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“Simon doesn’t like mornings,” Tomas offered. “He might not treat you as well as he should because he is tired. That’s why he took so long to come down. He?—”

Oh, that little bitch. I was interested in servicing the man because he was good-looking and it seemed like he’d pay well, but now Tomas had made it personal. He was obviously jealous and trying to make me look bad so he could take my place.

Spinning to face the customer completely, I bit my lip and looked up at him through my lashes. “I would give up sleep entirely for a night with you. Don’t listen to them.”

He chuckled, drawing me into the circle of his arms. “Perhaps I can wear you out enough that you sleep well tonight instead.”

I liked the sound of that. Unwilling to stand around waiting for Quincy to find some reason for this client not to take me, I took his hands, pulling him down the hall. The rooms were cleaned every night, so I didn’t have to make him wait. And when he disappeared into the room, I stopped long enough to send a smug grin Tomas’s way before following after him.

The man,who never actually gave me his name, left hours later, sated and happy. I’ll admit, I enjoyed myself too. He was attentive and heavy-handed with the compliments. Every time I did something to please him, he let me know, and I watched him go with a hugely inflated ego and a couple of love bites from his attention.

And oh my, did he pay well. Part of the purse went to the brothel itself, but he paid me a separate purse as a tip that had more gold coins than silver in it. I dug through it, smiling to myself, and spun around to put it in my room, coming up short when Tomas appeared before me.

“You’re a real bitch,” he hissed, his arms crossed over his chest.

I gave him a bored look. “And you’re jealous. Green is a horrible look on you.”

He drew back his hand like he was going to slap me, but froze a second later when my blade pressed against his neck. I tutted at him, shaking my head.

“Now, now, Tomas. You should know better. If you touch me, I’ll carve my name into your skin for the insult. You lost this round. Deal with it.”

“It should have been me,” he seethed, stepping back to put more space between us. “Quincy promised.”

That still didn’t make any sense to me. Quincy didn’t play favorites, not when it came to making coin. Then it hit me. I huffed out a laugh, eyeing Tomas up and down.

“No. Don’t tell me. He convinced you you’d get your pick of the clients if you got on your knees for him for free? Oh, Tomas. You poor, pathetic little idiot.”

Tomas’s eyes widened in fury, but it was his own fault he believed a word Quincy said. The only time any of us slept with Quincy was if he paid for it. He was a cheap bastard, and if he could convince someone through lies and manipulation, he would. Tomas should’ve listened better.

With a cackle, I tossed my purse into the air and caught it again. “Well, you have fun with that. I think I’m going to soak in the hot spring for a while. I’ve earned it.”

I winked at him, heading upstairs long enough to put on real clothes before leaving the brothel for the night. I’d earned enough that I didn’t need to take more clients tonight if I didn’t want to. And I’d been meaning to go to the hot springs. It was good for my skin.

After a few hours of soaking and being pampered by the staff, I went home for the night. The handsome man who’d bought me for the morning told me he’d wear me out enough that I’d sleep well tonight. It was cute that he’d thought that, but I was still tired after waking up so early, so I figured a good meal and an early night were well deserved.

Except, I didn't make it that far. Outside the brothel stood a group of men who I figured were just waiting for their turn. It wasn’t until Tomas spoke that I realized they were guards and looking for me.

“There he is! He insulted the prince!”

I was so confused by that comment that I didn’t move fast enough to get to my knives. They grabbed me and clapped me in irons before I could blink. I squawked out a protest, wriggling to escape them, but one punched me in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me, before I could get away. They put a bag over my head, and one got handsy as he searched me for weapons, removing both my knives from their sheaths.

“What are you going to do with him?” Tomas asked, his tone eager and vindictive. “Hang him, maybe? Or give him lashes and ruin that pretty skin?”

That asshole. I’d kill them all before I’d let them get away with that. I couldn’t believe he had sunk so low as to bribe the guards to get back at me. I fought harder, trying to get the stupid bag off my head, but one picked me up and tossed me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, ignoring my protests.

“No. He’s to be a tribute. He will be given to the barbarians. They’ll deal with him how they see fit.”

Horror and outrage sank into my gut. No. I wasn’t being sold off to a barbarian clan because Tomas was a jealous little shit. I was too valuable for that. Even Quincy would say so.

“Don’t you dare! Let go, you asshole! Quincy! Stop them!”

I wasn’t sure he could hear me, but he’d have something to say if his top earner was sold off. He cared more about making coin than keeping Tomas happy.

“That’s enough. Shut him up.”

And that was the last thing I remembered before pain exploded along my temple, and blackness overtook me.

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