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“No, but the cost will be very high.”

“Name it,” I bade, knowing perfectly well we didn’t have it now. But pirates always found a way.

Dzsinn exhaled, leaning on his elbows; a glint sparked in his eyes.

“I don’t want money, pirate.”

A stone sunk into my gut.

“What do you want?” Kat asked.

Dzsinn’s gaze darted from her to me, the hint of a smile on his lips. “A deal.”

“What kind of deal?” I stayed calm on the outside but felt my muscles strain against the lining of my jacket, not liking where this was going.

Dzsinn sat back as if he was fully in charge of this meeting.

“I know who you are, pirate, who you work for.”

Anger balled up at the base of my spine, sitting me up.

“I don’t work for anyone,” I snarled. “I am the captain.”

“Except when you’re at theKing’scall.”

Lava flooded my veins. I went still, my nose flaring, my teeth gritting. Few even knew I had a connection to Lars, that I took his products and sold them all over the world. Some were certified by him, and some—okay, a large number—were not.

“I know you traffic Western fae-made products.”

My anger rose, my limbs twitching with fury, wanting to strangle this man to death right here. He shouldn’t know any of this.

A hand gripped my knee under the table, and a rush of calmness washed through me. Kat’s touch vibrated through me like a purr, instantly bringing me back down.

Struggling to swallow, I exhaled, not able to look at Kat, though fuck, I couldn’t deny I felt her everywhere. Inside and out.

“And you want to become one of my contacts.” I sat back again, the tension in my body reducing.

“I think you and I could have a very lucrative relationship.” Dzsinn took a sip from his glass. “Every day, this place falls deeper into poverty and desperation, yet the rich build their high walls and fight their petty little battles with each other while we remain mired in destitution and despair. It’s getting worse and worse out there.” Anger pinched his forehead. “You know what the elite call us here?” He frowned. “Savages… when it was them who made us so.”

“And parting the poor with what little they have for these items is really sticking it to the man, huh?” I scoffed.

“They will get them from somewhere. Might as well be me,” he stated bluntly. A true opportunistic response.

And I was no different. We saw a void and made surewewere the ones to fill it. Fuck, I think I liked this guy.

“You provide me with items I ask for, and I will ensure you are well compensated.”

I pretended to mull over his offer, wanting him to squirm for a few minutes.

“Fine.” I nodded. “We have a deal. But I want everything you have on the fae leader and the palace, all access in and out. And weapons.”

“Tomorrow night. Same time. At the docks.” Dzsinn stood up, pulling up his hood. He gave us both a nod before leaving.

“You know, to a genie, a deal is pretty much a vow,” Kat said. “You can’t get out of it.”

“I know.” I exhaled, my head tipping back, realizing what I had just got myself into, though no anxiety crept up.

My eyes dropped to my widened legs. I noticed my hand was cupped over Katrina’s, holding it against my inner thigh, my thumb rubbing absently at her skin like a security blanket. I hadn’t even known I was doing it. It felt so natural, so instinctive to touch her. To be “boyfriend-like” with her.