I dropped the shackles into my basket and faced her. “I’m going to leave the key on the front porch. Come check on him in a couple of days. Don’t worry. I’ll leave him food and water… but just in case I don’t come back.”
Cass’s brow furrowed in horror. “No, Marin. This is not the way. I thought you guys worked things out.”
I hesitated for half a second before shaking my head. “It’s too much of a risk. I worked alone for years. I’m good at it. Besides, Gavin started this by stealing the seeds right out from under me.”
“Marin—”
“Leave it, Cass. And promise me you won’t warn him. I need your word this time.”
Cass paced away, her hands fisting in her hair. “I hate this. And your plan is going to blow up in your face. Just you wait.” She whirled, jabbing a finger between us. “If you think Gavin won’t follow you and chase you down, you have not been paying attention.”
She let out a mocking laugh. “But you two have to work this out on your own. I won’t tell him. And I can’t believe I’m saying this. But consider this your head start. And you betterrun.”
Chapter 24
Gavin
This was not howI preferred to spend my evenings. I’d rather be trading barbs with Marin than trailing Bowen through a back alley toward some sleazy tavern. But he’d tracked down the lead I gave him, and it brought us to this seedy part of the kingdom.
I was ready for answers, fueled with the need to uncover who had betrayed Marin. Cass had her theory, but I knew better. The marauders were an easy target. Evil people do evil things, sure. But this wasn’t that simple. Cass couldn’t admit it might have been one of us.
I didn't want to admit it either. Knowing the truth wouldn't change what happened. But pain was pain. I'd had Bowen to pull me out, and I'd hated it then. Still… what if I'd let it drag me under and Marin had come back to a grave?
Cass's voice echoed in my mind:We had a great thing, the five of us, and we let it fall apart.
The fact that we were here, in this rundown den of cruelty, was proof of that.
The air reeked with rot and decay, and shadows concealed unsavory transactions, burying the bones of those who’d fallen victim to them. It was also the perfect place to disappear, or make someone else disappear. Thankfully, it was still early, and the worst this area had to offer was likely still passed out,sleeping off last night’s corruption.
“Marin actually agreed to take you with her?” Bowen shot me a side-eye glare, stomping through a grimy puddle. “I didn't see that coming. And then you told her you were only going for the money. What iswrongwith you?”
Better question, whatwasn’twrong with me?
I’d taken my aggression out on the roof after she left, hammering nails as if I could drive the demons out of me. The ones that welcomed her stinging insults because they came with her fire.
Marin hated me. Lacked trust. And yet, I’d had to force myself to stay still, jaw locked as heat licked up my spine. Because she’d tried to hide it, but her gaze had dipped low, trailing over me, slow and searing.
She wasn’t unreachable.
And I’d never felt more certain I could win her over. Find the shard. Fix everything.
Finally, get what I’d always wanted.
A cat screeched across our path, dragging me back to reality. Its low hiss sounded like a warning as it bolted into the shadows. I rolled my shoulders, shaking out the tension as we kept walking.
“You’re the one who said she wouldn’t trust me to tell her the truth. And you were right. Letting her believe what she already expected made sense at the time.” I exhaled sharply. “If I told Marin how I felt, she'd laugh in my face. Call me a liar. Let me keep a sliver of pride.”
We stopped at the end of the alley, the tavern lights glowing across the street. I elbowed Bowen in the ribs.
“Don’t act like you took some moral high road before you married Liana.” I gave him a dry look. “You kept secrets fromher for months. You fell into the wretched pit of miscommunication first. I’m just the one currently stuck in it.”
Bowen gave a sympathetic nod and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Take it from me and don’t dig yourself any deeper. Lies add up fast and become their own weapons. We already know Marin’s not afraid to use her dagger. Don’t give her any more.”
“Solid advice,” I mumbled as we crossed the street and entered the tavern.
The room was crowded even at the early hour. The tables were full of men playing cards, drinking, or making plans, their voices low over some of the more raucous laughter.
“Over there.” Bowen motioned toward a table in the back, where a man was slumped forward, his head on the tabletop. A large mug of ale rested in front of his nose. “They say he shows up in the afternoon and stays until the barkeep has to toss him into the street at closing.”
