"She's the most dangerous person in this city," Kon reminded him.
"It's one thing I like about her. Dee tried to kill her, and you can tell she's still threatened by Altun. I think there's more to our spider than she's showing the world," Julian replied.
Kon snorted. "Undoubtedly. I worked for her for years, and I don't think I know half of her secrets. She's a fortress."
A fortress that Julian wanted to lay siege to. He tried to shake the visual from his head, not wanting to get an erection with Dante still in his lap. The kid was cute, but Julian had never been tempted to go there despite the flirting. Like Athena, Dante was one of the Edgeworths’ adopted children, and he didn’t want to risk Silas slitting his throat in his sleep. He slept bad enough as it was.
"Fortress or not, she's going to need help to take down Dee. There is something seriously off about her. She's not just violent. She's crazy," Julian tried to explain. "She called herself Marina."
"Marina? I suppose we can ask Altun if that's her real name. Might be a lead we can use," Athena said thoughtfully.
"Now's your chance," Kon replied. Julian glanced up as Altun came through the door of the warehouse. She was the most casual Julian had ever seen her—in leather pants, a white button-down shirt, and a richly embroidered red and purple robe.
“Still breathing, I see?” Altun said by way of greeting. She gestured at Dante. “Get off him.”
“I was here first,” Dante complained.
Julian gave Dante a pat. “Come on, you’re in her seat.” Dante protested but still moved. Julian grinned up at Altun. “All warmed up for you, sweetheart.”
“Funny. Give me your hands,” Altun said. Julian frowned but obliged her. She stroked both palms, feeling up his forearms.
“Not that I’m complaining about the massage, but what are you looking for?”
Altun placed her hands on either side of his face, and Julian tried to remember to keep breathing. “Dee let you get away, which means she’s unconcerned about finding you again.”
“She didn’t have the chance to put a bug or anything on me,” Julian replied.
“Maybe not a conventional one.” Altun combed her fingers through his hair, and he fought the urge to start purring. “Ah. There it is.” Altun traced a pattern on the back of his neck, and Julian's ears popped.
"Ouch, what the hell!" he complained.
"Don't be such a baby. It was only a little hex," Altun said. She lifted his head and looked into his eyes. For a split second, he saw a flicker of concern before her walls came up again. "Are you okay?"
"She only threw a fireball. I'm fine," he assured her, placing his hands over hers. Altun nodded and let him go. Everyone in the warehouse was staring at them and trying to pretend that they weren't.
Altun looked over at Kon. "I could use a drink, Konstantius."
"Of course," he said, getting to his feet and heading for the kitchen.
Altun sat in the chair opposite Julian and crossed her legs. "You need to tell me everything that happened with Dee. How did you know it wasn't me? She's always enjoyed glamors to fool people."
Julian fixed Altun with a knowing grin. "Oh, I knew."
"Julian said you are prettier," Athena piped up.
"He would be the first to think so," Altun replied and lit one of her thin clove cigars. "I'll need as much information as possible. Leave nothing out. The smallest detail can have significance."
"I'll wait until you have that drink first, Theodora. You might need it," Julian said sweetly.
Altun breathed in sharply, like she had been hit. Not looking away from Julian, she called, "Kon? You'd better make that drink a double."
7
The Istanbul night was a glittering blanket of lights spread out around them. Kon insisted on having food before serious conversations, and it gave Altun time to collect herself. A part of her wanted to run away and not tell them anything. She didn't want Kon to stare at her like she was a stranger, or Julian to think she was some kind of monster.
You are, though, a voice reminded her. It sounded too much like her sister. Knowing that Dee had gotten so close to Julian felt like Altun's skin was dipped in acid. She knew her sister, and the threat wasn't a message for Julian, but for her. It was Dee's way of saying, 'I know this one is important to you, and I want you to know I can get to him at any time.'
Julian had jumped in front of Altun to protect her from Gadal exploding, and that one action had been enough for Dee to target him.
"You look like you're about to burn the city down," Athena said from beside her. They were standing at the edge of the roof, where the view of the city was best.
"I don't know how to mask how angry I am. She burned Julian's place down to mess with me," Altun admitted. If anyone knew uncontrollable rage, it was the girl beside her.
"And are you going to let it mess with you? Because none of us know what we are up against, but you do. We need you sharp. If whatever you have going on with Julian will compromise you, maybe rethink it," Athena said, ever the pragmatist.
"I have nothing going on with Julian. I bought a necklace from him."
Athena raised an ashen brow. "Really? Because you hovering over him earlier was the most emotion I've ever seen you express."
"I know you think I'm a heartless spider, but I don't want people getting hurt."
"Then maybe you should come clean and tell us what you know so we can help you. Kon cares about you, and we all want Dee off our backs," Athena replied.
"Kon might put a bullet in me after I tell you everything."
Athena grinned. "Well, it would save me from having to do it."
"Least you're honest," Altun said with a laugh.
"Come on, stop brooding over here and come and eat something," Athena said. They walked together across the roof to where dinner had been set out on low tables surrounded by flat embroidered cushions.
A spot had been left for her beside Julian, and Altun tried not to overthink it. She hadn't been truly concerned in years until she learned of Dee going to visit him. She didn't know why it bothered her so much. He was hardly the first man to go down on her. Julian fucked with her head, and she couldn't figure him out. She hated puzzles.
"You smell good. Blue lotus, right?" he whispered, eyes glittering.
"You are a terrible flirt," she replied, staring at the tattoos on his forearms. He had rolled up his shirt sleeves, and she fought the urge to trace the patterns of ink. Maybe she should sleep with him and get it out of her system.
"I am an amazing flirt. I also had a near death experience, and that makes a man want to celebrate being alive. What are you doing later?"
Altun shook her head at him. "You aren't going to want me for company later, Burbank. Trust me."
"And if I do?"
Altun smirked. "Then you had better have something I want."
"I'm sure we can work something out."
Altun's heart gave a jittery jump when Kon placed a plate of couscous, roasted chicken breasts and spicy vegetables in front of her. It had all been cooked in one large cast iron dish and had been seasoned exactly the same way his mother used to make for her. It was as if all the ghosts in her past decided that tonight was the night to break free and damn the consequences.