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Dane nods again. ‘You’ve noticed it too?’
‘Aye. Nothing easy to see, just not quite right. Haven’t been able to work it out.’
I sit back and regard my friends, glad I’m not the only one who thought something was amiss with the troll female.
‘So, blackmail?’ Kal asks, his eyes flashing in excitement. ‘When are we going to do it? What are we going to make her do for us besides rifle through Sharpe’s office?’
I roll my eyes, but Dane’s expression doesn’t change. ‘I doubt the maid would be much more useful than that.’ He glances at Kal. ‘Unless you’ve been through the city’s unvaried pussy so many times that you want to see what a troll girl feels like riding your cock just to ease the boredom. Though, after what she did to Yeith, you might not want her that close to your staff, my friend.’
Kal cocks his head, and it’s clear where his thoughts go. It’s where they always go. ‘She’s a big lass. Her cunt would probably be like throwing a sausage up a tunnel.’
‘For your cock, aye!’ I laugh. ‘Though I’ve heard even the pixies with their tiny snatches say the same about you!’
He scowls at my jibe. ‘Not true,’ he mutters a little sulkily.
‘I say we call on her early before she’s up,’ Dane says quietly. ‘We tell her what we know and see how she reacts.’
‘To what end?’
He shrugs. ‘You have no proof it was her besides what you saw with your own two eyes. Tomorrow morning, before she begins work, is when she’ll be most afraid of the consequences of her brash actions. Strike now before she has time to think, to get her story straight.’
I nod slowly. ‘Fine. Meet me at the servants’ quarters just before the fifth chime. Kal will find out which room is hers.’
Kal lets out a huff. ‘But that means I’ll need to go now to find the list before they lock the doors,’ he complains. ‘I’m not even finished my drink.’
Dane grabs his tankard without a word and downs the rest of Kal’s ale in one.
‘That was my fucking pint!’ he splutters.
‘That’s settled then,’ I say as Kal curses us both under his breath. ‘Now, I’m going to bed.’
CHAPTER TWO
I wake to a scratching at my door, and I’m in such a deep sleep that it takes me a good few seconds to wake up enough to understand that the noise isn’t in my dream.
I sit up quickly, forgetting about my ribs, and a cry of pain erupts from me. I stifle it immediately, bending over double on the bed and clutching my side in agony.
But the noise stops, and I hear whispers. I stare at the door, making sure I remembered to bolt it last night.
After I killed Yeith.
I cover my mouth with my hand as bile threatens to rise from my stomach. I killed Yeith.
I glance back at the door, trying not to give in to tears as I draw my thoughts away from what I’ve done again, and my tummy settles a little.
The City or the Academy Guard would have broken it down by now. Whoever’s out there is trying to be quiet. I look up at the small, high window. It’s only just getting light, so it can’t be more than a little past fourth chime, though the bells between midnight and sixth chime are only one ring, so I might have slumbered through the fifth, considering how deeply I was sleeping despite my night-time murdering.
Guilt wracks me. I had a full night's sleep after I killed someone. I’m an awful creature.
You deserve for them to find you and put you down.
‘Open the door,’ rasps a voice and realize that not only am I naked, I look like me. If they were to force the door open now ...
I fumble under my pillow for the bracelet and slip it on, almost glad when my body immediately morphs. It hides everything. Me, and my injuries. I slowly get off the bed and wrap my blankets around my body as I slowly pad to the door. I push the pain away. I can’t let it show on my face.
I throw the bolt and open the door a crack.
‘What is it?’ I ask in a sleepy voice.
