It’s broken, and I’ve forgotten that…
So, the moment I pull on the handle, I pull out not the drawer but rather the front of it.
“Well, isn’t that wonderful,” I mutter and toss the plank of old wood aside.
The good news is I have so few things it all fits into one modest backpack. A couple of changes of clothes, an old Emerian fairy-tale book, my favorite deck of cards with a pair of red iron dice, and a couple of blades.
One last thing…
Once the chest of drawers is empty, I kneel next to it and wedge my shoulder against it. A tiny shove is all it takes.
Carefully, I push the corner of a wooden plank in the floor and it pops open on the other side.
For a split second before I lift it, my heart stumbles. What if someone was here and discovered my hiding place?
Relief floods me when I push the wooden plank aside and find the leather bags of frade right where I left them.
“Thank the spirits of the gods,” I mutter under my breath.
Quickly, I pack the money into my backpack and put everything back in place.
After I’m done, I give one last glance around the humble room.
I definitely won’t miss it.
I’m out the door without hesitation. Before heading back to the castle, I need to bathe.
Thankfully the bathhouse I always go to in Kozem is open twenty-four seven, and when I arrive it’s almost empty.
It’s always quiet here at this hour of the night. Most criminals bathe in early mornings or gather here during the day for meetings and networking.
The old fae woman who runs this place stands behind the counter. Once she sees me, she smiles. No questions about my ragged appearance or fresh bruises.
We exchange a couple of pleasantries and I pay for the entrance.
She always loved me.
Once she even told me I’m her favorite.
I head for the changing rooms where I stuff my backpack into a locker and lock it. Wrapped only in a towel, I head for the bathroom.
It’s humid and steamy inside. Only a couple of lone fae linger in the large round stone baths carved into the earthen floors.
I find the one empty bath in the corner, toss my towel aside, and climb in.
“Ahhh, fuck me,” I groan, my body tingling with pleasure.
I can’t help myself.
The feeling of warm water on my naked, aching skin is just too good.
Slowly, I settle in one of the seats and stretch my arms over the edge.
Do you mind?!Nix snaps at me.
Oh, hi, darling,I purr at her.Am I interrupting something?
No fucking shit. I’m trying to sleep before tomorrow’s early trip, she grumbles.
