Well. A demon could dream.
But Brandon had claimed her first, in that inevitable way fated mates always did. Which left Karthik exactly where he'd been before. Bored, restless, and in need of a proper diversion.
The Collectors Vlane had gifted him had provided some temporary entertainment, at least. Curious little things, designed to trap and preserve magical essence for study. Karthik had put them to far more creative uses, of course. There was something deeply satisfying about watching a greedy, power hungry mage struggle against the pull, savoring the slow drain of power, drop by drop, as their minds unraveled.
The trouble was, human minds broke so easily. Even the magical ones. Push too hard and they shattered like glass, leaving nothing but drooling husks. Where was the fun in that?
No, what he needed was someone who could take whatever he dished out when his urges grew too strong. Someone who wouldn't break. Someone who could match him, challenge him, maybe even surprise him.
His gaze found Ryssa across the room, and something that might have been regret flickered through him.
Now there was a female who could have kept things interesting.
As a fallen angel, she'd had the strength and resilience to withstand his particular brand of... intensity. Over the decades she'd worked atSeven Circles, he'd tested her boundaries with the focused interest of a connoisseur. Pain tolerance. Psychological limits. How far he could push before she pushed back.
She'd been magnificent.
And then David Corrigan—that patheticmortal, of all things—had summoned her, and that had been the beginning of the end of that. Another fated pair, another potentially fascinating toy claimed by someone else.
Tedious.
Karthik was contemplating the merits of leaving early when movement across the room caught his attention. His eyes locked with Tedi's, and something electric arced between them.
The oracle went utterly still, her hazel eyes beginning to swirl with that peculiar golden light that meant she was Seeing something. Her expression went blank, slack, as if someone had cut the strings holding her upright. She swayed slightly, and Karthik felt a pulse of genuine interest for the first time all evening.
Well now. That's different.
He watched as she blinked, the light fading from her eyes, and turned to say something to Masterson’s bride. Ana’s head swiveled in his direction, and even fromhere he could see the knowing look that crossed her delicate features.
Then she smiled.
Not the polite, social smile she gave to most guests. This was something else. Warm and knowing and edged with just enough mischief to make him wary. She murmured something to Tedi, pressed a kiss to Vlane’s cheek, and began gliding across the ballroom floor toward him.
Karthik straightened from his casual lean against the pillar. Whatever game Ana was playing, it would be more entertaining than watching another round of mate-bond declarations. The Fae were unpredictable creatures, and Ana more than most. Vlane kept her abilities carefully hidden, but Karthik knew power when he sensed it.
She reached him, still smiling, and the scent of moonlight and magic washed over him. He inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Ana. You look radiant, as always.”
“Karthik.” Her voice was light, musical. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
He gestured vaguely at the assembled crowd with his glass. “It's a lovely party. Vlane outdoes himself each year.”
“That's not an answer.”
His lips quirked. “No, it isn't.”
Ana's eyes, impossibly blue, studied him with an intensity that would have made most creaturesuncomfortable. Karthik held her gaze, curious despite himself. The Fae queen was up to something.
“I couldn't help but notice,” she said, her tone deceptively casual, “that you seem... restless.”
“Observant, as always.”
“Is there anything you wish for, Karthik?” The words were carefully chosen, deliberately weighted. “Anything at all?”
And there it was. The offer. The trap. Theopportunity.
Karthik's red eyes glittered with dark amusement. Ana knew exactly what she was doing, and the fact that she was doing it anyway suggested that whatever Tedi had Seen involved him in some significant way. Interesting. And potentially very,veryentertaining.
“Now that,” he purred, his deep voice carrying just enough heat to make the temperature around them spike, “is a dangerous question to ask a demon.”