Page 45

Only when no one fought against him, and unmoving bodies in useless armor littered the floor, and his boot splashed in a puddle of scarlet liquid, did he notice Layala staring at him with wide, surprised blue eyes. She’d never witnessed him like this, never seen him lose himself to war up close. He’d hidden this side of himself from her, afraid she’d reject him.

He breathed heavily and pulled away from her stunned expression. Fear tugged at his insides. Would she run from him now, repulsed by his wicked side? It was strange he worried more about what she might think than what he did, slaughtering his own kind like they were nothing but hogs. But it was them or her, and it was no choice at all.

He moved a body with his foot, searching among them. When he didn’t see that traitorous head of blond hair, he said, “Where the hell is Aldrich?”

“I—I,” she stuttered, “I don’t know.” She shook her head, snapping out of her stare and looked down the hall. “He must have snuck away. Oh, shit!” Terror flashed across her face, and she took off in a sprint.

Thane took off after her, his heavy breath coming faster with each step until she burst through the door at the end and blinding sunlight lit up the windowless corridor. They stood side by side, looking up and down the congested street. There were no soldiers holding their friends captive. No soldiers at all. Drops of blood led to the right and disappeared among the many people roaming from one seller’s canopy to the next.

Some onlookers gave Thane confused stares. A woman grabbed her two children’s arms and dragged them from him as quickly as possible. Thane grunted and swiped his hand down the side of his face; it came away covered in crimson.

“He was bluffing,” Thane said with a snarl. “He never had them. And the little bastard got away.”

* * *

Thane dippedhis hands into a small basin of hot water and splashed his face. The scent of Layala’s arousal still lingered in the air, refreshing and nostalgic like rain hitting the ground after a hot summer day. An involuntary shiver wracked his body as he rubbed water over his arms to wash away the still-wet blood.

Layala shoved clothes into a brown leather bag and looked up at him. He was afraid he’d see revulsion there, or maybe even fear after what he’d just done. He’d wiped out those soldiers—hissoldiers swift and without remorse, no matter how they begged. But her soft gaze told a story of understanding—of knowing. “Where do you think the others are? And do you think it was Alisara who told Aldrich? He mentioned her by name.”

He glanced out the window. A raven perched on the ledge, digging its beak into its wing feathers. It was strange and ironic the creatures seemed to follow him wherever he went. “Maker only knows where the others went. I’m hoping word of the raid on this place will have spread and they’re already at the stables or headed there. And no, I don’t think Alisara did. She was in the room with us when the fight broke out. Aldrich was already on his way here. He only said that to get a rise out of us.”

Tif hiccupped loudly, drawing his attention. She tipped a bottle of wine, pouring the maroon liquid into a thimble. Maker, that girl was going to be his undoing. She was as vexing as a toddler but with the capabilities of an adult. “Put that down.”

She froze like she’d been caught stealing and grinned. “Just one teensy weensy sip? I need to drown out what I just witnessed, although I’m already drunk so I might not remember in the morning. Is it morning?”

“I think you’ve had enoughteensy weensysips.” At least this wasn’t the first encounter of violence Tif witnessed, or she might be even more dramatic. He snatched the bottle and set it on the other side of the room. “Aren’t you supposed to be a lady’s maid? You should be packing.”

“Oh.” She tipped her thimble back and sucked it down. “Right. Better get to my duty. Mama always said slackers better be good packers because they’ll be packed up and moved out.” She tapped a finger against her red bulbous nose. “You know, maybe that’s why she kicked me out of the hole. I always thought it was because I wasn’t a good baker. Although I do make a mean lemon zest cookie. Even she can’t deny that.”

“I thought you left because you had dreams of being an elven lady’s maid,” Layala said, slipping the strap of the bag around her shoulder.

“I did. She said I was always dreaming and not working when she threw my bag out the front entrance and sent me right after.” Tif shrugged. “Left—kicked out, same difference. Truthfully, I’m glad she did. Look at what I’ve got to do because of her.”

Thane threw open the door. “Let’s go.”

They hurried down the creaky stairs. The bodies were still in piles on the floor, but someone had lined them up and put white sheets over them. It was a real prick move to start a fight and leave a bunch of bodies for his friend Kail to clean up. He stopped outside the doorway that led into the main dining area. An apology and a hefty payment were in order. But what he saw inside froze his momentum and he stepped back, pressing himself against the wall.

Layala’s brows pulled closer. “What’s wrong?”

He held a finger to his lips and pressed his arm across her chest to ease her against the wall behind him. Slowly, he slid until he could see inside. There were only two people in the room now. A scaled, taloned hand wrapped around Kail’s neck. Varlett’s golden hair was tied back and her usually brown skin was replaced by shiny black dragon scales. She was partially shifted, and a three-inch poisonous talon stroked under Kail’s chin.Shit.In this form, Thane didn’t stand a chance of penetrating those scales with his sword. And if outside the woods weeks ago was any indication, she was impervious to his magical attacks or at the very least, she had a resilient shield. Layala’s vines hadn’t gotten through, and she’d escaped the thorny cage easily.

“I know they were here. I can smell them, even over the stench of this place. They were at this table. What did they want?”

“They left after the fight. And they only wanted a place to lay low.” Kail’s voice was shaky.

“I’m only going to ask one more time.” Her talon pressed into the soft flesh just below his jaw. “What did they want? They could have gone anywhere yet they chose to come here.”

Thane gripped the doorframe harder.Don’t tell her.Don’t tell her.

His throat bobbed and he sighed. “They wanted to know where to find the All Seeing Stone.”

Her amber cat-like eyes narrowed. “Mmm of course. Who has it? I know a little worm like you has heard. And before you consider lying, know I can taste lies.”

Kail closed his eyes, pausing a beat before answering. “Lord Brunard.”

Varlett smiled. “What a good little boy.” She patted his cheek lightly then her long nails scraped along the tabletop as she stood. “You’ve really let this place go, Kail.” Her heeled boots clicked loudly on her way outside. The door slammed shut behind her and Kail sagged into the booth and let out a long breath.

“She’s going after the stone,” Layala whispered beside him. “We need to get to it before she can. If we don’t, we’ll never find out how to get rid of the curse.”