Page 19 of A Curse So Vile

“I remember thinking to myself how brazen she was being. Usually, the younger ladies acquiring my services would often bring me to discrete corners of their keeps. I’d barely be able to see them in the dim lighting half the time. The older ones were far bolder. Uncaring and even wanting the help to walk in on them. Once, I had a lord chase me off his grounds. I couldn’t sleep well for a week thereafter. This woman didn’t have a care in the world. I went to her, and she led me through a door to the servant’s quarters. There, she removed my clothes, scolding me every time I so much as reached for a button. Then she told me exactly what I was going to do to her.”

Cole paused, and Brenna felt near about to explode from anticipation.

“Well!” she said. “Did you do it?”

“Of course I did! I did it with a smile on my face, which she reprimanded me for, by the way.”

“Lucky man.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. There I was, on my knees, her legs wrapped around my neck when the door opened. It was her lady mother. She had been expecting me and found me with her daughter—Arinessa. Arinessa was betrothed to a lad named Benjamin and was determined to put an end to it. She laughed in her mother’s face and told her I had been the one to soil her, but the truth of it was, she was no maiden.”

“Did they try to send you up the path?”

“No. Exile would have been a blessing, but by doing that, word would get out that Arinessa was no longer a maiden. Instead, the mother, who was from Maritimas, had a witch place a hex on my sister.”

Brenna’s jaw dropped. She was utterly speechless. Who would be so cruel as to hex a small child? By her math, Fiona couldn’t have been more than seven.

“They toyed with me thereafter. Offering a cure in exchange for my services. It took me a while before I found out it was a sick game to them, and they had no intention of helping me.”

Brenna finally found her words. “I’m so sorry.”

“My mother died shortly after Fiona started suffering the effects. I decided there was no point in waiting around for death to claim her, so I packed her up to take her to the Dusklands, where I thought her best chance would lie. Dorthea insisted she come with us, promising to watch over Fiona while I sought answers.”

“I’ve known for some time that the world could be cruel, but your story takes me aback.”

“It’s all my fault.”

“None of this is your fault, Cole. They were ruthless, and because of that, Fiona suffered.”

Her mind was fully made up now, all doubt removed. She’d do what she had to in order to help Fiona. She only hoped he’d forgive her when it was all said and done.

They entered the town and spotted their horse in a nearby corral. Brenna breathed a sigh of relief, having been on edge the entire way.

They went into the nearest inn and asked the keeper if a Gryndari woman had purchased a room, and he directed them to the second floor. After checking in on Fiona and Dorthea, Brenna went to her chamber.

Brenna had intended to demand Cole stay the night with her, as part of his service, but after hearing his tale, she thought better of it.

“Sleep well,” she said as she opened her door.

“Turning in already?” Cole’s voice was thick with disappointment. “My blood’s still rushing from the night’s excitement.”

Brenna smiled and made the mistake of gazing into his amber-brown eyes. God, it would be so easy to get lost in this man. No wonder the ladies of the Heartlands had lusted after him. If he could command her attention when she had no desire to consort with humans, she imagined he could have anyone.

“I’m going to have the innkeeper run up a basin. I’m filthy from my travels, and the warm water will help me wind down.”

He gave her a smile, and she felt herself flush. She was lucky his sense of smell wasn’t near as developed as hers or else he’d know just what she wanted to do with him.

“I’m going downstairs to have a pint. I’ll ask the innkeeper to send up a basin.”

“Thank you.”

7

COLE

The dimly lit tavern matched Cole’s mood too well.

“What’ll it be?” the bartender asked before he’d even had a chance to take a seat.