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I grin, more and more certain that I’ve found her. “The woman I’m searching for took something from a very powerful man. She could be in danger, and I’m in a position to help her. I’ve been employed by the Duke of Ultrup to help.”

It’s only a little fib, I tell myself. The papers I still carry have allowed me to investigate the lowlifes of this city. I’m not sure they would cover this particular situation. But the thief did steal from the Ravens, so she’s involved in the investigation whether she likes it or not.

The door opens an inch, and through the gap, a blue eye peers at me. Just below it, the bolt of a palm-sized crossbow is aimed directly at my heart, trembling lightly.

“Show me your papers,” she demands.

My hope shatters. It’s not her. The thief’s eyes were brown—or hazel, perhaps—and shaped differently. This woman’s hair is blond, scraped back and tucked under a cap, while the woman who bludgeoned me with a board had a wild cloud of curly brown hair.

“Well?” she prompts.

I snap into motion and reach for my papers, presenting them to her. She scans the letter quickly, then lowers her crossbow and opens the door a fraction wider, though she doesn’t let me in, nor does she put the weapon away.

I know now with certainty that this is not my thief. This woman’s scent is all wrong. She doesn’t smell unpleasant, and there’s that whiff of sugar on her, but it doesn’t compare to my mate’s intoxicating aroma.

“I’m sorry for bothering you this early,” I say quickly, eager to make up for my rude visit. “The woman I’m searching for could be from around here. She’s a little shorter than you, perhaps, and has curly brown hair. Likes to climb on the roofs.”

The baker—for I’m now certain she must be Etta, the owner of the pastry shop—narrows her eyes at me and says nothing.

“She got in trouble with some very bad people,” I continue, hoping for some sign of recognition on her part. “They’ll be after her soon, if they haven’t figured out who she is already. She could be in danger.”

She chews on her lower lip, then asks, “Why are you looking for her?”

I straighten my shoulders, hoping she hasn’t noticed the blood on my face.

“As I said, I work for the Duke’s city watch.

We were investigating the gang she got involved with.

That’s how our paths crossed.” I pause, then take a chance.

“Her trail led me right here, madam. I know she’s been here, and the only question is whether you want to help her or not.

It’s only a matter of time before someone else figures out how to find her. ”

They might take longer, since I found her mostly by smell, but she wasn’t exactly safe here either.

“Oh, bollocks.” Etta drops the crossbow on the counter by the door. “She was here earlier tonight. I was just making the buttered dough for the cinnamon pastries when she barged in to tell me she was leaving.”

I lurch forward before I can stop myself. “Did she say where she was going?”

The baker startles and reaches for the crossbow again, so I quickly retreat, cursing myself for a fool.

“Forgive me,” I rasp. “It’s important I find her.”

“Ah, she didn’t say. She told me it was safer for me if I knew as little as possible.

But she was in trouble, I could tell. Her hand was injured.

I tried to sit her down to look at it, but she wouldn’t let me.

” She glances up at me, blue eyes wide with worry.

“I know a lot about burns, you know, being a baker. Never saw anything like that come from a regular fire.”

I grit my teeth at the thought of my mate running through the night, injured and afraid.

“Madam, I promise you I’ll do my best to protect her.

” I push my hand through my damp hair in frustration and glance down the street, wondering where I should go next.

Then I turn back to her. “But I can’t do that if I can’t find her.

Is there anything you can think of that would help me locate her? ”

Etta stares at me for a long moment, then blurts out, “She has a horse. For her messenger work.”

I lift my eyebrows. “Messenger work?”

She waves an impatient hand at me. “She often rides to other towns. Morav, or even Sigda. She’s gone for days or even weeks sometimes.”

Hmm . If that’s what my thief told this woman, who is clearly a friend, I won’t say anything different, but I doubt her trips out of the city were that innocent.

“And you think she’s left for one of those trips?” I ask. “What was she doing here anyway? Does she live here?”

“Yes, in the loft upstairs,” the woman confirms. “She left me enough money to cover four months of rent and said she didn’t know when she was going to return.”

Oh, if I could snoop through her belongings, I might find out where she was heading. The thought of stepping into her space fills my ears with a strange ringing noise, and I shake my head to clear it.

“Could I take a look at her room?” I give the baker my best non-threatening smile. “Only for a moment. There could be clues…”

But she’s already closing herself off. “I’m afraid not. You want access to that place, come back with the Duke’s orders.”

I grit my teeth but don’t protest. She’s correct in refusing me, and now that I think of it, invading my mate’s room would be poor etiquette.

She did it to you.

The reminder still stings, but I’ll deal with that later.

“Do you know where she keeps her horse?” I ask as a final effort. “Is there a stable nearby?”

“I’m not sure…” Etta begins, her brows furrowed in suspicion.

But urgency rises in me, some instinct is telling me that time is of the essence. If I don’t find my thief soon, she might slip through my fingers, never to be seen again.

“Madam,” I interrupt her. “Have you heard of the Ravens? The gang?”

The baker recoils, her face leaching of color. “Yes,” she breathes. “Is that who…?”

“Aye. Do you understand why I need to be the one to find her first?”

She draws her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

“There’s a stable behind Becca’s inn. Uh, it’s called The Gilded Crown, but Becca is the owner.

If the grooms won’t tell you where Tessa went, ask for the mistress and mention my name.

I supply all their pastries, and she’ll have them tell you what you need to know. ”

Relief crashes into me, and I bow deeply. “Thank you. I promise, you won’t regret this.”

She gives me a reluctant nod. “Just make sure she’s safe.”

“I will.”

Etta shuts the door in my face, but I’m already moving, running in the direction she indicated.

I have the next clue, the right direction to take to find the thief.

With a little luck, I’ll intercept her before she leaves the city, and the chase will finally be over.

We’ll be able to start again, and I’ll do anything to keep her.

I grin, thanking Etta in my mind because she gave me more than just the right place to look for my mate.

She gave me her name, though she didn’t realize it.

Tessa.