His request came with a note of teasing that Alora found inappropriate and she glowered in his direction. Lennox said, “I’m sure he deserved it.”
“He didn’t. He was actually very kind, and I’m sure you would have liked him.” Alora took her friend’s arm. “Go on, Bash. Being a menace isn’t coaxing me into forgiving you.”
In reply, the dark disappeared.
“Thank you, Lennox. For helping me.”
Lennox squeezed the arm she held. “Don’t mention it, Alora. I know you’d do the same for me if I’d ever looked into a cursed skull’s eyes.”
Yes, she certainly would.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“Master!” wailed Lennox. “Master,please. I need your help!”
Alora hardly breathed as she watched from beside the darkness that was Bash. Far enough away that Merridon hopefully wouldn’t sense any specific enchantment, the pair of them were pressed against the shadowed wall, waiting for the horrid man to grow sick of Lennox’s cries and come to her aid. Which he finally did, some moments later.
Door Zero flung wide, and Lennox stumbled back at the suddenness of it. But she recovered quickly, her conjured tears welling. Alora thought her quite an impressive actress.
“What is the meaning of this, Miss Flowers? I don’t appreciate hysterics, especially not at this hour.”
Lennox moved back several steps, prompting Merridon to follow. Only then did she lunge forward, draping her arms around him on a sob fit for the theater. “Where isWilliam-m-m?”
Merridon appeared stunned at the contact, rigid as a tree. He attempted to extract himself from Lennox’s limbs. “I’ve told you that you might be performing for a time without him.”
“But I haven’t even seen him! How can I dance if I don’t know if he’s okay?”
“I assure you he will be fine. And you’ll dance regardless of partner. It’syourcontract, not a dual one between the two of you.”
At last, he maneuvered free of Lennox’s grip, just in time for her to drag him away into further grievances and for Door Zero to seemingly close all its own and shut them all out.
Alora wasted no time in rushing to Marshall Merridon’s desk drawers.
“Don’t you think we should focus on the skull first?” said Bash. He’d become visible again while Alora did not. Though she did lower her hood.
“You find the skull! It’s in a crate. Probably the same one you packaged it in. I want my contract.” She tore open the larger drawer at the base, rummaging through the files. None of them were contracts. “Dammit.”
“Have a care, would you? He’ll notice more than you think.”
Alora’s frustration compounded with her fear. She lashed out. “Maybe if you’dlookin that cabinet instead of looking atme,half our mission would be complete!” She spared him a glance in time to watch his eyes widen at her temper. But he said nothing else and turned to the cabinet. Soon, the only sounds were the further shuffling of papers and the telltale sounds of lock-picking.
Not a pickpocket, but a lockpick.Alora shook her head as she searched, bewildered at the secrets continuing to spill from the man with whom she’d chosen to break every rule. She couldn’t deny it was useful though—under the current circumstances.
Alora opened the large drawer at the opposite side, when Bash said, “I’ve got it.”
She looked up to him holding the familiar crate. The feel of watchful ruby eyes immediately stole over her, and she shuddered. “I still haven’t found my contract. There’s—”
Lennox Flowers.
Alora pulled the parchment free. Behind it were more contracts. More names she didn’t recognize. She held onto Lennox’s, searching for her own, until:
Bash Merridon (Syntaine).
Then:
William Merridon (Halvard).
She grabbed them both, and one in either hand, read them through. With every sentence, her heart dropped, until it landed somewhere so distant, she couldn’t even feel its beat. She’d gone numb. “Lifetime commitments. Both of you.”
