Page 98 of The Worst of Them

Cecily laughed to herself. What a far cry this was from her life a year ago, and how proud she was to be a part of this crew—this little family who counted her as one of their own and wielded their power to protect each other and the home they’d created. For whatever scrappy villainy or goodness she had to her name, she’d use it for them too.

“A grand time indeed,” she said, thankful all the way down to her bones.

“So there’s nothing to worry about?” Maria asked. “No soldiers and none of his idiot crew?” She stabbed a thumb at Jack.

“My father’s idiot crew,” Jack mumbled.

Fay shook her head, wistful again. “Not tonight.”

Maria turned her attention to the others, meeting each of their gazes in turn. She smiled. “Then I’d say we celebrate another successful heist.”

Frederick crowed, inciting the rest of them to join in with a hearty shout that rose into the night.

23

HOME

The first order of business after a heist was the presentation of loot.

Killian and Fay went first, presenting two books, both of which were ridiculously old with binding that barely held together. One was embedded with what looked like animal teeth, the other studded with shining jewels. Fay showed the inside, her fingers trailing delicately over old runes.

“They’re worth a fortune,” she said. “But a friend of mine made them and wanted them back.”

“Made them?” Maria choked. “Those have to be at least two hundred years old.”

Fay stared at her blankly. Maria pursed her lips, frowned, and shook her head, saying, “Never mind.”

With that, Frederick and Maria were next.

Frederick pulled a few weapons off his back and handed them to Maria who proudly held them aloft for all to see. Each one was beautifully forged or had some intricate design carved into the hilts. They were passed around, though Cecily took the longest to study them, awed by the craftsmanship.

“Better than books,” Killian muttered, looking only mildly impressed. High praise, coming from him.

Then it was Greyson and Hester’s turn, and they emptied their pockets of small trinkets they’d found in the governor’s office. Hester held up a delicate, gilded quill pen while Greyson showed them all a tiny, gem-encrusted ship the governor had displayed on his desk.

Greyson rummaged deeper in his pocket and pulled out two small stones, telling the others, “These aren’t part of the heist. I took these for Hester.”

Hester squealed and plucked them from his hand. They didn’t look like much, both of them hardly larger than a fingernail. One stone was green, the other yellow, and they were slightly translucent like uncut, unpolished gems.

“Gorgeous,” she breathed.

“Probably ain’t worth much,” Greyson said, though he wore a proud grin. “But I thought they were pretty and they made me think’a you.”

Beside Cecily, Jack squinted.

“They’d go nicely in a bracelet,” Hester said, eyes sparkling with delight. “Or a necklace or a ring.”

Jack slid one foot forward. “May I see those?” he asked, tentatively extending one hand.

Hester dropped them in his palm. He pulled them close and rolled them about, scrutinizing every edge. The others watched, curious, until he said with disbelief, “These are tide stones.”

“Myth,” Frederick scoffed, while Killian said, “Are you certain?”

“These are remarkably…” Jack trailed off with a shake of his head. “How’d these end up here?”

“What’s a tide stone?” Hester asked, her gaze locked on the gems.

“Rocks that control the sea,” Frederick said with an eye roll.