“I see. And how soon does she need it?”
“Four weeks.”
The woman glanced at Blai, who was watching intently. “And them?”
“My cousin.”
Landry motioned to the back.
Blai thankfully followed in silence. In the fabric closet, the woman leaned against the bolts. “He won’t like it.”
“He already knows.”
Landry shoved, giving Elara room to slip behind and into the hallway. As soon as they were alone, Blai whistled.
“Are you sure you’re not a rebel?”
“Not anymore.”
Elara shrugged off their stare as they entered Étoiles and passed by the guard.
“What is this place?” Blai whispered.
“It used to be a nightclub. Then it became something else.”
The illegal market was still running to the left, and the booths on the right were filled. Music wrapped around her, and the constellations above twinkled.
Elara didn’t understand the feeling crawling in her chest. Regret? Already?
“Who did you say your contact was again?” Blai asked.
“An old boyfriend.”
“And what exactly does your old boyfriend do?”
ThatElara had left out for a reason. It was bad enough she had connections to a dead rebel; if the Counseil found out she’d crawled into bed with the leader of the next generation? She’d have her throat slit in some back alley too.
As they headed down the hallway, the door to the Cradle opened.
“Elara.”
She wasnotgoing to analyze the way she hated his flat tone.
“Fernand. I know you don’t—”
Blai nudged between them, offering their hand. “Blai Lozano. Charmed and…charming.”
Fernand pinked at the cheeks but then reverted to a dour glare. “I don’t have time for you to play matchmaker. I have work to do.”
“I wouldn’t have called you if it wasn’t important.”
“Things with the Counseil getting a little uncomfortable,Auclair? Plouffe can’t stop raving about how you made them all-powerful.”
“I didn’t ask to be Favored. If I remember correctly,youput me in thatposition. Or maybe you just did it because you didn’t think I’d have a chance of winning.”
“Because you don’t!” He laughed, raking a hand through his curls, which had grown scraggly in the last week. “You should have walked away.”
“From a chance at success?”
