He lowered the cup from his lips, and she tracked its progress much too closely. “There’s another?”
She nodded, her gaze now unfocused upon the floor, recalling the cold air and darkness that wrapped around her. “I don’t feel good about it. And I can’t discuss it with Riselda; she’d skin me for disobeying.”
“I’ve wanted to talk with you about her. She visited the old woman who lives near me today. I believe the same one you spied on?” He quirked an eyebrow at her, and Lux glowered at him. “I left as she did, and she approached me.”
The warning Riselda offered now crashed to her mind’s forefront. “What did she say?”
“That she cares about few things in this world, and next to none of them are within Ghadra’s walls. Aside from you. I’ll admit I was taken aback she recognized me, what with the masquerade and all, but I wondered what she believes our relationship is? Have you told her anything?”
“I think she may have misunderstood our association following the party, but I assured her that wasn’t the case.” Though whether she believed her… “But about our theoriesinvolving the mayor and this disease? About the forest and the phantom? She’s ignorant.”
“Why?”
“Why what?” Lux finished her tea and entered the kitchen.
“Why have you kept it from her?” He followed, placing both his empty cup and hers in the basin, washing them clean.
She hung them to dry. “I tried to tell her once. But now, I suppose it’s her behavior. She’s rarely here, and when she is, I feel smothered and small. Her secrets outweigh ours, I’m certain, and there’s also the little problem of her relationship with the mayor. She didn’t return home until late morning. How can I trust her with our information when she may run to his bed with it?”
Shaw rested his hips against the counter, hands braced along its edge. He appeared relaxed. Much altered from their first encounters.
“Fair enough. Though after her veiled threat toward me today, I’m not sure you need to worry.”
Lux snorted, mimicking Shaw’s pose. “I’m sorry. Should I discuss our relationship with her again?”
Shaw’s eyes creased, attention on his boots. “Let her believe what she wants.”
The blush threatening her cheeks startled her, and she turned her face until it dissipated.
“Can I ask a personal question?”
She hesitated. “I may not answer it.”
“I figured you’d say something of the same.” He huffed a laugh before sobering, leaning toward her. “What made you decide to visit your old home?”
“Your kiss.”
He reeled back. “What? How?”
She only shook her head. The air grew heavy with what she refused to say, the sound of quiet breaths blanketing it further.
“Lux.” She looked up. His copper eyes delved into hers, but she shied away from it, glancing toward the workroom instead. “What that woman said… What she did to you…”
Her laugh was a sad thing, and he quieted. “I am a murderer, Shaw. She only spoke the truth.” Lux pushed from the countertop. “Now, I have a question for you.”
“I don’t like that look. What is it?”
She grinned. “Have you ever trapped a howler?”
Chapter twenty-one
Shaw fingered the blackrope, coiled and wound tight. “This should work.”
Lux copied him before glancing up at the merchant behind the stained booth. The Dark Market’s usual rabble was scarce, with those who remained exposing eyes brimming with fear and lack of a good night’s rest. The merchant's were no better. Deep blue circles edged into the top of his mask. He probably wouldn’t even fight her if she offered him half the cost.
She slid seven coptons across the expanse. The asked-for price. He nodded his grey head and with their business concluded, gazed out across the cloud-covered square.
Lux grabbed for the rope at the same moment as Shaw, their hands meeting. She yanked hers back, her veins inflamed, at the same moment he stilled.
