even in that mess of lumps. Ugh–I guessed it was my duty to go over and hug him. But the thought of actual bodily contact with that mass of ugly lumps was almost enough to turn a steak-loving demon-girl into a vegetarian. I made my way over to him and enveloped him in my arms. After a few moments, that seemed like hours, of trying to hug him gently, so that none of his lumps would burst open and seep goodness-knows-what, he finally stopped soaking my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Princess,” he whispered, slumping back into his chair.
“Take your time, Dorian. I know this is very hard on you. Luke told me that you were very close to Peter.”
“I am. I was,” he whispered.
“I’m really sorry for your loss. I wish you could take some time off to mourn, but you really can’t right now,” I said softly.
“Yes, of course. I apologize for falling apart like this,” Dorian mumbled.
“No need to apologize. Let’s sit and write out a plan. I find that always helps me get organized.”
Dorian brought out a yellow legal pad and pen and looked at me. His bumps seemed to be subsiding a bit. “My grief is almost unbearable. But, I will redirect those feelings into seeking revenge for Peter’s death, while helping you run London. At the outset, we’ll need to find out if any of your other siblings have been harmed.”
“That sounds like a good place to start, Dorian, with my siblings. I guess there are six siblings we need to contact.”
“That’s right. Shall I make a list for you?”
“No need. Not right now anyway. Does Luke know how to reach them?”
Dorian nodded.
“Can we contact each one now? I’d really like to meet them as soon as possible, assuming they’re all okay.”
Dorian picked up his cell and called Luke to convey the instructions to him.
“Thanks, Dorian. Next on the agenda–Dad. Where the heck could he be?”
“If he’s alive, he could be anywhere. So, for now, we need to take him out of the equation and get on with other matters.”
“I guess. It’s not like we can call the cops and report him missing… or can we?”
“We could. He’s a registered U.K. citizen; we could report him missing there.”
“How does one track a missing demon?” I asked out loud, mostly to myself. “The witches!” I exclaimed. “They could help! I have some of my dad’s belongings in the apartment. A powerful enough witch may be able to track him somehow... don’t you think?”
Dorian looked impressed, from what I could tell under the boils, which were thankfully subsiding. “It hadn’t occurred to me to ask any other paranormals to help. We don’t normally do that. I mean, interact in that way. Our territories are clearly marked, and we don’t interfere with each other’s kind.”
“While you might not work that way, do you think I could give it a try? I’m new, so maybe they’ll be receptive to working with me. With us. I want to ask Tessa first, though. I trust her.”
“She will need permission from the head witch in New York, who will have to negotiate it with Cassandra...” Dorian explained.
“You’re kidding?”
“No. It would actually be easier to talk to Cassandra directly.”
“Okay. Can you arrange a meeting?”
“Yes, Princess. Is that all?” he asked.
By the end of our strategy meeting, Dorian had returned to his normal human form. Thank goodness.
“Yes, that’s all. Thanks for taking care of the London operations. Keep me in the loop on any issues that arise.”
“I will. Faustine, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being your dad’s daughter–for remaining strong. You did well today.”
It wasn’t like I had a choice.
By the time I went back to the conference room, Luke had gone. Hopefully, he was tracking down my siblings. Wow. The thought! I couldn’t wait to meet them. Luke would have to brief me first. I definitely wanted to be prepared.
“Hey, Faustine,” Ryker said, from the corner.
“Hey! You waited! Thanks. That took
“I’m so sorry, Princess,” he whispered, slumping back into his chair.
“Take your time, Dorian. I know this is very hard on you. Luke told me that you were very close to Peter.”
“I am. I was,” he whispered.
“I’m really sorry for your loss. I wish you could take some time off to mourn, but you really can’t right now,” I said softly.
“Yes, of course. I apologize for falling apart like this,” Dorian mumbled.
“No need to apologize. Let’s sit and write out a plan. I find that always helps me get organized.”
Dorian brought out a yellow legal pad and pen and looked at me. His bumps seemed to be subsiding a bit. “My grief is almost unbearable. But, I will redirect those feelings into seeking revenge for Peter’s death, while helping you run London. At the outset, we’ll need to find out if any of your other siblings have been harmed.”
“That sounds like a good place to start, Dorian, with my siblings. I guess there are six siblings we need to contact.”
“That’s right. Shall I make a list for you?”
“No need. Not right now anyway. Does Luke know how to reach them?”
Dorian nodded.
“Can we contact each one now? I’d really like to meet them as soon as possible, assuming they’re all okay.”
Dorian picked up his cell and called Luke to convey the instructions to him.
“Thanks, Dorian. Next on the agenda–Dad. Where the heck could he be?”
“If he’s alive, he could be anywhere. So, for now, we need to take him out of the equation and get on with other matters.”
“I guess. It’s not like we can call the cops and report him missing… or can we?”
“We could. He’s a registered U.K. citizen; we could report him missing there.”
“How does one track a missing demon?” I asked out loud, mostly to myself. “The witches!” I exclaimed. “They could help! I have some of my dad’s belongings in the apartment. A powerful enough witch may be able to track him somehow... don’t you think?”
Dorian looked impressed, from what I could tell under the boils, which were thankfully subsiding. “It hadn’t occurred to me to ask any other paranormals to help. We don’t normally do that. I mean, interact in that way. Our territories are clearly marked, and we don’t interfere with each other’s kind.”
“While you might not work that way, do you think I could give it a try? I’m new, so maybe they’ll be receptive to working with me. With us. I want to ask Tessa first, though. I trust her.”
“She will need permission from the head witch in New York, who will have to negotiate it with Cassandra...” Dorian explained.
“You’re kidding?”
“No. It would actually be easier to talk to Cassandra directly.”
“Okay. Can you arrange a meeting?”
“Yes, Princess. Is that all?” he asked.
By the end of our strategy meeting, Dorian had returned to his normal human form. Thank goodness.
“Yes, that’s all. Thanks for taking care of the London operations. Keep me in the loop on any issues that arise.”
“I will. Faustine, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being your dad’s daughter–for remaining strong. You did well today.”
It wasn’t like I had a choice.
By the time I went back to the conference room, Luke had gone. Hopefully, he was tracking down my siblings. Wow. The thought! I couldn’t wait to meet them. Luke would have to brief me first. I definitely wanted to be prepared.
“Hey, Faustine,” Ryker said, from the corner.
“Hey! You waited! Thanks. That took
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