She turned to leave, but three girls blocked the stairwell, each wearing white gloves. Lola Sanguick stood at the front, dressed in a full pin-striped suit and her top hat. Levi blinked at her, still unused to the vibrant red of her new hair.
“The Irons boys are here,” Lola said, seeing him.
Tock cleared her throat. “Not just the boys.”
Levi didn’t recognize the girl beside Lola, whose eyes were rimmed in thick black liner and whose studded dress revealed more than it left concealed. Levi had assumed Enne hired a counter from the Orphan Guild, because he knew her well enough that there was no way she’d conceived that stock market plan on her own. But this girl looked far more vicious than someone just meant to keep the books.
In the center, Enne wore Séance’s signature satin mask, black lipstick, and a pink drop-waist dress that made Levi’s heart stutter. Her aura, a vibrant storm of purple and espresso, circled around him as she climbed the stairs. When they locked eyes, the way she looked at him was twice as dangerous as the gun bulging in her pocket.
“So you’re Séance,” Narinder said. “I thought you’d be taller.”
She cleared her throat. “Who are you?”
“I own this place.” He turned to Levi. “No weapons. We’re going to check you.” Levi lifted his arms up for the bouncer, but Narinder shook his head and pulled Levi up the last few steps onto the landing. While the bouncers moved behind them to check Enne, Narinder motioned for Levi to stand against the wall. Levi obeyed, lifting his arms for inspection.
“I see you’re wearing silver now,” Narinder said. He knelt, starting at the bottom of Levi’s trousers. His hands felt their way up both his legs. “Not very subtle.”
Levi bit back an amused smile. Nothing about Narinder’s touches were subtle, either. But no one was looking, so he didn’t mind. His thoughts were too focused on the meeting to dwell on their argument this morning, and Narinder’s charm was always an appealing distraction.
“Shoes,” Narinder ordered, and Levi lifted his soles up, ensuring him there were no dangers tucked within. Narinder stood and moved his hands to Levi’s stomach. “Just because I’ve forgiven you doesn’t mean I won’t warn you—you’re letting your newfound reputation go to your head.”
“This is an important night,” Levi reminded him. “I need to look confident.”
“For your big show, yes,” Narinder said. He stepped needlessly closer to feel Levi’s arms, his touches slow and lingering. “Most people would leave the Shadow Game with a bit more humility.”
“Most people don’t leave at all.” Levi lifted an eyebrow. “Ileft it with urgency. I’ve no intention of dying before I get what I want.”
Narinder grabbed Levi’s shoulders and turned him around. Levi kept his fingers interlaced behind his head. “And what is it you want?” Narinder said lowly in his ear. Levi’s skin prickled.
“Everything. But tonight I’d settle for an alliance.”
“That’s it?” Narinder’s chest pressed against Levi’s back, and his hands moved lower down his waist. Since Narinder was taller—which Levi liked—Levi could feel his breath against his ear. Narinder slid his arm around Levi’s stomach, slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out Levi’s pistol. The act left Levi’s head dizzy.
“There’s always an opportunity for more,” Levi managed.
“Ahem,” said a voice, and he realized it was Enne. She flushed and stepped around them, pushing Narinder closer to Levi. Levi watched her disappear into the corner room, and he fought the urge to go after her.
And do what?Levi berated himself. If he confessed how he felt about her, how his stomach knotted just seeing her in that dress, then what would he achieve? He’d made a promise to Jac, and that choice was the right one. He wished he could have the chance to explain—and maybe he would, once Harrison won the election and this game of secrets was over.
Narinder traced a finger along the chain of Levi’s necklace, grazing his skin from back to collarbone. Levi focused on the gleam in Narinder’s dark eyes, and all the other things he liked about the musician. Even if he couldn’t be with Enne, he didn’t need to be alone.
“Remember—don’t do anything sinful here. This is a holy place after all,” Narinder warned him. “Even the lords of the North Side can behave themselves in a church.”
“Canyou?” Levi asked, turning around, his eyebrow raised.
Narinder answered with his gaze fixed on Levi’s lips. “I haven’t decided if I want to.” Then he swung the violin off his shoulder, nodded at the two bouncers, and disappeared down the stairwell.
Levi took a deep breath to cool himself off, then made his way into the back room. Inside was a long table, empty except for him and Enne.
“I see you’ve been here before,” she said. Her voice didn’t betray any jealousy, but she had one of the better poker faces Levi knew. Not that he wanted her to feel jealous. Not that he was in any way torn and frustrated.
Without answering, Levi claimed the head of the table.
Someone else entered the room: Jonas Maccabees, otherwise known as Scavenger, the Scar Lord. Levi’s stomach clenched as he took in Jonas’s foul odor—the stench of rotting bodies, a token of his blood talent for stealing volts off the dead. He had a mane of greasy dark hair and lips blue as winter frost.
Reymond, his predecessor, always had a soft spot for kids like Levi—clever and eager. Levi didn’t think Jonas had a soft spot for anyone.
“This is very official, Pup,” Jonas said, beginning the meeting with Levi’s hated nickname. His gaze fell on Enne. “We haven’t met properly. I’m Scavenger. But you can call me Jonas.”
