Surprisingly, the club wasn’t as unbearable as she had expected. She had gone straight there after work, so her friends had arrived first, securing a booth away from the speakers—an unspoken consideration for her. 

Agatha had never understood the appeal of deafening music. Why would anyone want to blast sound so loud that conversation became impossible? It was obnoxious and unnecessary. A lower volume would have made the experience far more tolerable.

But, of course, that chaos was exactly why clubs were useful to The Dauntless Shadows. Deals could be made in plain sight, transactions exchanged under the cover of flashing lights and pulsing bass. No one paid attention to anyone but themselves.

And tonight, she would use that to her advantage.

Her friends were still gathered around the booth, lost in conversation. Normally, Agatha would have welcomed the easy chatter—their jokes, their teasing—it was exactly what she needed to unwind. But not tonight. Tonight, she had somewhere else to be.

She tried to focus on their conversation, forcing a smile when Allison laughed at something Ezra had said. But her mind kept drifting back to the task waiting for her. The assassination plan couldn’t wait, and the longer she stayed here, the harder it would be to slip away unnoticed.

It’s just twenty minutes, she told herself. Twenty minutes to make a plan that could determine the gang’s success—or failure. The warehouse was only a few blocks away, practically right around the corner. If she timed it right, she could slip out, handle the meeting, and return before anyone got suspicious.

But that was the problem—her friends. If she suddenly disappeared, they’d ask questions. Worse, they might follow her. Connor, especially, had been oddly protective lately. There was no way he’d let her wander off alone in the middle of the night without making a scene.

Her eyes flicked around the club as she weighed her options. She needed a cover. Something convincing enough to buy her time.

Then it hit her. 

The easiest solution was to ask someone from the gang to stage a distraction. If one of her people pretended to flirt with her, she could step away without drawing suspicion. Afterward, she could return and brush it off as nothing—a failed attempt or an awkward encounter. Simple. Clean.

Satisfied with her plan, she stood and excused herself to make a call. She barely even noticed Donovan sitting in the shadows across the room, his eyes flicking between her and Connor like he was trying to stay invisible.

Agatha ignored him. 

He wasn’t her problem anymore.

Out in the quieter hallway near the restrooms, she pulled out her phone and dialed Orpheus. "Hey," she muttered once he picked up, "can you send Caelus to The Star Fall?"

"Cerberus?" Orpheus sounded amused. "Sure. Any reason why?"

Agatha hesitated, rolling her eyes at herself. Maybe she was being a little reckless. Caelus had a way of getting under her skin—not in a bad way, exactly. He had this casual charm, always flirting with her when no one else was around. It was harmless, but annoyingly effective. Still, that wasn’t why she’d picked him... or so she told herself.

"Just send him," she said flatly. "He’s good at following instructions." And if she happened to enjoy the way he smiled at her, well… that wasn’t important.

As she ended the call, Agatha leaned back against the wall, tapping her phone against her palm. She told herself this was just business— a simple plan to get her where she needed to be. But her mind kept drifting back to him.

Caelus.

He was just so good-looking, like someone who belonged in a magazine rather than tangled in gang life. Those golden-amber eyes could cut right through her, sharp and intense, and his silky light-brown hair always seemed annoyingly perfect. Not to mention that jawline—so sharp it could probably kill someone if angled right.

And the height? Definitely a bonus. He towered over her, and she didn’t mind one bit.

Then there was the leather jacket. Agatha was convinced there was a tattoo hidden somewhere beneath it—something dark and intricate inked into his bronze skin. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t curious to find out what it was.

But none of that mattered. Not really. Even if she was tempted to act on her feelings, the reality was unavoidable—she was his boss. Getting involved with him would be reckless. Dangerous.

Besides, he probably wouldn’t be interested in her anyway. Agatha wasn’t exactly the type guys like Caelus went for—at least, that’s what she told herself. Still… a part of her hoped. He had, after all, joined the most feared gang in the area entirely by choice. Maybe there was something more to his loyalty—maybe it wasn’t just about power or reputation.

No, she scolded herself. Focus.

She was getting distracted. Right now, her priority was figuring out how to leave without her friends noticing. Her phone buzzed in her hand.

Orpheus: How soon do you need him there?

Agatha considered the timing. "I think we should wait for a little while," she texted back. "I don’t need my friends getting suspicious."

The plan was made: Caelus would show up, flirt with her in front of her friends, and she’d play along—just enough to make it convincing. Knowing her friends, they’d practically push her to leave with him. She’d resist at first, then "give in" after a few moments of hesitation. Then she could head to the warehouse, make the assassination plan, and return before anyone even noticed she’d been gone.

Less than twenty minutes passed before Caelus finally arrived. Agatha spotted him as soon as he walked in—impossible to miss with that confident stride and easy charm. He made his way to the bar first, ordering something non-alcoholic—because of course he did. He knew better than to drink on a job. Smart, Agatha thought with a small, begrudging smile. Then, drink in hand, he turned and started toward her, eyes locking onto hers like he knew exactly what she was thinking.

