As Justyn and Nissa walked up the ramp leading into the market, he thought the place had a whole bundle of charm. A lovely railing of what looked like black wrought iron with pretty curling designs ringed the platform to keep anyone from taking a nasty tumble to the ocean below. He let his hand trace over the railing. Plas, not iron, but someone had done a good job of making it look like the real thing.
Vendors had set up stalls and tents across the platform with disorderly walkways winding between them. There was already a small crowd wandering the market, made up mostly of the city’s middle and upper class. Their clothes were richer and their bodies plumper than the working class.
He leaned close to Nissa and lowered his voice. “We’ll wander. We need to look like lovers out hunting for a keepsake.”
She scowled at him. “Lovers? Why?”
He made a tut-tut noise and cupped her face with his hands. Felt her stiffen. “Because we don’t want to look like two off-worlders chasing after a treasure-hunting thief.” He leaneddown and nuzzled the side of her neck. “Loosen up, Nissa. Or the game’ll be up before we get started.”
Her hands clamped around his wrists, but after a second, loosened by the smallest degree. “I still don’t see why we have to be lovers. Why not buyers out hunting for bargains?”
“Quit arguing.” He turned them slightly and pressed his mouth to her ear. Anyone looking at them would see two people entranced with each other. He inhaled the rich scent of her. She used something on her skin, some oil that made him think of a fragrant wood. “See those two men dressed in black with red sashes around their waists?”
She angled her head so she could look over his shoulder. It also brought her lips against his temple. He barely swallowed his groan. He was so hungry for a touch from this woman that the barest brush of her lips made him hard as a rock.
“I see them.”
“Mackon’s guards. They have sharp eyes and even sharper swords.”
She turned to look at him, their lips just a breath apart. “Okay, lover boy. Let’s go find ourselves a keepsake.”
Unable to stop himself, he nipped at her lips. Just the tiniest touch, but he got a hint of her taste, and it electrified his blood. “Something to celebrate our love.”
A laugh burst out of her before she could control it. She slapped a hand over her mouth, but he was already smiling. He grabbed her hand and tugged her into the maze of stalls.
They wandered past the vendors. Most had tables filled with an array of items. One stall was full of tiny clockwork fancies—metal bugs that skittered on a multitude of legs, butterflies that fluttered their wings, and miniature clockwork automatons that marched around. Another stall was filled with inexpensive old artifacts like rusted hunks of metal and cracked vases.
At first, Nissa tried to power through all the aisles. Justyn had to pull her back.
“Slow down. Don’t you know how to wander?”
She released a long breath. “Not really.”
He slung an arm across her shoulders. “Stick with me and I’ll show you how to relax.”
She shot him a nasty look. “You may have the lazy charm thing down pat, but I’m not fooled like everyone else in the galaxy, Phoenix. There’s nothing lazy about you.”
He chewed on her words as they walked—more slowly now—through the market. It left him a little uncomfortable that she could read him so well.
When Nissa leaned in closer, all thoughts raced out of his head.
“Why do you think Solomon would come here?” she asked.
“To make contact with someone who can get him an audience with Mackon.”
“Here?”
“Yep. It’s well known that a vendor named Lady Curiosity can organize such things.”
“Lady Curiosity? That’s someone’s real name?”
“Yep. And she is a sight to behold.”
Nissa leaned away from him. “I’m sure.”
He grinned at her. “Wait and see. Her tent’s not far from here. Some people say she’s Mackon’s secretary or lover, or both.”
“What do you think?”
