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I will have to be careful once I am done bathing to make it through the room, allowing none of them to touch me. I won’t be able to sleep tonight if their scent lingers on my skin or clothes.
The stone steps are slick from the steam of the pools beneath the Inn. They are the only reason I ever come here. Since the vines popped up and surrounded the Kingdom, no one bothered to build another inn. There’s no need when no one can enter or leave the city. So, the Thron Inn has become a social location for mistresses, tousles in the sheets, and unsavory business dealings — or, in my case, an escape from the mask I must wear to hide who I really am.
I quickly undress, setting my cap and glasses away from my clothes in case they come to get them, and slide into the nearest heated pool. The steam envelopes me and clouds my vision of the room. It is perfect. I lean against the ledge, savoring how the bubbles flow, and massage against my sore muscles, working out knots I didn’t even know existed.
The past week has been full of moving Elani around, dealing with angry Keryth, and neglecting my needs until the job is done. I still have at least four more days before I can return home. I am so close to answers. But my research back home is suffering from me doing this instead.
I rub the bridge of my nose as the stress of everything on my plate returns to rest on my shoulders. The future rides on me being able to handle both things. Tia helps with some of it, but she can only do so much. I need more help. The cloaked figure would be perfect for what I am currently working on while I focus on my research. But I must first talk to them without getting my throat slit.
Ugh, when did everything become so fucking complicated?
With fingers pruned, my body washed, and my muscles a little relaxed, I drag myself out of the pool and pull on some of the night clothes stored here. They have to be made from the scratchiest material in existence, but they’ll suffice until I can get to my room.
I mentally kick myself when I find the room key where I had left my soiled clothing. They came down here, took my stuff, and I didn’t even notice. I slip my cap back on before returning to the slippery stone steps.
“Go ahead and get yourself killed. This kingdom isn’t quite fucked up enough,” I chastise myself.
I slowly open the door to the bar and sigh in relief that many of the patrons have left, making it easy to get to my room without being touched or stopped. I lock the door and groan from the smell of the food stacked high on the small table beside the window.
It isn’t the biggest room, but it is enough. And by the smell of the food, I will be satisfied enough that I can stick this mission out for a few more days without blood.
The small wooden chair in the back corner of the room calls to me from deep within the shadows the candles can’t penetrate. I sit with a grunt of exertion and spread out my legs as far as they can. My fingers brush against metal when I slide my hands into my pant pockets. I put my glasses on and remove my cap so my hair can fully dry before bed.
I need to get up and eat, but the thought of moving from this spot makes me nauseous. It just seems like it requires a lot more effort than I currently have. But at the same time…food. There are so many choices. Food, bed, or slowly disintegrating in this chair? All of them sound like a good plan.
But before I can decide on anything, a subtle brush of fabric comes from the opened window. I sit perfectly still, knowing exactly who it is. I am both nervous and excited. And if I am candid with myself, I am also frightened. I have seen their handy work and would rather not get tangled in their ropes before I can ask for their help.
A black shadow fills the window and quickly flows through the space. Nothing in their movements is wasted or unnecessary. I hold my breath as they work their way around the table, and my heart completely stops as they pull their scarf down and take small bites here and there.
A female…or woman. I am unsure if she is Elani or Keryth, but her mouth is appealing either way. Her skin is impossibly pale, and her full lips are a soft pink. They mesmerize me to distraction as they devour meats and cheeses.
“Hungry, Little Thief?” I should have stayed hidden and soaked up as much of her as possible. But I NEED to hear her voice.
She stills, giving away the fact she didn’t know I was in here. But then she looks at me over her shoulder and graces me with a heart-stopping smile. “Most people in this area are.”
I suppress a groan. Her voice has a smooth rasp that brings forth images of roaming hands, soft kisses, and explosive passion beyond the imagination.
“So, should I invite everyone over for dinner?” I chuckle. It sounds so stupid, but hopefully, it gets her to talk more.
“Maybe you should keep your window closed. It could invite death.” Something in her tone tells me she is referring to herself, and I can’t even dispute it.
I close my eyes as the most beautiful moan escapes her as she takes a bite of the roasted meat. It works its way through my body until it stirs my cock.
“You can eat as much as you want if you keep making that sound,” I say through clenched teeth as I adjust myself in the small chair. No female or woman has ever had such an effect on me.
She throws her hands up and backs away from the table.
“Then I am quite full.” But I can’t focus on her words. The sleeves come up and reveal thick scars that crisscross her wrist. The urge to protect her and discover what happened surges so fast through me that the chair crashes into the wall as I reach my feet. “That’s my cue to leave. Bye-bye now!” And before I get my hands on her, she flies out of the window.
I quickly look out to see if she is okay. I am up on the third floor, and she just leaped with no rope or help to get down safely.
“Fuck!” I growl, watching her roll before magically getting up and continuing to disappear into the shadows. “I will find you, Little Thief!” I don’t know if she hears me, but the promise still stands. Because this just went from needing her help to a need for her. Yes, she is a killer of my kind, but in my screwed-up brain, that doesn’t seem to matter. I want more of her. I need to hear, touch, and get to know her. I won’t give up until she is entirely mine.
The insolent fools scurry around like insects in the bright afternoon that just became a lot gloomier. They finally smell the decaying body, but they can’t quite seem to locate it. They scramble from door to door, knocking to see who answers and who doesn’t.
I help them with a false sense of urgency, blending into the crowd of hysterics and keeping my mirth internal. They are spouting nonsense of hope that it is just an animal this time: ‘How this is all getting ridiculously out of hand. ‘The King needs to do something.’ ‘Where are the Royals when we need them most?’
Home. In their castle, being useless like always, bathing in their luxuries and treating everyone below them worse than vermin. They won’t help anyone. So, these evil fuckers are left at my mercy.
