Page 12 of Jeweler to the Blessed (Champions of Chaos #1)

They say he chose his fate, but that rings false. He only chose not to be her champion.

— FROM CHAMPIONS OF KAVIOS

I approached the door to Forest’s Edge, my gaze drawn east to the twisted, gnarled branches of the Oldwood visible just outside the Eastern Gate.

The sun may be at its peak, but the darkness the trees granted seeped over the unassuming tavern.

A stone wall stood between them, but I swore the building looked like the forest itself.

Hesitation slowed my progress. I couldn’t help but think Alaric kept me away from this place for a reason—maybe it would be just as dangerous for me as the Oldwood.

That no longer mattered, I guessed. Mother needed the tonic, and Father had explicitly asked me to collect the youngleaf if Alaric hadn’t delivered.

Before my guard was assigned, I’d take care of the tonic. Then, I’d start searching for Alaric myself. He had a lot to answer for.

I shook myself free of whatever hold the Oldwood had on me and returned my focus to the tavern. There was little else to do but go inside. The youngleaf was my priority, even as something gnawing in my gut said this was my only lead to finding Alaric.

The heavy door swung open as I grabbed for the handle. A large, burly man stumbled out as though shoved. I sidestepped, giving him space as I glimpsed the adamas ring on his finger.

I was surprised to hear a woman’s voice inside the door. “No sampling. This is strike one. Don’t come back until you learn to behave yourself.”

“But Ava …”

Finally, something was going my way. Alaric’s visitor said Ava was worried about Alaric. He’d mentioned her more than once. She was the one I needed to speak to at Forest’s Edge.

Ava must not have been impressed with the man’s excuse.

The next thing I knew, he grumbled something unintelligible and stomped away.

I stepped forward, eager to see who had easily thrown such a large man out of the building.

She wore no adamas. I wasn’t sure if she hid it or if that was natural strength that had tossed the patron out.

Her sleeveless tunic showed medium brown skin and toned biceps, so I decided it was natural strength.

With arms crossed over her chest and a knot of dark hair messily styled atop her head, she raised an eyebrow as my gaze met hers.

“We don’t do virgin sales,” she said.

I wanted to look over my shoulder, wondering who she was speaking to, but she was staring straight at me.

Her voice gentled. “You’ll have to go elsewhere if you need money. We can’t help you. ”

I froze as her words registered.

Virgin sales . Did she think I was … trying to auction my virginity to the highest bidder?

My cheeks heated. I wasn’t even a virgin!

The last thought was slightly irrelevant as I had no intention of offering myself for service, but it flitted through my mind anyway, along with too many other tangents to count.

I opened and closed my mouth, trying to find a reply.

“I’m not …” I tried. “That’s not why I’m …” I couldn’t even get the words out. My inability to refute her assumption only helped her case. I cleared my throat and straightened my spine for a final attempt. “You’re Ava?”

Something changed in her face, though I couldn’t name it. It didn’t soften precisely, but a new curiosity crept across it.

“Who’s asking?”

“I’m Alaric Sare’s niece.”

For a split second, she froze. One hundred emotions flitted across her features, but she quickly masked them.

I dropped my voice. “Do you … Do you sell youngleaf?”

She glared at me. “I don’t, and if the seller were here, he’d say he doesn’t do virgins either.” Her head tilted to appraise me better. A smirk raised her lip as she toyed with me. “Though he might make an exception for you.”

My cheeks flushed again. I gritted my teeth. “I’m not here to have sex with him. I’m here to talk to him.”

She shook her head. “You should leave. You don’t belong here.”

I looked over her shoulder. I definitely couldn’t get into the tavern without her agreement. If the seller was the guard, he wouldn’t be here anyway. I needed information, though—information I was sure she had.

Given that I still had hours before a guard would protect me, I didn’t want too many people to know of my new position or that Alaric was missing.

But something about the way Ava had frozen at his name—about the way Alaric’s visitor had weaponized her to change Alaric’s behavior—I hoped she could be trusted.

I couldn’t leave without the youngleaf, so I didn’t have much of a choice.

“Do you know where Alaric is?” I asked.

The smile playing on her lips from our prior exchange faded. Any evidence of laugh lines at her eyes disappeared at the implication of my words.

She sidestepped, gesturing me into the building and pointing to an empty seat at the bar. “You’d better sit down.”

I’d heard consent for taking was enforced in Forest’s Edge, but I kept my guard up as I entered.

Serena claimed the owner’s line was, “Why take when most will freely give?” They must be serious, as I’d seen with the man tossed out.

How Ava, who didn’t appear Blessed, could control them was another question, but my logical side said it was good for them too.

If this place was somewhere Blessed could reliably go to take from willing citizens, none would risk it by breaking their rules.

And if someone did break the rules, like the man Ava had thrown out, surely no one else would risk their taking ground to defend him.

I sat as instructed while Ava tended to those waiting for drinks.

The center of the room was open with wooden tables and chairs.

It looked unimpressively like any other dining establishment.

I scanned the corners, where curtains hung over more plush seating.

One of the alcoves had the curtain pushed back, exposing the leather chairs and long couches. I could only imagine their uses.

Another alcove had sheer curtains. Though the pair within the space were unidentifiable, the act they performed was clear.

One partner lay sprawled back on a seat long enough to hold their body.

The other partner was on their knees, face bent between the former’s legs.

One of the two must be Blessed because even from where I sat, the rapidly flashing orange light of the adamas stone was evident.

One of the partners collected lust. It might be widely available here, but lust’s power to heal almost any wound was one Blessed liked to have stored.

