Page 66 of Wicked Sea and Sky

“Uncle Gavin,” she whispered. “Did you just get back from the ball?”

“Yes, but it’s past your bedtime. What are you doing awake?”

She shifted her weight, her bare feet peeking from beneath the hemline of her nightclothes. “I couldn't sleep. Did you find the pretty lady who broke into your house? Mama said she'd be at the ball.”

“Your mother told you that? Or you heard it while eavesdropping?”

Annie wrinkled her brow as if I’d asked a ridiculous question. “Eavesdropping, of course. A thief always knows it’s easier to lie low and steal information.”

I sighed. Liana was right. I was a bad influence.

“A thief also knows the value of sleep. So get back to bed before your parents catch you, and we’re both sentenced for skulking around in the middle of the night.”

“Can you tell me one of your stories first?”

I groaned. “Aren’t you too old for bedtime stories?”

Annie folded her arms and cocked her head with an impish snarl. “Aren’t you too old to still be living in my father’s house?”

My gaze narrowed into slits. The kid had certainly mastered the art of a well-timed jab to the ego. I was as proud as I was wounded.

“Touché. But it’s only until I fix the one I bought. Let’s go, misfit. It’s your lucky night. I do have a story for you.”

With a grumble, I rose to my feet and ushered her down the hall and back to her room. Annie scrambled over the mattress and fluffed the pillow while I scraped a chair across the floor.

“Are you ready?”

She tucked a heavy wool blanket under her chin and nodded eagerly.

“Good.” I arched my hand through the air and spoke with a dramatic tone. “This is the tale of two thieves. One who was very beautiful and fiercely smart. And the other, who was brilliant and revered among his peers.”

Annie flattened her lips. “I’m rooting for the girl.”

“Of course, you are.” I leaned back in my chair with a scowl. “Anyway. It was a race to steal a packet of legendary seeds from a magically locked vault. The beautiful thief had a plan, and it was a good one. Masterful, even. She picked the pocket of the host, stole his enchanted key, and used plant magic to steal his breath. But, when she opened the vault, the seeds were gone.”

“What happened?” Annie gasped.

I tapped my temple. “You see, while masterful plans are the most admired, it’s the quick, dirty schemes that get you there faster.”

Annie raised a skeptical brow. “So basically, you cheated.”

“No. I didn’t cheat! I out-maneuvered. There’s a difference.”

“Sure, Uncle Gavin.”

I ignored her dry smirk and pressed on. “Back to the story.Where was I? Oh, yes, the brilliant, revered thief knew the host would visit the vault to collect the main attraction for his masquerade ball. So he doused the sconces and hid in the shadows to wait for the perfect moment.

“Then, just when the thief’s feet were falling asleep, the host finally arrived. He used his magical key to activate the vault, releasing the iron bar holding the door in place. The moment the man stepped inside, the thief pounced, slipping a thin metal disc into the lock before the door closed. That way, when the host left, the door wouldn’t seal properly, allowing the thief to waltz in behind him and steal the seeds.”

I angled my head and grinned. “All before the party even started.”

Annie covered her mouth with a yawn and snuggled deeper into her pillow. I snarled my lip. Bedtime stories were meant to put children to sleep. But my magnificent heist? It should have kept her awake until the thrilling end.Some people just don't appreciate artistic mastery when they hear it.

Annie grumbled softly, half-asleep, “And did you impress the beautiful thief by winning the challenge?”

I frowned. “No. Quite the opposite, actually.”

“That’s too bad. I assumed this was a love story.”