tina'

end of my back, just where my spin

ouch lingered like the tail end o

tonight," he murmured, his breath warm agai

"Aren't you the one who pa

lifted, smugly. "You teas

n pric

l night like a taut string-every look,

war, dressed in velvet and v

my enemy felt dangerous and

owly toward our bedroom, hips swaying

the top, just enough for the

? Are you gonna help

e but unhurried, tracing the zi

my spine. I shivered. His hands wer

ed to the floo

gerie clung to

Only his self prese

s luxury bed, tangled in heat a

round me, heavy

im, my heart steady desp

aited for morning to burn t

uzy curtains, the heat of Bag

retched like a cat, careful n

ed anyway. His

ou going? Stay" he said w

lingy." I sai

"You're too dangerous,

rse" I

eline grace, brushing his skin

Even the bedsheets would smell of my perfume for

ng told me

in. My gown glittered on the floor. My tiara

eld, froze

e en-suite bathroom and l

one b

I got s

itate. We ne

nformation about Tariq Al-Ma

host dressed in U.S. uniforms and ancient I

t-coffee, clot

dress. Effortlessly chic

ng on the doorframe shirtless, wat

odbye

kiss em

"But you do sleep bes

leep. That was

I suggest you stra

uch." I said and ble

iness to

he old quarter, shadowed by jasmine vines and

but the scent of cardamom and p

hed and panicked, her espresso-colored hair twis

Interpol," I said, waving

folder toward me. "Yes I almost did, hah!

thin the police and government, she often gets access to sensiti

ped it

ur was impossi

one from the U.S. He was a smuggler, a mercenary-

ntial file on him to keep tabs. Untouchab

was t

entered the city two weeks

t thudding. "Do w

ding somewhere in Baghd

at her. "

around her coffee cup like it was a

cour

Valentina, I

ped. "Are you

kstore and-I thought I imagined it at first. But

ld recognize him everywhere. He's here." Ma

r voice like

and took her hand. "He wo

d, biting

ou're overdue for a distraction

ou," Maria muttered, her espresso

"Camilla always knew how

sked, careful now. "I

lide over the rim of my glass. "H

.. you think his family was

Official. My father was days away from proving orichalcum was real-an ancient metal that

tared s

" she said finally with sympathy. "We al

washed over me. Maria hel

I told you to find. Paid to make it look like looters burned everything

he eye. "They led stra

its owner too if it slips" her words simmered in m

ontinue wi

fee, fig tartlets, and saffro

it felt like t

m," Maria said sud

kno

me once,

"And I'd d

ered when I saw the shadow of T

d turne