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“I’d drink her bathwater if she’d letand offer it to Beth

With a wickedly sultry look, she opens herout to lick the ripe fruit

My purr can’t be stifled as I think about what else she could be licking right now

“We have a plan, a new one now that you’re in the mix” Chastain leans back in his chair “It’s a bit … flashy, but we think it ork”

“Flashy?” I wipe some juice from Beth’s chin and lick it from my thumb Sweet

“Gareth isn’t flashy,” Beth says between chews “Not his style”

“Of course not But if he wants to get invited to the Bazaar, he’s going to have to stir up the desert sands We need Cranthu”

“How do you intend to do that?” I aze

“Gossip” He shrugs His su to chap my ass

“That’s not a plan That’s just talk” I let Beth shoo me away from her plate and focus on my own

“Not in Cranthu about you, and Lord Zatran will beco the pieces about like a game board When a new player arrives, he will take an interest, feel you out, and above all—he’ll want to impress you”

“Why would he want to impress me?” I look down atout, I have nothing No prestige, no money, no supplies”

“Oh, but you will” He turns to Ne the attire?”

“Sure” Nemar rises and strides toward the bedrooms

“We’ll also need you to leave” Sil with intelligence

“Leave?”

“Yes” She twirls her knife in a relaxed, but practiced way “You need to leave the city and coolden chariot, slaves

at your beck and call, and coin pouring off you”

“And I suppose you’re to provide the—”

“Here it is” Neold thread, the collar pure gold, and a pair of leather pants lined with precious gems down the side seams

“You want lare at Chastain

Beth laughs “You have to put that on”

Parnon snorts into his cup

“No” I cross my arms over my chest

“You must” Sil that will catch Zatran’s eye You’ll look like a—”

“Buffoon,” I offer

“Yes” Silood coin to a slick salesman for these fancy clothes You can say you met a Jinn in the desert who told you all the fae in Cranthuolden stitching “It doesn’t old, see you’re vulnerable, and he’ll invite you right in to the Bazaar”

I see her plan, the es And, I must admit …

“It’s a good plan, right?” She sly

“What was your plan for the Bazaar before you set your sights on me?” I don’t let her rapport with Beth or her smiles fool me

Her smile falters “It was a bit more—”

“Bloody,” Parnon grunts

“Yes” Silether “But the moment I saw you and Beth, I knee could do it smarter, with less bloodshed We don’t have to overrun the slave masters’ homes if we can cut the head off the snake If Zatran falls, then the rest will, too This is the way to save lives”

“But you were prepared to slaughter the with Silmaran isn’t the sa different now, so harder