“Who’s the German you were so interested in when you were helping Omar, chica?”
I blinked, carefully forming a response. “He was involved with a person of interest.”
“Is he Chariot?” she said. “Mr. Montefiore would like me to be forthcoming. It seems fair to get something up front. A little quid pro quo of good faith.”
“He is.”
“And what is his importance to you? Specifically. You were very agitated at the prospect of his return.”
“That’s Ashira’s business.” Levi said, with a dismissive wave.
“Funny. She said it was House business and as she’s confirmed he works for Chariot, that makes it my business.” The Queen crossed her legs and leaned back against the cushions. “Should you wish to proceed.”
Levi shot me a contrite look.
Damn it, Levi. This was exactly why I didn’t want the Queen involved. She already knew too much about my father. I didn’t want to add the fact that he’d coerced a Van Gogh into warding up my magic and the means by which it could be warded up once again.
We were working toward ally status, not besties at camp sharing everything over friendship bracelets.
My self-preservation skills were unparalleled—with everyone except the Queen. Now I’d been neatly maneuvered into a position of having to expose yet another vulnerability. So, I’d turn it into a strength. Was this information enough to get me the alliance? “He killed a Van Gogh who the House had in custody. The same Van Gogh who originally suppressed my magic.”
I waited for her follow-up question demanding details, but it didn’t come. She and Moran exchanged a long and complicated look.
“I will agree to an equal and open exchange of information only as it pertains to why we were both set up to take the fall at the auction,” the Queen said.
Levi got his alliance but I didn’t get mine. I was positive that she hadn’t known about the Van Gogh and my ward; however, that information wasn’t surprising enough. Whatever I presented had to be truly noteworthy to secure her agreement. It wouldn’t be easy, but I’d find something.
“Not good enough, Highness,” Levi said. “I want everything you discover that even tangentially relates to that. I’ll provide the same in return.”
The Queen studied him for an uncomfortably long time.
To Levi’s credit he didn’t fidget. “Don’t underestimate my worth or my power. Now, have I demonstrated my usefulness enough for you?”
“You have,” she said. “You have your complete exchange of information.”
I raised my hand. “One more thing?”
The Queen gave an incredulous laugh. “You have chutzpah, I’ll give you that. Go ahead.”
I showed her the photo of Mayan. “She’s a Mundane who I believe first entered Hedon a few days ago.”
Beside me, Levi tensed, but he didn’t say anything.
“Should she mean something to me?” the Queen said.
“You know everyone who comes through for the first time.”
“Not by their face,” she said. “Only Mr. Montefiore has come here for the first time in the past week. If this Mundane was indeed here, she’d been here before.”
Oh, what a tangled web we weave. If Mayan had angered the wrong people in Hedon, we might never learn what happened to her.
Judging from Levi’s clenched jaw, he’d reached the same conclusion. Don’t shoot the messenger, dude.
Chapter 10
The Queen returned us to House HQ. Once in the elevator, Levi ordered me to come up to his office after I’d picked up Mrs. Hudson.
“Is it wise for me to continue being seen here with the mole and all?” I said.
“He doesn’t work on my floor. But when we’re in public together, we’ll keep up appearances of hating each other.”
“Not a problem.” The elevator doors opened on the sixth floor in full view of the security area. I shot Levi the finger and stepped off the elevator.
I wound my way to Miles’ office. “Knock. Knock.”
“Levi’s back? He’s all right?”
I hesitated and Miles went as still as the bonsai delicately growing on his desk. “That first visit isn’t easy,” I said. “But he’s unharmed and he got his desired results.”
“Good enough.”
“Where’s Priya?” I just wanted to go home.
“She’s off-site at a meeting.”
“Did she leave Mrs. Hudson with you?” Miles shook his head. Fuck. “If she checks in, tell her I want the dog back.”
I hadn’t realized how much I’d been hoping to distract myself with the puppy until I stood there alone and adrift by the elevators. The thought of returning to my office felt desolate. I attempted to contact Rafael, because even that conversation would be better than being by myself, but once again got no response.
Well, I wasn’t going anywhere before Levi and I debriefed. I headed for the top floor to play “get past the House dragon and into Levi’s office.”
The Executive level was filled with the hum of Very Important Activity set amidst stunning views of the city, while Levi’s personal art collection featuring works from Escher to Dali graced pale gold walls.
I stopped at the long reception desk outside his office doors. “Hello, Veronica.”
Levi’s Executive Assistant was actually a sleek blonde woman, not a flying lizard, though she had a tendency to flare her nostrils and possibly belch invisible bursts of smoke whenever I approached. She protected Levi like a dragon-in-designer-clothing guarded treasure, but despite her many faults, she was irritatingly organized and well informed.
I steeled myself for the inevitable comment on my appearance.
“You got a puppy?!” She held up a squirming Mrs. Hudson, who barked and wagged her tail. “Huh. Look at that. She missed you?”
“Obviously. I’m a delight.” A hot possessive fury coursed through me and I snatched the pug out of Veronica’s French-manicured clutches, along with the bag of puppy supplies leaning against the desk.
“No need to be rude,” she said, snippily.
Mrs. Hudson licked my jaw. That’s right, puppy. Show the dragon lady who you love.
“Levi wanted to see me,” I said.
As if summoned, the door to Levi’s inner sanctum swung open.
“Going home with the dog that is most emphatically not yours?” Levi had removed his suit jacket, his shirt rolled up
