Page 49 of Reaper's Quest

I just… I should have been there.

Next time…if there was a next time…I wouldn’t run.

When I glanced at Chace, a flaming cobra coiled in my belly. Why hadn’thestopped Mr. Aldine before he did what he did? I wanted to shake Chace—make him explain how this had happened.

I dug my nails into my palms, slicing divots into my skin.

As much as I might have liked to, I couldn’t put all the blame on Chace. I hadn’t been present, and therefore wasn’t privy to what had transpired, when, and in what order.

“You look horrible,” Chace said, his voice low.

He stood directly in front of me, his jaw tight and his silver-gray gaze intense.

I jerked straight. When had he stepped so close? I hadn’t even noticed him approaching.

“Thanks.” My response sounded more like a question than anything else.

“You’re no good to our team in this condition. Why don’t you get some rest, maybe wash your face or something. Whatever helps.” He grabbed my shoulder, a little rougher than necessary, and directed me toward the door. “We both need to be in full form. Especially if we end up being down a team member.”

Not just any team member, but our mentor. Our elder.

I glanced at his grip upon my shoulder, noting his continued struggle with boundaries, and then pushed back against his hand. “I’m fine. I don’t need to?”

“Seriously, Raven. This place is no joke.” His voice and eyes softened. “I’m not trying to cut you out, but you clearly have some shit going on up here.” He tapped two fingers to my forehead. “You best get that handled so that it doesn’t end up being our downfall.”

Any argument I attempted to provide felt invalid. He was right. And I hated that fact. My head had become a hot mess, and I needed to get things straight. Needed to do so, like, yesterday.

He crossed his arms, appearing every bit a stone gargoyle denying my passage.

With a mild sigh, I left the room and headed down to the pub.

Aoes’s and Winter’s conversation drifted into the bottom of the stairwell. Although they didn’t appear to make any attempt to keep their discussion secret, their volume fell below a normal conversation level.

I stopped at the edge of the lower landing, out of sight, and strained to hear their discussion.

“Stop playing games with me,” Winter said.

“Games are not my style. You know that,” Aoes replied. Something dropped against wood with a thump. “Just because you haven’t seen strangers before doesn’t mean they don’t visit our fine citadel from time to time.”

“Don’t take me for a fool.”

“Never in my wildest dreams.” Humor danced in the tenor of Aoes’s delivery.

I inched forward and caught sight of them in a mirror across the pub. Winter leaned against the bar, behind which Aoes tinkered.

Winter wagged a finger at the pub manager. “Don’t think I’m unaware of your nefarious dealings. You may be my friend, but I won’t hesitate to put an end to youractivitiesif I suspect they might bring harm to the city.”

“How could anything I do bring harm to this rotting hell of a home? Have you looked around lately?” Aoes threw his arms wide as if presenting Winter the whole of Veritas. He punched a soft fist into Winter’s shoulder. “Besides, you’re my soul family. I would never do anything to disgrace you.”

The gesture didn’t appear to soften Winter’s demeanor one bit. “All right, then. Who are they?”

“Traders. Nothing more.” Aoes’s gaze flashed to the mirror, making eye contact with me through the reflection.

“Reaper’s hell,” I mumbled.

He’d caught me listening. Time to rescue Aoes from the inquisition before Winter broke him down and made him confess whatever truths he fancied about my team.

I pushed away from the wall in the stairwell and, rubbing my palm, rounded the corner, making more noise than usual. I rubbed my forehead and attempted to look exhausted. Aneasy to achieve appearance because I was…on so many levels.