“What? And take all of the fun out of sneaking around?” Aziel frowned.
She scoffed. “We arenotsneaking around, you little forest demon.”
“Right,” he drawled. “We most certainly are not sneaking around, but we work together and have to meet in secret. We alsoabsolutelycannot be seen conversing with one another unless my poor, needle-dicked father allows it. Which, mind you, would benever.”
He had a point. As much as she hated to admit it. “What do you want?” She folded her arms over her chest, leaning against the post of her bed as she watched him pluck an apple from her fruit bowl. “That’s for guests.”
He raised a single brow. “Am I not a guest?”
“You’re a nuisance!” She snapped. “Now tell me what you need me for so I can continue with my…” the thought of the stolen book of spells on the floor had her cheeks heating, her brow furrowed with refusal to admit her own indiscretions. She was a courtesan, a killer, but admitting to thievery was something that she absolutely refused to do.
“Your…what?” Aziel pressed. It was a subtle flicker of her eyes that had him looking down at the book on the floor. Nymiria wanted to throw herself in front of the book and guard it with her life, but one move would admit that she was worried about what he would discover—that she'd intentionally and foolishly stolen from him.
His stoic expression bloomed into a wicked smile. Nymiria knew that she was done for. “Aziel—"
“Witchcraft For The Enraged—" Aziel’s reading was cut short by the force of a pillow smacking into his face. Nymiria stood her ground, despite the venomous look he was now shooting in her direction.
“Give it back.” She demanded.
“Witchcraft,” Aziel clicked his tongue, letting the pages flutter before snapping the book shut and placing it on the table, completely disregarding her request. "It seems we have a little thief in our midst. Andwitchcraft,on top of that… moonflower, dear, you are practically sending yourself to slaughter."
“I didn'tstealit, I borrowed it. There is a difference, you know?"
"Not if you take it without asking." He chuckled. "Why do you need to know about witchcraft?"
At the mere question, Nymiria felt the runes in her back start to ache. She hadn't felt them in years, but the thought of anyone other than Desi, Dorid, and Camalia knowing they were there felt like they were already on full display. "You wouldn't understand—"
"Try me." Aziel rose to his feet, his face changing as if there was something about her that made this game of torture less fun for him. She could never tell what was going to happen next when it came to him, his moods were always quick to change. One moment, they would be arguing and the next, he would be looking at her likethis. Like she was…something.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her hands subconsciously went to her hair, tugging at a lock of it to see that it was still the same golden blond she’d glamoured that morning. “What is it?”
There was something about him that was almost sad. But as quickly as she was able to touch his emotions and feel how they felt against her own, it was gone, replaced with a cold seriousness. Aziel took a small step back and finally turned away. “I have already made arrangements with Desi. Today is your day of freedom and Desi has asked Oran if you could come with her to visit a friend on the outskirts of the city. It will be an all-day affair. She has clothes for you in herbag. It’s nothing fancy, but it will help you blend in. The guards of the Gillian Mystic Camp have been invited to attend a card game that is couples only.”
“Couples only?” She repeated.
Aziel frowned. “Yes. Therefore, tonight, you and I will be a couple. Freshly married and hailing from Caddagh's capital.”
“Why me?” Her voice rose with exasperation, her brow furrowing as she followed his movements back to the settee. “You have thousands of women to choose from in this city, why must it beme? I said that I would help you find Greia's heir, not go on secret missions with you.”
“Because you are the only other person in this city that can glamour yourself if things go awry. And I do recall you lying about not knowing how to play cards. And while, yes, I originally asked for your help with the heir, I do feel like thiscouldhelp."
"How?"
He shrugged. "She could be there." Nymiria deflated. While she believed he was giving a horrible excuse, she was also a woman of her word. She would help him. Seeing her complacency, Aziel smirked and took a bite of the apple he'd been eyeing since he walked in, juices spilling over the swell of his bottom lip and onto his chin. Nymiria swallowed, averting her eyes…elsewhere. "I should also add that we are not going as Aziel and Nymiria, we are going as Dreygan and Saikal.”
“Didyoucome up with those names?” She scoffed.
His brows drew together at the center, his irritation evident. “What if I did?”
Nymiria crossed her arms over her chest, sauntering towards him with a cheeky grin. “I’d say you are just as ostentatious as everyone else here.”
“We’re supposed to be foreigners.”
“Why not just choose something simple and easy to remember like Lydia and Bert?”
“I amnotgoing to go by Bert.” To say that he looked offended would be an understatement. She knew he liked to hold himself to a certain standard, but Dreygan was borderline ridiculous. “We are using the names that I have picked.”He straightened his jacket, his silver hair falling into his eyes as he looked down at the small wrinkle in his sleeve.
Nymiria chuckled. “So touchy.”
