“Without a doubt,” Aarya says. “But a Family estate isn’t just something you sneak into. We could spend weeks planning to break into one with a large crew and it still might not be enough time to do it properly.”

I nod. “I don’t expect you to come with—”

“I’m coming,” Ines says, and I turn to her in surprise. “It’s half past midnight. If we head to the pub now, we’ll arrive in time to track that bouncer.”

“You want to go tonight?” Aarya says in disbelief, staring at Ines like she’s completely lost it. “You’re not even giving us one day to think this through? We might as well just hand ourselves over to Jag.”

“Do as you wish,” Ines says. “But please don’t distract us. Every minute here counts.”

Aarya’s mouth drops open, but Ines doesn’t seem put off in the least.

“Where’s this pub?” I ask.

“The London Market,” Ash says, and I can hear by the tightness in his voice that it’s not a good thing.

“So central London?” I say.

“Under,” Ash says.

I stare at him. “Under what?”

“Under central London,” Ash says, and I instantly understand Aarya’s objection. “It’s a Strategia market in the middle of an underground labyrinth.”

My stomach drops. “As in the only people in this market are Strategia?” I say. “And because this is London, those Strategia are disproportionately Lions?”

“By golly, I think she’s got it,” Aarya says, clearly not happy with the situation.

“The pub is called the Lions’ Den,” Ash says like it’s all the explanation that’s necessary. He hits the gas pedal. “We’re going to need more weapons.”

I immediately text Layla.

Chapter Twenty-three

ASH, AARYA, INES, and I move through Aarya’s apartment, quickly stocking weapons and assessing the ones we have for easy access. I stash my dad’s whittling knife and my mom’s scarf in my duffel bag for safekeeping and triple-check the position of my favorite boot dagger.

I step into the bathroom and pull out my phone.

Layla: When you go underground you’ll lose reception. I’ll take my own route down and follow you once you locate the bouncer.

Me: Ash thinks he and Aarya are recognizable. So Ines and I will track the bouncer and they’ll wait near the edge of the Market. Hoping you know what that means so you don’t accidentally run into them.

Layla: Understood.

I flush the toilet and slip out of the bathroom, joining my friends in the living room.

Ash stands over the coffee table tying small burlap pouches. He hands one to each of us. “There are ten darts in each, predipped in Angels’ Dream,” he says.