“Add it to my father’s account, and charge him double,” I tell her with a grin. While I’m careful who I reveal the full depth of my intentions to in this kingdom, I’ve built a network of trustworthy allies who share my contempt of my father. Enessa and I have a complicated relationship. We flirt, shamelessly, and pretend we’re having a poorly hidden affair to provide cover for what’s really going on. Most of the court, my father included, think she’s my mistress, and that she provides expensive jewelry to my betrothed. I can’t think too hard about it, deeply uncomfortable that I’m perceived as someone who would do that to my fiancé, even if it’s a marriage neither of us intends to enter into.

“Will you come see me again soon?” Enessa whispers in my ear on the front step of her shop, pressing her body to mine in a seductive arc that pushes her breasts right into my line of sight.

Some days, it’s hard to know if Enessa wants more. We’re outside, where there are eyes watching, so she could be playing her part to maintain our cover. Not to mention she too is as practiced at this as I am, having been my spy with the nobles for decades. But the way she clings to me, body pushed firmly against mine, makes me question how much is pretend for her. Either way, I can’t afford to lose her as an ally, so I squeeze her tightly. I bury the shame I feel at using her, then lean down to her ear and let my breath send shivers up her spine.

“I’ll send word next time before I come. I promise.” She grins satisfactorily. Then I’m pulling away, her arms lingering to get one last touch, leaving her staring after Fionn and me as we make our way out of the Floating Market.

“Do you think you’ll ever actually take a lover? A real one?” Fionn asks, his assessing gaze seeing everything as usual.

“I could ask the same of you,” I challenge with a smirk. He merely nods, and we continue our walk out of the Floating Market in silence. Once we exit the pier that marks the end of the market, Fionn heads in the opposite direction of the palace. I stop him.

“Silene needs to be with us when we debrief. She’s got more brains than us both combined.”

“That’s why I told her to meet us there,” he says with a cocky smirk, nodding toward our favorite gambling den.

I grin wide. “In that case, lead the way.”

The Salty Saloon is dark inside despite the bright Velmaran daylight, its windows covered with light-blocking curtains. Despite it being the middle of the day, the wobbly wooden tables are all filled with patrons drinking tankards of the golden ale and gambling away their savings.