Page 118 of A Thief Among Fae

Min approaches him, lays her hand on his chest, and opens her own coin purse. “It would be rude to present Avedoran marks here. I will pay in rocks.”

Like paying in rocks isn’t rude? I raise a brow at Auri, who frowns as though explaining to me is a massive burden. “The original currency of Torok was rock from Mount Mordrak,” she hisses into my ear. “Don’t ask me how many centuries ago that was, because I don’t care enough to remember.”

The bronze coins that Min stacks onto the counter are a little larger than Avedor’s marks. The innkeeper swipes them away and points to the ladder. Finnian climbs up first. Auri follows second.

Min motions for me to stay. “You’re a monk of Aedros. Are you a healer?” she asks the human man. “We were recently in battle. Can you reinvigorate us?”

He’s around my father’s age, with weathered hands and wrinkles across his temples. “I’d be honored to assist a daughter of Aedros,” he says as he bows his head. “It’s been some time since I’ve seen another of our kind.”

“Likewise, brother,” Min says.

“How strong of a healer are you?” I ask, thinking of Evie.

The Aedrosian’s smile is sheepish. “Not very.”

Disappointment thrums through me. I’ll start searching as soon as I’m back home.

The monk cracks his knuckles, then stands. “This may be uncomfortable for a moment.” When he slips a hand underneath my tunic collar, my instinct says to kick his groin. Yet his hand promptly slides over my heart, and Min looks so assured that I feel foolish. “This won’t take long,” the man promises me.

I force myself to exhale, then feel a warm, tingling sensation spread from his hand. The soothing heat blooms beneath my skin as though I’m back in the guild’s hot spring, and all the pain from the last day melts away.

“Is that better?” he asks. “Maybe a little more—Oh, I think that’s good enough.” He removes his hand and takes three steps away, watching someone in the doorway. “My apologies. I was merely healing your partner.”

I turn around to see who he’s speaking to.

Desmond stands in the inn’s doorway, a dagger clenched tight in his palm. He stares at the man’s white robes, then at my shoulder as I flex it, then back at the man’s robes. “Oh. You have our thanks.” He sheathes the dagger, but stands there awkwardly. “She’s. . .”

“Not his partner,” I supply. “And thank you.” I bow my chin. “Blessings to Aedros.”

The man beams. “You wouldn’t believe the lack of gratitude I get around here. Not that I’m complaining.” To Min, he says, “Would you mind conversing with me for a bit? Some story swapping? It’s also been a rather lonely journey—not that I’m complaining.”

Min nods. “Yes, that would be acceptable.”

I’m not sure what sort of stories Min plans on telling, but I hope none involve her nocturnal escapades.

“Min paid for the rooms, I take it?” Desmond says quietly, suddenly right beside me.

I flinch, then let out a sigh. “Try room. Auri and Finnian are already up there.”

Desmond tenses, then shakes his head as if banishing a thought. “Let’s check on the others.” He reaches for the ladder, then climbs it with his dark cloak swishing behind him.

My pulse slows as I climb after him. The inn’s second story is a single room, the mohair blankets on the beds moth-eaten. The air is rather stuffy for autumn. Finnian’s already snoring louder than a troll, and Auri lies on the bed across from him. She nods at me as she balances a dagger on the tip of her finger.

Desmond sits on the bed beside hers and hunches over, his hands laced in his lap.

“If the fomorians are looking for us, they’ll check Mordrak first,” Auri says, glancing at him.

So they’re both concerned about the attack. “Do you think someone will tell the fomorians where to find us?” I ask them.

“No,” Desmond says, his voice tightening. “I know they will. But I don’t know how they’re communicating, not even after interrogating⁠—”

“Desmond,” Auri cuts in sharply. Then she sighs. “You’re exhausted.”

I hadn’t noticed the dark circles under his eyes until now.

Then Auri whispers, “I don’t like that Min is on her own.”

I’m about to remark that Min can well take care of herself when I realize what she really meant. My blood runs cold. “It can’t be her. I watched her kill two of them.”