Kal accepted the bottle with exaggerated reluctance and took a sip. She didn’t know much about wine, but it was better than the cheap zelas. “Hey, that’s pretty good.”
He looked relieved. “The owner of Falin’s said you like red Gamay.”
In fact, her clients liked Gamay, but Kal wasn’t about to tell him that. She felt touched at the effort he’d made.
“I think you splurged,” she said, holding up her long blue nails, which sported fake diamonds. “That wine not only tastes expensive, but I bet it wouldn’t even strip off my polish.”
Levi laughed. “We can’t endanger those nails. They look like they took a long time to paint.”
“Oh, I don’t do them myself. We practice on each other. It’s all part of the exciting cosmetology track!”
Kal had planned to play the part of Kyra Navarra with all earnestness, but she couldn’t keep the sarcastic edge from her voice. She could tell he picked up on it and quickly took a swig from the bottle. “Happy Caristia!” She lifted it in a salute, then passed it back.
“Caristia Eve,” Levi corrected, taking a long swallow. “Which is even better because all the shops are still open. Have you eaten, Kyra? I’d love to take you out to dinner.”
She glanced longingly at the row of cozy, elegant restaurants just a few blocks away. But it was too dangerous. What if she ran into a teacher from the school?
“Oh, I already ate,” she said. “But thanks.”
Levi nodded. Their first awkward silence fell.
“So . . .” she said. “You never told me what you do.”
He leaned against the bench. One arm casually draped along the back, though he didn’t touch her. “I work for my mother.”
“What’s she like?”
“She loves me. She loves all of us. But she isn’t easy to please.”
Levi offered the bottle. Kal passed. She hadn’t eaten a bite since breakfast and the wine was going straight to her head.
“Doing what exactly?” she pressed.
His eyes met hers. “Mother has big plans for me. But right now, I fix problems.”
She waited, but he said nothing more. “Well, that’s not vague,” she teased.
He thought for a minute. “Let’s just say my mother has interests throughout the empire. When those interests are threatened, she sends me in to get things back on track.”
The wine loosened her tongue. “Ah, so your mother doesn’t always see eye to eye with the law, I take it.”
“Human laws? Or angelic laws?”
“I don’t know. Aren’t they the same?”
“Not always. But my mother is a law unto herself, Kyra.”
Across the street, the doors of the Orlov Theater swung open. A stream of ballet patrons spilled onto the steps, their voices rising like birds taking flight. Women in sparkling sheath dresses, men in black tie and long woolen overcoats. Sleek automobiles pulled up alongside caracal-drawn taxis, the drivers leaping out to open doors.
“Have you ever gone to the ballet?” Kal asked, thinking it looked nice.
Levi shook his head. “I’d rather be sitting here with you.”
A group veered towards the park. Kal’s heart stopped. Lara Lenormand walked arm in arm with a tall, auburn-haired witch. He said something and she threw her head back and laughed. A choker of emeralds and sapphires gleamed at her throat. Five seconds and she’d walk right past the bench.
It was too late to slink away. In desperation, Kal turned toward Levi. “Play along,” she whispered. His blue eyes widened as she leaned in and kissed him. He tasted sweet like the wine, and he smelled even better. Some expensive aftershave that made her think of dark pine forests.
Levi stiffened. Then one hand cupped the nape of her neck, the other settling at her waist and drawing her closer. Kal was vaguely aware of the group walking past, but most of her senses were consumed with his firm lips and the way he kissed her, like nothing else existed in the world.
