Taiken paused outside the Palace. The entrance was wide open and teeming with people. More than usual.

“Is it usually this busy?”

Sheldon was watching the activity with crossed arms and a frown.

“Didn’t your father come to these meetings?”

Sheldon shrugged. “I never got the chance to go with him. And Leo’s Palace is a lot quieter since he uses an annex for Contract work.” 

“I’ve never come to the meetings either. Usually, I only come here when someone wants something,” Taiken confessed.”So, maybe this is normal?”

Sheldon shrugged. “If you’re ready, we should go.”

The humans barely spared them a glance, but he had to ignore more than one demon’s surprised and contemptuous glare. Sometimes a growl if he was close enough to hear. Because, apparently, they had nothing better to do than make sure he knew he was unwanted.

It stirred up old, painful memories he’d rather forget.

“Excuse me,” Sheldon politely interrupted a woman in a steward uniform. “We’re here for the meetings, can you direct us?”

The woman waved someone over. “Escort them to the conference room,” she told the girl and then hurried off.

The conference room was a large room at the front of the administrative hallway, just off the Entrance Hall. The girl bowed to their thank you’s and also disappeared in a hurry.

“It’s kinda like when we’re about to start a show,” Sheldon murmured as he pushed open the door. “Except we’re better prepared-”

He cut off abruptly and stiffened, his smell immediately spiking with surprise and then disgust.

Curiously, Taiken stepped around the man.

“Voids,” Sheldon muttered with a snarl.

There were no demons yet present, so for an instant as Taiken stepped in there was a general lull in the conversation. All eyes turned tensely on them.

“Everyone, relax. It’s just the amphitheater master.” One man stood up from the long table. Smiling coolly. “He doesn’t answer to the Brethren.”

There was a brief hesitation then the conversation continued, though quieter. Their scents changing to reflect their caution as the man stepped around the table and approached.

Sheldon clenched his fists.

“Don’t react,” Taiken murmured.

“Now this is an unexpected surprise.” Dalius stopped walking about two arm lengths away. Beaming. “How have you been, Sheldon?”

As though I’m not here, sighed Taiken.

Sheldon narrowed his eyes and pointedly turned to Taiken, waving a hand. “There are a few empty seats over there.”

“Be sure to sit on the far side,” Dalius cautioned. “The door side belongs to the demons.” He shot a meaningful look at Taiken but still spoke to Sheldon. “They don’t welcome pests to their side.”

Sheldon gritted his teeth and took a threatening step forward. “You-”

Taiken grabbed Sheldon’s arm. “Thank you, Dalius, for the advice,” said Taiken evenly. “I suggest you get back to your own business.”

“I don’t believe it’s any of your business, demon,” said Dalius coldly.

“Bastard,” Sheldon seethed.

“Is there a problem here?”

Even Taiken jumped. When in the Voids had she gotten here? Dalius took a quick step backward, bowing with the rest of the room as Taiken turned around. He was the only one who didn’t bow.

Diana Veran scowled, arms crossed. Her right-hand man, Lloyd, bowed his head respectfully to Taiken but otherwise did nothing. Taiken shifted his attention fully to Diana.

“You look tired, Diana.”

“Unlike some people, I work,” she retorted with fang. She glared around. “The masters will be here shortly. Take your seats.”

The humans, now silent, quietly did as they were told. There was a lot of scraping as chairs were pulled out and replaced.

“What the voids are you doing here,” Diana muttered at Taiken.

“I was invited.”

“As a courtesy. You’re not supposed to actually show up.”

“I know.”

Pointedly, he turned around and walked to the table. With only a slight hesitation, he took the endmost seat on the human side and Sheldon silently took the one across from him. Lloyd next to Sheldon.

It wasn’t the most helpful seat for insisting on his rights. But it would help him be as invisible as possible to the demons. And had the bonus of allowing Sheldon to sit next to him and act as a buffer between him and the other humans.

He already missed the troupe.

Leaning back in his chair, he cushioned his head with his hands and closed his eyes. Using smell, he identified the demons as they trickled in, knew approximately how they reacted to seeing him, and where they sat without looking.

All were at least surprised. Some hostile. Most of them curious but indifferent.

He preferred ‘indifferent’ to hostile.

Diana sat across from him. He could smell her anxiety but when he peeked at her, there was no outward sign of it.

While the demons came in, the humans became silent.

He smelled it when Harv changed directions and paused by Taiken’s seat. Opening one eye, he took a deep breath, detecting scents that lingered on the Brethren member.

“How’s Elisha?” he asked politely.

“She wants her colors renewed.” Harv’s tone was flat. Neither hostile nor welcoming. “You’ve been ignoring my letters.”

“Good to see you, too.”

“Since you’re here, are you willing to talk afterwards about it?”

Taiken tilted his head to one side and chose his words carefully. “Is it really that urgent?”

“I brought her so she can speak with you.”

They locked eyes. Exchanging mostly silent messages. Taiken only voiced one incredulous question.

“You brought her?”

What the voids?, his face communicated. Isn’t that dangerous?

That’s my problem, was Harv’s flat stare.

Taiken sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Aware of people watching. Most of them pretending not to watch while their scents flared with curiosity.

“Fine. Just be aware I’m not exchanging favors this time. Pebbles and goods are what I need.”

Harv nodded and returned to his seat, closer to the middle of the table.

Aridon was the last to enter. When he paused on seeing Taiken, he wasn’t just hostile. He was furious. Taiken leaned his chair back, opened his eyes again, and smiled at Aridon.

Another advantage to this seat. He may have been ‘boxed in’ but he could face people right away.

“Can we get started?”

The whine came from the last, and most surprising, member of the Brethren. The demon final form made him look like a twelve-year-old child, which was both deceptive and appropriate. He waved his hand and continued to whine as everyone’s eyes whipped in his direction.

“I’m tired. The trip was too long. And I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have work to get back to. Ar-i-don! Come sit by me! Please, please, please?!”

Aridon snarled one last time at Taiken but complied with the little demon’s request.

“Right,” said Leo, picking up a piece of parchment. It came from a stack he’d brought in with him. “Let’s begin.”

Taiken listened and bounced his foot impatiently.

This wasn’t a meeting so much as a ‘this is to inform you what we’ve already decided’ event. Some of it was allowing humans to bring up concerns but not much. The demons spoke the most and what little there was of actual discussion was almost entirely on the demons’ side.

He exchanged a wry look with Sheldon.

I’m glad I brought Sheldon. He’ll remember all of this, he thought as he dozed. 

With an effort, he glanced sideways at his aide. Sheldon was watching and listening with an intensity that made Taiken grimace.

Voids! There’s something wrong with him. I think he might actually enjoy this.