a wooden hilt. Sofia had purchased it for Mikael’s eighteenth birthday when she was still a student, using the money she had earned at her summer job. Arttu remembers vividly how proud she’d been.

Sighing deeply, Arttu blinks the moisture from his eyes.

Mikael could’ve simply lost the knife. He was excited about the gift back then, but for all Arttu knows he could’ve lost interest in it years ago. Hell, he wouldn’t even put it past Mikael to have sold it in a fit of rage after an argument with Sofia. But what if he’s been killed? What if the killer has taken it as a trophy?

Arttu’s cell pings with an incoming message.

Home yet, darling?

It’s Jareth. Of course it’s Jareth. Arttu had been afraid that Jareth might not contact him again after his sudden departure, but was greeted by a sweet text message as soon as he stepped off the plane in Helsinki. Since then, they’ve been calling and texting each other constantly like a couple of lovesick fucking teenagers. Arttu’s had to answer some of Jareth’s calls in his office with all the overtime he’s done this week. And he’s had to be very careful that none of his colleagues notice his private calls. It made him feel like a cheating husband, and now the feeling has increased tenfold.

Just got here. Why are you still up?

Club owner, remember? Also wanted to make sure you got home safe.

Arttu rolls his eyes.

What would you have done if I hadn’t texted?

I’d have flown over to you.

Arttu doesn’t doubt that for a second. Warmth spreads through his chest at the thought. He shouldn’t enjoy Jareth’s attention, shouldn’t be reveling in his protectiveness, but it feels so nice to have someone looking out for him for a change.

You’re a weirdo.

So I’ve been told.

Do you want to accompany this weirdo to a party in Kuusamo this weekend?

Kuusamo. Lord Briar’s hunting estate. Arttu’s heart starts to beat faster—this is the jackpot.

I want to spend some time with you. The party isn’t a must.

Party sounds good.

That’s the understatement of the century. Despite his exhaustion, heat gathers in Arttu’s belly at the mere thought of accompanying Jareth to such an event. The things Jareth could do to him…