“I didn’t go out there for them,” Mercia said. She raised her eyes, met Nyx’s look. “I went out there for you.”

Mercia kissed her.

Nyx wasn’t sure which of them was more surprised.

Mercia grabbed her by the collar of her vest and pulled her into the bed. Her leg slipped between Nyx’s thighs. Warmth bloomed through Nyx’s body, as if she’d been soaked in warm honey.

My God, she’s soft, Nyx thought, tangling her fingers in Mercia’s dark hair.

Mercia tugged Nyx’s vest open. Suckled her breast with her warm, wet mouth.

“Fuck,” Nyx said.

Mercia drew her head up, eyes glassy, cheeks flushed. “You’d better,” she said.

And that was the end of the interrogation.

For a time.

The sheets were still damp, tangled around their feet. The darkness clung to them like another lover, hot and close. Nyx watched the long rise and fall of Mercia’s chest. Gorgeous breasts. She had never seen such perfect breasts. She slid her hand up Mercia’s thigh. Mercia sighed and smiled, caught up her fingers with Nyx’s.

“That was worth going to Druce for,” Mercia murmured.

The floor rumbled softly.

Nyx raised her head. Heard a pop-pop sound outside, distant. It was almost dawn.

“What is that?” Mercia asked.

Nyx pulled herself out of bed and walked naked to the window. Opened the shutters. Gazed out over Amtullah. The view from the bedroom was even more spectacular than the one from the front courtyard. Orange, yellow, green, and lavender lights blazed across the city. The filter above caught the light, reflected it back, made the world glow softly even in the deepest part of the night.

Nyx listened.

The pop-pop sound came again, closer this time. Another rumble. From the east. She turned and saw a flickering flare of fire, and a smoky haze over the lights. The floor trembled again.

Mercia padded over to the window, pulling on her robe. She took Nyx’s arm, pressed against her. Nyx wondered just how attached Mercia wanted to get. “Chenjans?”

“No,” Nyx said. “It’s coming from inside the city.”

“You think they’ve infiltrated the city?”

“No. It’s the boys.” Nyx pulled away and started getting dressed. “Stay up here. You’ll be safe in this district.”

“Where are you going?”

“It’s a good time to see Fatima. She’ll be all riled up.” Nyx holstered and stowed her weapons. It always took longer to get them back on than it did to get them off.

Mercia took a breath. “Nyx?”

“What?”

“Fatima promised me information I could use against our ruling Patron. I’ve long suspected that he has worked with Nasheen to repress our people. She said that if I went after you, she would give me that proof.”

“And you believed her?”

“It cost me nothing.”

Nyx felt her expression harden. “Didn’t it?”