Page 41 of Heart of Thieves

I rush to the stack of star charts and constellation maps behind Nic’s desk, riffling through until I find what I’m looking for. “See, here was the last solar eclipse where totality hit Aethera . . . twenty years ago.”

“That had to have been when Lightsworn did it.”

“And the next one happens just a few days from now. Which means . . . we actually have a chance.”

She rushes at me, grasping my hands between hers. “Can we do this? Can we pull it off ?”

I can scarcely breathe. “We sure the depths are going to try.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

NIC

By the time afternoon sets in, Laurel and I have returned to our apartment, and she’s leaning against my chest on the couch. Once upon a time, we sat like this, at sixteen years old. We held each other. We laughed together.

How different things are now.

Every time she kisses me, I force myself to think of Lola so I don’t pull away. Every time she touches me, I pretend I’m alone with the thief girl in my cavern under the casino so I don’t twitch. Every time she whispers, I try to use my own magic to make her voice sound like Lola’s in my ears so I can keep from grimacing.

But unfortunately, the only person I can’t lie to is myself.

“That Astra girl from last night,” Laurel says, as though reading my thoughts. She pulls back to meet my eye. “You never had feelings for her?”

I could lie, but she knows I can’t speak the truth about myself, so I have to find my way around what I want her to believe. “She was just a player at the casino.”

“Not even a passing fancy? She is quite lovely . . .” She plays with my collar, clearly trying to pretend she does not care, but her awareness skitters through me. While she hasn’t taken control of my body since Emmeline’s apartment, she’s there, sensing my every movement.

An image of that St. James goon in her secret turning blue as his heart stopped flashes across my mind.

I cannot give Laurel any more reason to be upset with Lola.

Determination sets my jaw as I reply, “She’s pretty, sure, but she pales in comparison to you.”

She smiles, then opens her mouth to say more.

“Laurel?” I interrupt. “Should we build on what we’ve found out?”

“Hmmm?” Her brow furrows. “What’s that?”

“It’s confirmed now that Ostena is St. James’s right hand. She’s going to have a lot of information on his network. Should we get started on your . . . list?” I force a smile, using the brooch still in my sock to dust an edge of a glamour over my face to make it convincing despite the way my throat closes over the last word in my question. Gods, let her drop her fixation on Lola. “It’s doubtful Forsyth will keep what occurred last night to himself. The longer we wait, the more St. James will build up his defenses.”

She sighs. “What do you propose?”

“Well, if you’re tired, you could catch some rest. And while you do . . . Ostena’s home is not far from here. Perhaps she wouldn’t mind a visit from the Liar.”

I try to make it sound like I’m indifferent, but Laurel cocks her head. It’s clear she wants to believe me, but even with my supposed extermination of Emmeline confirming I’m as loyal as ever, she’s still wary.

“All right, Nic.”

“You’re going to let me go alone?”

She stands, straightening first her gown and then the gloves covering the moonshard fragments on her wrists and hands. “Why wouldn’t I?”

I wait for more of a reaction, but she simply strides toward the bedroom, unperturbed.

“I’m going to take a nap,” she says. “I’ll expect you back by nightfall.”

Is this another test? It cannot be this easy.