Frustration bit into Nes as she picked at her nails and surveyed the floor of the Siren’s Hair.
Already, she could see the smug expression on Phineas’s face when she walked into his office, already hear his drawlingWelcome back, my houndin her ears. Her imagination alone was nearly enough to make her turn around and abandon her whole plan.
The gambling den was packed. The bartender, dressed in Phineas’s choice feathered costume, didn’t seem bothered by the people crowding her station. The more people pushing against the polished rim of the bar, the bigger her smile got and the less her wary eyes drifted toward Nes.
The bartender wasn’t the only one watching her tonight. Plenty of patrons shifted their gaze to her until she sent their eyes skittering away with a glare. Still, no matter how many gazes she met head-on, the feeling of being watched seeped into her skin.
She hated being back here. She’d walked away, damn it. And now here she was, seemingly dragging herself back. She blamed Toran.
She almost didn’t recognize him when he stepped into the Siren’s Hair. As she’d requested, he hadn’t worn his uniform. Instead, he wore a pair of plain brown trousers and a loose white shirt with trim suspenders that cut up his stomach and chest, accentuating the muscles pinned beneath. A black cloak hung over his forearm.
She waited for him to spot her across the room, taking those few seconds he was unaware of her gaze to admire the shape of him. Mikaud had been unbiasedly handsome, but Toran was different. Maybe it was those pure eyes that drew her in, or maybe it was somethingshe had yet to identify, but Toran was attractive in a soulful sort of way.
Before she could do something truly damning—like think her father was right about her finding someone to spend her life with—she flipped her hat, settling it atop her head until it sat snug. Toran stepped up beside her, close enough that when his fingers twitched at his side, she felt his knuckles skim the back of her hand. The touch was light, like the tickle of a dandelion under her nose, but as warm as bedsheets after a night well-slept.
Crossing her arms, she pursed her lips. “Are you fond of what you’re wearing?”
He glanced down at himself. “No. Why?”
She shrugged. “No reason.”
“Don’t start lying to me now.”
“Start? Oh, Captain, we’re well into the races.”
She beckoned him toward the kitchen and the storage closet inside, opening it to reveal the stairs leading down.
Toran moved to take the stairs, but she put a hand out, stopping him. She refused to let her fingers curl against the hard warmth she felt under his shirt. She’d made the mistake of getting attached once before, and Goddess knew that had not ended well. She had no reason to believe Toran would be any different.
“Before we go,” she said, the shards of ice she slipped into each of her syllables reminders for herself as much as they were for him, “just remember—if I go down, I’m taking you with me.”
Their deal came first. Regardless of any illegalities she revealed to him down below.
He only raised a brow and gestured for her to go first. Good enough. She walked the steps in silence, his presence behind her like a second shadow.
Unlike the other day, the door at the bottom of the stairs was shut. Two identical swirls were carved into the wood, the lantern hanging over their heads revealing a deep red paint. The center of each swirl opened to reveal two green eyes.
“Oh, Nes,” Suri said from the other side of the door, genuine regret in her tone. “You know I can’t let you in without the passwords.”
Nes grinned. “Then it’s a good thing I have them, isn’t it?”
She wasn’t supposed to know the passwords. But despite being on the outside of Phineas’s operation, acquiring tonight’s passwords had been far easier than she’d anticipated.
“Eight moons.” She raised her brows at Suri, lifting her gaze to the depictions of the moon phases above the door. “A little on the nose tonight, don’t you think?”
Suri rolled her eyes. “I didn’t choose them.” Her gaze, as sharp as the tip of an arrow, turned to point at Toran. “Who’s your friend?”
“Not a friend,” she said.
“Something more?” Suri asked, her voice rising with interest.
She felt Toran behind her like the weight of the summer sun on her back. She remained facing the door. “Something less.”
Despite the door between them, Nes could still see how her friend jutted out her lower lip. A second later, the door swung open and she saw Suri’s pout for real. She stepped inside only for Suri to grab her arm and pull her close.
“But why?” Suri hissed, her eyes darting back to Toran. “He’s so handsome.”
“Hush,” she admonished. “He doesn’t need to know that. He’s enough of a pain in my ass as it is.”
