Tiefling Boyfriend: Mercutio 3 (special preview)

“Consider that a warning, Master Mercutio.” Lena bows their head. “I could have more than enough evidence to convict you of this plot against the Duke of Torva, but I do owe you a small favor. If you aren’t careful from now on, you could get caught with your hand in the cookie jar.”

I chuckle and lay my hands on my hips. “You know I’m going to do all I can to find out who you are. I’m going to keep you close, which isn’t exactly a good place to be. The closer you are, the harder it will be for you to hide under the cover of innocence.” My tail twitches, flicking and whipping excitedly. 

“Confidence is cute for some, Master Mercutio, but it makes you look like an asshole.” They glance down the stairwell. “Shouldn’t you be getting on to work?”

I shake my head as I grin. “Enjoy yours while it lasts, Lena. You may be digging out the pig pins sooner than you think.” 

Lena smiles, walking down the stairs as I walk back up. 

Sure enough, I found that August had taken the letters for me and had them laid out on my desk when I arrived at work. I changed the letter, making it completely different from what Lena had read. I wrote to the Duke a new meeting place near the border, and sure enough, a week later I received word that the Duke had been arrested. It did nothing to assuage my concern over Lena. I still had no clue who they were outside the fact that they were a beautifully crafted work of art.

Not long after my conversation with Lena, I sent Darling and my Imps after them to dig up any information on them I could. I am not surprised that they only come up with the obvious, after all, if I was to send a spy into an enemies home I would make them as connectionless and hollow as a piece of clockwork like Lena. All I knew about Lena was how observant they were, I had never met someone with such a keen eye and knack for detail. Whoever sent Lena knew what they were doing, and that is probably what worried me the most.

One afternoon while I am working, Lena comes into my office. I glare up at them as they come towards my desk.

“What do you want?” I place a book over my paperwork so they can’t see. “Come to confess who you are?”

“No, I came to warn you,” Lena replies. “There is a stranger in the castle.”

I hold my hands out and shrug. “There are always strangers in the castle. What’s to warn me about?”

Lena comes closer, rounding the side of my desk and standing beside me. “You are not understanding me, Master Mercutio. This stranger is a dangerous one.”

I cut my eyes at them. “One of yours?”

Lena shakes their head. “I cannot be certain, but I think they are here to kill someone. I would look over your shoulder, Master Mercutio. You have several targets painted on your back.”

I look at them in disbelief. “Why are you telling me this? Wouldn't your job, whatever it is, be easier if I were dead?”

Lena’s lovely face inches closer to mine. “Without you, there is no job. I need you alive, Master Mercutio.”

“How romantic,” I tease. “Perhaps we should kiss to make this moment all the more special?”

Lena pops my cheek. “You are not as cute as all that.” They then rise back up. “Keep your eyes open for strangers. Keep your mind prepared.” They whisk away out the door again, leaving me ever more confused about their purpose here.

As I am leaving that evening, I find August eagerly waiting on me at his desk. He stands as I walk by him and quickly joins my side. “I hope you don’t mind, but I would like to go over some of today’s-”

“Not tonight, August,” I say sternly.