Page 21 of In The Dark
“Tworooms? Who’s sharing?” I blink, mouth falling open on a retort—because I clearly misheard—when I’m suddenly interrupted.
“Excuse me, miss!”
A boy no older than eight, with auburn hair and freckles, stares up at me. I scan the area, searching for his mother, then glance back down, wondering where he just came from.
“Do you have any coins?” He eagerly extends his shirt like he’s expecting me to drop some in. My head tilts as I blankly stare, suddenly feeling a sense of familiarity wash over me. My blood prickles, as if the magic beneath my skin is itching to crawl out. An odd feeling, and something that’s never happened before.
“Have we met?” I ask.
He only gives a quick shake of his head, holding out his shirt again. A small, tight smile lines my mouth as I study him, dropping a coin anyway. He saunters down the road at a slow pace, inspecting the new coin in his fingers. Ezra raises his eyes back to me, caught off guard as well.
“Room, yes,” he says after a minute. “We have to share because they’re booked for the night.”
“Oh, please. This town is tiny, andthisinn is booked for the night? I get my own room. I refuse to share with either of you,” I demand, not believing a word he says.
“If I have to share a room with anyone, I’m killing someone tonight, and it won’t be our target.”
Ren walks down the road, carrying his pack over his shoulder, clearly annoyed at the situation. He gives me a once-over, as if I’m the last person he wants to share a room with.
“Are you sure you don’t want to share with me?” I taunt with a menacing grin. “I bet you haven’t had a female sleep next toyou in years.” He scans my face in silence, clenching his jaw. Ezra fights a grin, failing before quickly trying to recover with a cough.
“Don’t worry, I’ll share with Isa.” Ezra waves his hand, gesturing us to follow and throwing Ren a glance over his shoulder. “We need to get ready before the day is gone. By the way, we’ll need to split up tonight—cover more ground. The innkeeper told me that she might have seen a newcomer earlier today that fits his description. There’s a couple of taverns here, and she thinks he’ll be in one of them. I’m hoping to pick up a scent. There’s also free breakfast in the morning.” He winks, leaving Ren to grumble and take his key.
We all take a right on the side of the building, the inn’s rooms lining up off the corner of the road, accessed outside. Ezra halts in front of the third door, slides a key into the lock, and swings it open.
“After you.” He smirks, bowing dramatically, hair brushing his forehead as he gestures for me to go in. I chuckle and walk through.
After a couple of hours of settling in and applying fresh salve, I finally lace up my boots. I head to the chamber, adjusting my hair in the mirror.
Even though I opt to leave it down for a more approachable look, I braid the auburn patch behind my ear and pin it. To avoid being overly noticeable—especially if Alec is here—I weave it into a braid, tucking it into the wavy strands.
It vanishes entirely.
Ezra’s reflection stares at me from the doorway, an arm resting on the frame as he gives me a subtle once-over.
“You’ll pass.” He shrugs.
I throw an unimpressed glare at him through the mirror. I’m wearing all black except for my cream-colored tunic. Still, I pinch my cheeks, summoning a little color as I know flirtingmight be a part of tonight’s plan, pulling every advantage I can get as I question the locals.
“Careful, I might take that as a compliment,” I say, raising a brow when his eyes meet mine in the mirror.
He snorts, shooting a glance toward the mantel as he flicks his wrist, lighting a fire. “I’m hoping you don’t scare anyone off before we find our target. We’re a little pressed for time.”
I pivot, huffing through my nose as my back leans against the basin, crossing my arms with a teasing grin. “I don’t think it’s me you should be worrying about with Ren next door.”
“I actually agree with you on that.” He chuckles, scratching the scruff on his face before turning, leaving me to grin after him and exit the bathing chamber.
It’s always been easy with him. Arguments between us are typically short-lived, dropped almost as soon as they start, as he’s the one who keeps me in check. But when it comes to the king’s orders, Ezra follows through no matter what, and I admire his loyalty for it, which is usually why I let it go most of the time.
“Are you ready? Do you remember the plan?” He grabs his cloak and mine off the back of the settee in the bedchamber, then extends it to me.
“Yes. You’ll be at the Wytches Brew, Ren will be somewhere unimportant, and I’ll be at the Cauldron all night getting drunk and flirting with strangers,” I repeat for the third time, tone dripping with sarcasm as I secure my cloak.
“Flirting? Yes, always. Drunk? No. You need to stay alert. Let’s all meet here at the end of the night to report back.”
“You kill dreams for a living, Ezra,” I mutter.
“You hurt me.” He places his hand on his chest like I’ve truly wounded him with an incredulous look on his face, grinning as we walk out.