"He’s expecting you this morning." The security guard gave Margrit a brief smile and nodded toward the elevators.

"Yeah." She returned the smile tiredly as she passed by. "I bet he is." After Biali left her on her rooftop, she’d turned down Cameron and Cole’s invitation to go out, opting for sleep instead. Emotional exhaustion had left her without memorable dreams, though she’d awakened once with the sensation of flying. The alarm clock had been incomprehensible and unwelcome, only making sense after several minutes of progressively noisier beeping. It still seemed very early as she took the elevator up to Daisani’s offices.

The front room-Vanessa’s massive office-was abandoned, but the oversize double doors leading into Daisani’s were ajar. Certain he would’ve heard the elevator chime and her heels against the hardwood floor, Margrit rapped twice before stepping inside.

Daisani, a finger lifted in warning, turned from overlooking the city, then tapped his earpiece with the same finger. Margrit nodded and helped herself to one of the couches at the far end of his office, too worn-out to stand on ceremony. A crystal jug and glasses sat on the coffee table, suggesting Daisani had indeed anticipated her early-morning arrival. Margrit leaned forward, eyes half-closed as she poured herself a glass of water. After a moment Daisani said his goodbyes and lifted his voice. "Forgive me, Margrit. I didn’t expect you quite this early. Working on tomorrow’s business already, I’m afraid. If you’d like to be very rich by next weekend, I’d consider buying up some stock in the-"

"Mr. Daisani," Margrit said, half in despair. "I’m a lawyer. Just stop right there."

"You and your mother," Daisani said cheerfully as he came to sit across from her. "How is Rebecca, by the way?"

"She’s going to be very surprised to hear I’m working for you." The necessity of being alert enough to banter finally warmed Margrit’s blood, pushing off some of her weariness. "Maybe even more surprised than I was, although I’m not sure that’s possible."

"Was that not the purpose of your visit yesterday?" Daisani poured himself a glass of water, his smile as sparkling as the crystal. "Did I not do as you asked?"

"It was, and you did, but-"

"Wonderful. The corporation is hosting a gala tomorrow night in the ballroom downstairs. A thank-you to our good friend Mr. Kaaiai, for the generosity he’s showing the city in funding security and restoration of the subway speakeasy." Nothing obvious changed in Daisani’s smile or delivery, but hairs rose on Margrit’s arms as an undercurrent of alarm swept through her. "I’d like you to attend," he asked. "It can be your coming-out party, as it were. Your first public appearance as the new face of Daisani Incorporated."

"My-as the-what?" She blinked in astonishment. "Mr. Daisani-"

"Not that there’s anything wrong with the old face," Daisani said modestly. "But you’re fresh, young, beautiful-"

"And you have a burning desire to have your company represented by a sellout? Mr. Daisani, I-"

"Eliseo," he said, as magnanimous as he’d been modest. "We’re going to be very close, after all."

Margrit tried not to grind her teeth. "Eliseo. I can’t come work for you under these circumstances. For one thing, I’d be a laughingstock, and that’s the nicest word I can think of for it. Opportunistic bitch is closer, and even that’s being kind. I’ve got a career at Legal Aid, and I need to be there for my friends and coworkers. Quitting now would be ugly."

"Don’t be silly. A murder occurred in your offices. No one would blame you for walking away. Besides, it was your idea."

"I didn’t know Russell had been murdered when I made that proposition!"

"You’re a lawyer, Miss Knight. You should know the folly of making a bargain without having all the information in hand."

She sat back, feeling the color drain from her face. "That’s a low blow."

"Yes." He spoke without the slightest hint of repentance. "Yes, it is, but the circumstances aren’t extenuating. You came here to make a cold-blooded deal to save your own skin, my dear, and nothing has altered that situation."

"So you get everything you want for free, and I can’t back out? You said you weren’t behind killing Janx’s men."

"I don’t think you fully understand." Daisani got up with the inhuman smoothness Margrit was becoming accustomed to. "It’s true I haven’t put hits out on Janx’s people, but I’ve taken on Malik’s safety as my full responsibility regardless, and I’ve done so at your behest. If anyone, human or otherwise, should be so foolish as to assassinate him, I will use the full force of my resources to eliminate that person or persons. In more time than you can imagine, I have never offered such protection to one of my rival’s people. If I withdraw it now, Janx will see it as an act of cowardice, and strike against me, or he will see it as an act of mockery, and will strike against me. Either way, Margrit Knight, it will begin a war."

"I thought the Old Races didn’t fight wars among themselves." Alban had told her that, historically, they hadn’t, their numbers always too small to risk all-out battle.

"The Old Races don’t make this sort of alliance, either. You seem to have more of an ability to rock our foundations than even I anticipated."

"So why’d you say yes?" Margrit shook her head. "If agreeing to my terms shifts the status quo that much, why play along? I can’t be that important. Other humans know about you. There’s Chelsea Huo. There’s…" She fell silent, uncertain of who else might share their secrets.

Daisani shot her a look of complex amusement. "Chelsea. Yes. Chelsea’s tongue is too sharp for my tastes, Margrit. I have no desire to be under its lash day in and day out, even if I could draw her away from her books."

"I guess that tells me how to get out of this."

He chuckled. "It wouldn’t be that simple. Vanessa had her edges, as well. You by yourself aren’t important, perhaps, but you’ve upset a balance that Janx and I have held between us for centuries. You’ve involved Alban in the world again, and anyone capable of drawing him from the granite shell he’s been wrapped in is worth noting. I would prefer having him in my grasp, truth be told, but he would make a terrible personal assistant. I’d have to shift all my meetings to nighttime, and despite my people’s reputation, I rather enjoy a stroll in the sunlight."

"Why does he matter? You and Janx are both obsessed with him." Margrit stilled the impulse to put her water glass aside and get up to pace, suddenly afraid that movement would turn Daisani’s predatory eye on her, as if she were a rabbit beneath a circling eagle.

He smiled. "I’d suggest asking him, but he wouldn’t tell you. Which, in its cryptic way, answers the question. The details aren’t important, Margrit. What is whether or not you intend to keep your word."

"My word." She laughed sharply. "I didn’t give you my word. I barely even touched on my plan before you dropped a bombshell on me. I sure as hell didn’t come here this morning to tell you I was taking the job."

"No? Did you come to tell me you weren’t?"

Embarrassment and guilt seized her, making her drop her gaze. Daisani chuckled again and returned to his seat. "One never enjoys being caught posturing, does one?"

"I’m not posturing." Her throat constricted further, turning the words to a whispered protest. "I made- dammit." She looked up, jaw set with frustrated resolution. "When I came here yesterday to make that bargain it was in good faith. Yes, it was in good faith because I’m in between a rock and a hard place, and couldn’t see another way out, but I’m doing the best I can. And you’re right. Russell’s death doesn’t change the mess I’m in with the Old Races." She got to her feet after all and paced toward the windows. "But I feel like I have different obligations to my real life now."