“What’s that?” Bash came around behind the desk, the crate tucked beneath his arm. “Have you found it?”
Alora lifted her eyes to his. She didn’t answer him, and when it went on long enough, his brow lowered, turning instead to what she held. His expression hardened.
“Bash. Why didn’t you tell me all he’s forced on you?”
“Believe it or not, there hasn’t been a lot of quiet moments since I’ve met you. And now isn’t one of them either.”
“But I never would have—”
“Alora,” he warned.
Alora could feel a sob thickening her throat, but he was correct. They didn’t have much time. Adding the papers to Lennox’s contract, she searched through the rest. It was luckless. Hers wasn’t here. She shoved the drawer closed and stood.
“What are you doing with those?” Bash stood over her, his chest pressed to her shoulder.
“Taking them, of course.”
“Don’t. He might not notice one, but he’ll certainly notice three. Take Lennox’s if you must take someone’s.”
“He doesn’t deserve any of them!”
“Alora…” Bash rubbed at his eyes, clear exasperation on his features. “At this rate, we’re never going to get out of here undiscovered.”
“Yes, we will.” She shoved the pages into her coat. Then she surveyed the room a final time, gaze lingering on the desk last.
She’d seen one like this before now that she thought about it. In Ichibald’s shop no less. He’d boasted about its many drawers and writing compartments. About its secret latch—
Alora dropped to her knees in a sudden movement that had Bash rushing to catch her elbow like she’d fainted. She didn’t bother to speak or shrug him off, intent on reaching beneath the desk until her fingers found the small ring. A drawer popped open, nearly smashing her atop the head. She scrambled backward and let out a hushed squeal of triumph.
Her contract stared back at her.
Alora Pennigrim.
She snatched it to her as Bash said, “Perfect, let’s go.”
At the same moment, the knob of Door Zero began to turn.
“Fuck,” he hissed, the rasp in her ear making her lurch. A heartbeat later, she was plunged into darkness.
Alora felt it—the moment the page slipped through her startled fingers. She couldn’t see to lunge and grab it, and she couldn’t dare speak being as she could hear the door had opened, footsteps entering the room. Bash held her against him in the dark. Where in Merridon’s office she’d been dragged to, she wasn’t sure. She knew she was standing, his arm tight across her front. She knew the quarters were tight.
How could I have dropped it!
She turned her face into the captain’s chest to quiet her harsh breathing. She could hear Bash’s heartbeat bounding away. Hewas nervous, same as she was. Honestly, in that moment she didn’t know which was better. To see what happened next or remain blind to it all. Either way, if it was Marshall Merridon behind the noise, the game was up.
The footsteps drew closer, and Alora stiffened. She pressed her eyes closed, though it hardly mattered. She heard the crack of aged joints, the rustle of parchment, and then, at last, a voice.
“Marshall. What in the world are you thinking?”
Madam Feebledire.
Merridon’s elder sister had also crept into his office while it was unoccupied. What a snoop! Alora’s eyes widened in the black that was Bash’s enchantment, wondering if it had all been because of her cryptic remark concerning her contract’s contents. She felt Bash’s arm shift against her own, until his hand gripped the back of her neck, applying enough pressure that she bowed—then knelt. Her fingers grabbed ahold of his bicep when he crouched beside her.
But he pulled her hand from him and placed it on the floor. Her opposite went lower still. And she realized—they were in tight quarters because they were in Merridon’scabinet.
Alora’s mouth pinched.He wants me to crawl…while he can see everything, and I can’t?He nudged her forward, and she couldn’t ignore him. Madam Feebledire would surely notice a densely black cloud moving across the walls if they remained upright. Alora bit back a huffed breath—and crawled forward.
Door Zero was quiet, hardly creaking as it opened. But at its closing, she heard the head of management demand, “Who’s there? Marshall Matthew Merridon, is that you? We have something to discuss!”
