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“I’m surprised you didn’t tell him I’m horrible.”

“He asked if you’re as nice as I am, and I told him no.”

Ry’s shoulders rise with a silent laugh.

“He might not have been deterred,” I add. “But more importantly, I spoke with some individuals connected to those who’ve gone missing. It appears people came through inquiring about the situation, claiming to be investigators sent by Mirador.”

“We didn’t send anyone.” Rylan’s words make me realize why Tomas was annoyed when I said it.

“Right, so I’d like to find out who is parading around claiming to work for us.”

Ry agrees. “Yes, that should take top priority.”

Marcus nods as well. “We’ll need to get our own actual people on it. We need to warm this region to us before we go back for the first trial.”

“Yes, I’ll write to Mother,” Rylan says.

He and Marcus leave, but Nina stays behind. Once we’re alone, she leans toward me. “So, you spoke to people connected to those who went missing?”

“Yes. That’s what I said.”

“One was a…” A sly grin creeps up her lips as she waits for me to confirm this juiciest bit of information.

“Yes. I went to a brothel.”

Her eyes light up as she covers her mouth. Nina is more openly adventurous than me, but even she wouldn’t go to a brothel with as many eyes as she always has on her. “What I wouldn’t give to have seen you in a brothel. What was it like?”

“Dark, and warm, and…”—the matron thought Tomas and I were there for pleasures involving three people at once—“uncomfortable.”

“That’s fantastic.” Tears well up in her eyes from the laughter she scarcely contains.

“Get out.”

“I’ll see you for dinner.” She rises, looking no less giddy about my discomfort.

“I think I’ll take my meal in here. I’m tired from an early morning.” And I will be sick if I have to face Tomas.

“Fine then. Rest up. Tomorrow is our sanctioned visit into town.”

“I can’t wait.”

She leaves, and it’s finally just the wine and me as it was meant to be. The situation in this town is confounding, and the back and forth with Tomas is exhausting. The combination weighs on me enough to drop my eyelids, if only for a moment.

***

A knock on the door.

I hit the sofa and gasp. It takes a moment for me to place myself as I sit up and heave a couple of deep breaths.

The knock sounds again.

“Come in.”

The door eases open, and Jamys steps through. “Hello, Ara.” He closes the door behind himself without looking like he’s sneaking cakes from his mother’s tea this time. “How are you?”

“Well, I had fallen asleep, and I fell when I woke.”

“I believe everyone has those dreams of falling.” He leans back against the wall, and I almost feel bad that I’m about to pull the rug out from under him now that he’s regained his confidence.