"Well, hello there..." Caelus’s voice was low and smooth, laced with a confidence that made Agatha’s stomach twist—not from nerves, but from the sheer ridiculousness of it. Still, she knew what she had to do. For her friends to buy this, she needed to act the part.

"Hi~" she replied, her voice softer than usual. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, letting her gaze flick away like she couldn’t quite meet his eyes. She practically radiated flustered energy—just enough to seem believable. If she didn’t play this right, her friends would chase Caelus off without a second thought.

"Wow..." Caelus grinned, eyes glinting with amusement. "Somebody better call God, because damn, he’s missing an angel."

Agatha nearly choked. She wanted to cringe—really cringe—but she forced her expression to melt into something more bashful. Her fingers curled around the chain on her purse, fidgeting with it like she always did when she was nervous.

Caelus leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough to feel more intimate. "What’s a pretty thing like you doing sitting here?" His amber eyes gleamed, and for a second—just a second—it didn’t feel like an act. The way he looked at her… was that real? No. No, it couldn’t be. He was just playing his part.

Her friends had been mid-conversation, but now all eyes were on her. They exchanged wide-eyed glances, silently communicating like they’d just witnessed a unicorn in the wild. Agatha, flustered? Blushing because someone flirted with her? Unheard of.

"Go with him!" Allison’s whisper cut through the tension with a mischievous grin.

"I—what? No!" Agatha’s voice shot up an octave, perfectly timed panic filling her voice. "I mean... I don’t know..." She glanced back at Caelus, still twirling the chain on her purse.

"You should go," Connor chimed in, grinning slyly. "Might be fun."

"Oh, come on, guys," Agatha groaned, acting the part of someone desperately clinging to her pride. "I’m not just going to leave you all here."

"You’re always with us," Ezra teased. "Take a break!"

"I... I don’t know..." She let her voice waver, like she was still trying to convince herself.

It was working. The plan was falling into place. Now all she had to do was ‘reluctantly’ agree, slip away for her meeting, and return like nothing happened. Still, as Caelus offered his hand, she couldn’t help noticing the warmth in his eyes—the way his gaze lingered on her just a little longer than necessary. And for a brief moment, she forgot it was all for show.

Allison, who had been quietly watching the whole exchange, leaned closer to Agatha and whispered, "If you’re into him, you should totally flirt back."

Agatha shot her a wide-eyed look—seriously?

Allison wasn’t backing down. She gave a pointed tilt of her head toward Caelus, her grin practically daring Agatha to go for it. She hesitated. She didn’t need to flirt back; her friends were already sold. Still... playing along couldn’t hurt. And maybe—just maybe—she enjoyed the idea more than she cared to admit.

With a deep breath, she combed her fingers through her short hair and leaned on the table, faking a flustered smile.

"Well, if I’m a lost angel, then this must be a museum." she asked, her voice deliberately softer. "Because you're a work of art."

Ugh. Really? She couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. This was so out of character—she was usually the one making Caelus stammer, not the other way around. She mentally cursed herself. It’s just for show. Just. For. Show.

Caelus blinked, clearly caught off guard. For a second, his confident facade faltered, and Agatha couldn’t help but feel a flicker of satisfaction. She knew that dumbfounded look—one only she ever managed to pull out of him.

"Soooo... may I borrow you for a bit?" Caelus said, finding his rhythm again. His voice was smoother now, more deliberate. 

Agatha opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, Allison was beaming.

"Oh, come on," Allison groaned. "You’re obviously into him. Go!" She practically shoved Agatha out of her seat, grinning like she’d just won a bet.

That’s when Agatha knew her plan had worked—her friends were fully convinced. Still, she couldn’t leave just yet; they needed to sell it a little longer.

"Maybe," Agatha teased, her voice lilting. "But first..." She paused dramatically, eyes narrowing. "Let’s see how good you are at this."

Caelus chuckled low in his throat, his smile turning sly. "Oh, I’m very good."

He offered his arm, and Agatha took it, allowing him to guide her toward the bar.

As they reached the bar, Caelus couldn’t hold back his grin. "My dear Aggie," he teased, still amused, "what was that?"

Agatha groaned softly, barely hiding her smile. "Please," she muttered, "don’t start."

"Oh no," Caelus pressed, his grin widening. "You’re usually a lot smoother than that. What happened to the queen of comebacks?"

"Caelus!" Agatha snapped, giving his arm a light punch. "Shut up, okay? It had to look convincing so they’d send me away with you."

"Yeah, sure," he laughed, shrugging like he didn’t believe her. "If it makes you feel better, we’ll go with that."

Agatha huffed, rolling her eyes—but she couldn’t help the slight smile tugging at her lips. It was finally time to go back to The Dauntless Shadows.