Page 81 of Guardian of Exile

“Rough day?” Kaden asked.

She snorted. “You could say that.”

Footsteps sounded and Tristen joined them. Kaden set off confidently. He’d either been here before, or he’d spent recent time memorizing the layout of the streets, because he led them to the Oasis Inn without taking a single wrong turn. She didn’t see anything outwardly obvious that made this inn a better choice than the two others they’d passed along the way, but the price seemed reasonable, and the attendant didn’t so much as raise an eyebrow at their garb or lack of luggage.

Nyx got one room. In a fit of optimism, she only paid for two nights. Once they were in the relative safety of said room she started to speak, but Kaden shook his head, tapped his ear, and began a methodical search of the space. She had no idea what he was looking for until he peered under the bed, his hand darting beneath it.

A shriek split the air and Kaden withdrew his hand. A green lizard-like creature with purple feathers on its feet and neck scrabbled against his hold, wriggling and screeching in panic.

All of Nyx’s protective instincts flared to life. “Please don’t hurt it!” She’d moved without realizing it, her hands coming around Kaden’s and the small lizard. Which was how she realized that though the little beast was panicking at having been caught, Kaden’s hold on it, while firm, was gentle. He wasn’t hurting it.

“You can take him,” Kaden said, “but if you drop him you’ll be looking for him the rest of the night. They’re almost impossible to catch once they enter flight mode.”

She hesitated. “What are you going to do with him?”

“Let him run back to his owner.”

Because she did not have time to adopt a small feathered lizard, she nodded. Kaden walked to the door, opened it, and set the lizard on the floor. It shot away from him so fast it blurred in her vision.

“What was it?” she asked once he’d come back in and closed the door.

“A Krikri.” It was Tristen who answered. “I had one as a kid.” He said it a little uncertainly, as if he’d only just remembered.

“Okay. Why was it in our room?”

“They’re natural mimics,” Kaden said. “Like parrots, but better, and they can be trained to memorize what they overhear and repeat it.”

“Someone bugged our room,” she said slowly. “With a lizard.”

Kaden shrugged. “Secrets sell. There will be one in every room. Most everyone knows to check.”

“Then why bother?”

“Because most everyone is not everyone.”

“And this is the good inn?”

He nodded. His gaze flicked to Tristen, then back to her. “Can I talk to you?” He didn’t have to add “alone” for it to be obvious that was what he meant, but it wasn’t going to work here. The room, while clean, was small. It contained two small beds and a wash room, and there was nowhere to have a private conversation. No matter how softly they talked, Tristen would hear them.

She glanced at him. He rolled his eyes. “By all means.”

Nyx resisted the urge to rub at her temples. “I’m going to need to grab our clothes and some food. If I go back to Amelia’s for them, will you promise not to leave this room?”

“Sure.” When she only stared at him, he said, “I promise not to leave the room. Happy?”

“Sure,” she threw back. She didn’t entirely trust him to do as he promised, but he wasn’t her prisoner. She also didn’t think he was likely to leave, seeing as he had nowhere to go, but if he did, Kaden could track him and she could ensure he didn’t get himself killed.

After Hiding one of the pillows on her bed to serve as a return anchor, Nyx reopened the portal to Amelia’s and she and Kaden stepped through.

She was a little surprised not to be bombarded when they arrived, until she realized how quiet the house was. “Where is everyone?”

“Out.”

“Will they be back soon?”

Kaden shook his head. If it bothered him being left here while everyone else was out, he didn’t let it show. Nyx’s disappointment was probably all over her face. She’d wanted to see Evra, but there wasn’t any help for it.

“Did you find his mother?” Kaden asked.