“He can go to the Underworld!” Lucy snapped. “He’s not thehead ofmygovernment!”
Wickett cleared his throat. “I’ll handle my father if he asks. Family should come first.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “Thank you.”
“Actually,” Calder said, standing and stretching like he’d just thought of it, “while Lucy’s handling her family business, Syn and I were planning to head into the Crook. See if we can shake loose any information about the Phoenix.”
“The Crook?” Wickett’s attention snapped to us. “That’s?—”
“Dangerous, yes. Which is why we can’t take anyone else.” I kept my voice level. “The people down there, they don’t talk if you bring a crowd. Especially not if that crowd includes hunters or shifters or anyone who might draw attention. Just two peopleasking discreet questions is the most that could ever work. They already know we’re Venatori. That’s enough to keep some hidden behind locked doors.”
“During the storms?” Wickett asked slowly.
“Yes.” Calder’s voice carried casual authority. “Guards will be thin on the streets. It’s the perfect time.”
“I don’t like it,” Wickett said.
“You don’t have to like it.” I met his eyes, speaking the words we’d practiced. Giving him what he wanted without letting him come. “We’ve been sitting around for far too long. We’ve got to go do something.”
“I could search the Tangles,” Pip offered quietly. “While everyone’s out. Sprites talk to each other. We always notice things others don’t.”
“Good idea,” I said, perhaps too quickly. “That’s good. We split up, cover more ground, meet back here tonight to compare notes.”
The Oracle finally spoke, her words coincidentally aiding our planning. “The storm breaks this evening. Tomorrow, the docks will be active again.”
Wickett’s head jerked in a nod. “Then tomorrow we investigate there. All of us.”
“Agreed, but don’t forget we have to go to the game tomorrow,” I said, knowing plans could change really quickly. Right now, I just needed today. Needed to get to those addresses. Needed to know whether Vitoria’s parents’known associatescould tell us anything useful.
“Well then,” Lucette said, standing and smoothing her oversized pants. “I should get ready. Can’t meet my parents looking like I’ve been living in a military compound in a man’s pants.”
Pip’s eyes grew as wide as her smile. “Wear something shiny. You can borrow from me if you want. I have this.” She pulled apiece of brass from her pocket, though I couldn’t quite tell what it was until Wickett choked on his drink.
“Is that my belt buckle? How did you even?—”
“Finders, keepers,” Pip said, cutting Wickett off with a scowl, protectively shoving the buckle back into her pocket as she left.
Slowly, the others began to disperse. Wickett remained near the door, watching us with those calculating gray eyes.
“Be careful,” he said finally, clearly holding back what he wanted to say. “The Crook isn’t forgiving to people who ask the wrong questions.”
“The Crook’s been my playground for many years. We’ll be fine,” Calder assured him.
“Will you?” Wickett’s gaze found mine. “Because it seems like every time you go out, you nearly get caught or killed.Or both.”
“Third time’s the charm,” I said lightly.
He didn’t smile. “That’s not funny.”
“It kind of was. You’ll laugh later. Pretty sure.”
We stared at each other across the kitchen, and I felt that pull again. The one I’d been trying to ignore for days. The one that had started in the darkness behind the curtains and hadn’t let go since.
“Just—” He stopped himself. “Come back.Bothof you.”
“We will,” I promised, knowing it might be a lie.
He left, and I exhaled slowly.
