Owen brushed the clinging darkness from his wide sleeves as he strode into the room.

“A useful visit?” Gregory asked, as he turned to close the door behind his boss.

“Mn,” Owen sat down behind his desk and leaned on his elbows, his face carefully blank, “was it busy on this end?”

“Decently. The Thunderbolt project is ready for board approval. Your cousin is back from leave. Oh, and someone came looking for your insurance details.”

“My what?”

“A young man,” Gregory’s eyes danced cheekily, “he said you’d crashed into his car?”

Owen sat back, his heart beginning to race. “Where is he now?”

“He’s gone home.”

“You let him go?”

“Of course.” The cheeky light disappeared, and he turned serious. “Just why did you give him your token?”

Owen took a deep breath. “He asked for it.”

“Are you sure?” Gregory said carefully, as though testing thin ice.

“You’re asking me questions? The man has my life token, and you just let him go!” Calm, calm, Owen told himself. The man can’t have gone far.

“It’s a bit unusual. As in, unprecedented,” Gregory turned his eyes towards the brass globe on the corner of Owen’s desk, “The Consort has accepted your token, but doesn’t seem to know what it means.”

Owen let out a low growl, “You had one job, Grekkin.” He dropped Gregory’s real name like an iron bar. They were best friends, but sometimes one had to be firm.    

“My Lord,” Gregory bowed his head to the sudden pressure Owen exerted, but only a little. If he’d directed even a scrap of the aura he wanted to, the other demon would be on his knees.

Between gritted teeth, Gregory forced out an explanation. “He’s coming back.”

“When?” Owen almost jumped to his feet but stopped himself in time. Not seemly.

“Tomorrow, eleven o’clock. He’s made an appointment.” This last word dripped with disdain for humans and their silly ways. If the demon lord wanted the man, he could just summon him.

Of course Owen could conjure the young man, drag him from whatever he was doing and plop him on the carpet in front of the desk. But it wasn’t the right way to treat his consort. Besides, he might be busy. Working, or driving. Or in the bath…

Owen tapped his palm on the desk surface. Eleven tomorrow. He could wait a few hours.