I shifted in my seat as my mind roved to the other stories Jasmine and Serena had shared about this place. What would it feel like to have a Blessed take my lust? The memory of forest green eyes boring into mine through the mirror yesterday sent an inferno rushing through my body.

Sliding off the stool, I stood, if for no other reason than to stop my apparent squirming. I needed to collect the youngleaf for Mother’s tonic, learn what I could about Alaric, and get out of here—quickly.

Ava interrupted my spiral, sliding me a cup of coffee. I was momentarily stunned by the gesture. My regular cup at Alaric’s had been forgotten. Drinking coffee wasn’t uncommon in Kavios, but she passed it with a confidence I couldn’t help but question.

“It’s rude to stare,” she said, noting my perusal of the room.

“I doubt they would have picked the sheer curtain if they didn’t want someone to watch.”

“Touché.” Her lip twitched, fighting a smile.

I held up the mug. “Thank you.”

She nodded and turned to help the next customer.

Every patron was served in moments, and there were no complaints or questions about what they received, though I didn’t hear any of them order.

I couldn’t tell if Ava was that good or if the patrons feared her so much that they didn’t question what she delivered.

Finally, the line quelled, and she disappeared through a curtained doorway behind the bar. Anticipation prickled my skin.

Ava returned with a frown on her face. Her lips pressed together in thought.

“Everything alright?” I asked.

“He’s not at his workshop?” I didn’t need her to clarify whom she meant.

“No.”

She glanced up and down the length of the bar, determining who could overhear us. “Who knows?”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “Everyone will know tonight. You haven’t seen him?”

She shook her head. “The seller isn’t here either.”

“But my uncle didn’t come last night?” I needed to confirm this.

Her head shook again. “I should have known …” She glanced at the ceiling. If I had to guess, I’d say she blinked back tears.

I bit the inside of my lip, waiting to see what she’d say next.

Snippets of Alaric’s conversation with the visitor flashed through my mind. He’d made it sound like the herb was waiting for Alaric. Ava was waiting for him. I could try that angle. All that mattered was that I left with the youngleaf.

“Do you have what I need? My mother can’t wait.”

Her hand moved to the pocket of her apron. I had a feeling the vial with the herb was there. I laced my fingers on the counter, trying again to find an outlet for my nervous energy. Ava may not wear adamas, but she held a different power. She knew I needed something she had.

“Do you have any idea where he is?” she asked.

I shook my head.

Her eyebrow raised again as when she’d first evaluated me at the door. “You just came to collect this for him, though he’s told me not to let you into this establishment?”

I shouldn’t be surprised by that revelation. She’d only let me in when she realized he was missing.

“He’d want me to take care of Mother first.”

A brief flash of concern crossed her face, leaving me to wonder what mine gave away. Before she could press, someone else emerged from behind the curtain.

“Just give it to her,” he said. The man was tall and lean, with blond hair that fell over his eyes and partially covered a scar running down the side of his pale face.

“Soren.” Ava turned to the man, hissing his name through gritted teeth.

Soren leaned on the counter in front of me. I stepped back, not liking the way he pushed into my space. He was unbothered, tapping his fingers on the bar top.

He glared at me. “Well, isn’t this a surprise? Alaric’s niece. Are you like your uncle?”

Hairs raised on the back of my neck. That could mean a thousand things, but somehow, I knew he referred to Alaric’s ability to detect adamas.

“Here then.” Ava handed me the vial. “Take this and go.” She kept glancing at Soren like he was a rainstorm rolling in over the mountains, ready to unleash a downpour on the unsuspecting populace.

“She just got here.” Soren’s smile made me want to step back farther. I held my ground with Ava and the bar between us. “She hasn’t answered my question yet.”

“She doesn’t have to.” Ava’s expression spoke volumes. I was suddenly sure she knew Alaric better than I realized—that she was protecting me now—another friendship he’d kept hidden.

“Someone has to. It seems Alaric left key information out.” Soren sounded angry.

“What do I owe you?” I asked, directing my question to Ava. I agreed with her. I needed to leave, though I didn’t understand why.

Soren’s laugh was hollow. “What do you owe us? How about some fucking honest answers.”

Ava put her hand on his chest, pushing him behind her as she stepped back into my line of vision. I sucked in a breath. Something about the way his anger radiated made him seem volatile. The visitor and Ava may be friends of Alaric’s, but it was clear Soren was not a fan.

“Alaric is settled for this one,” Ava said.

Soren laughed again, though he didn’t interrupt.

I needed to get out of here—but I also needed to plan for the rest of Mother’s pickups. “What about his regular deliveries? I need them. It will be hard for me to get away.”

I’d said the wrong thing.

Soren’s rage flashed across his face in a display that would have had Blessed reaching for him to take. “And we deserve the truth. Not to hear our suspicions proven by a girl who has no idea what she’s stepped into.”

The city would soon know I was replacing Alaric as Jeweler to the Blessed, but my pulse beat faster as I considered Soren’s anger. Was I in danger? I took a deep breath, reminding myself I’d have a guard shortly. This man couldn’t intimidate me. It wasn’t my fault Alaric had left me in the dark.

Ava’s brow raised again. Something in her face looked less welcoming than before. Like she, too, was disappointed with the revelation that I might be like Alaric. “We can’t settle that now. You’ll have to come back.”

My gaze focused on Soren pacing behind her. Whatever he thought he knew from our encounter, I didn’t like it. He turned quickly, giving me a final glare, and tore behind the curtain without another word.

“What if I can’t?” I asked.

“I’ll tell the seller you were here.” She glanced over her shoulder as Soren disappeared. The worry in her face gave me pause, but her words gave me even more. “I’m sure he’ll find you.”