Anger somewhat in check, I cut through those crowding the ring where two men duked it out to a bloody and broken finish, and headed for one of the back rooms. None of the working girls made any grabs for us, nor did
anyone attempt to stop us. It couldโve been the way I walked or the look on Kieranโs face. Whatever it was, everyone gave us a wide berth.
Entering a narrow hall, we passed men drunkenly receiving pleasure they likely wouldnโt remember, rooms with gambling, and chambers where various weapons were sold to those forbidden to carry. Men and women
were given life and death in these back spaces.
I reached a closed door at the end of the corridor, slamming my hand on the center. It swung open, banging off the wall.
Several men immediately jumped from their chairs. I quickly scanned them. The two wolven whoโd traveled with Jericho, one of them the brown- haired Rolf. Two Descenters: a half-Atlantian, and a blond-haired mortal.
My gaze settled on Jericho as Kieran closed the door behind us.
Jericho stood, bare from the waist up. He held a crimson-stained cloth to his side. A half-empty bottle of whiskey and several glasses sat on the table.
Jericho paled as I stalked forward. โCasโโ
I grabbed his arm, pulling it from his side as I mentally repeated what Kieran had told me outside the Three Jackals. Donโtย killย him. Donโtย murderย him. Donโtย unaliveย him. I gave the ragged wound a brief once-over. My lips twisted into a satisfied smile. Sheย hadย gotten him good, right up under the rib, too. Likely hit an organ. The wound was already healing, though, barely seeping blood at this point.
โYouโll live,โ I bit out, lowering the hood of my cloak. The blond mortal swallowed nervously as he got a look at my face. Lev was his name, I believed.
There seemed to be a collective release of breath from those around the candlelit chamber.
โI will.โ Jericho tossed the bloodied rag onto the table. His scruffy chin lifted. โWasnโt expecting her to have a blade on her. A bloodstone dagger with wolven bone, at that.โ
โI wasnโt expecting you to attempt to take her,โ I said, choosing my words carefully.
โI know,โ he admitted, at least not attempting to lie. โThere were no other guards close by. I saw an opportunity and acted on it.โ
My hand curled into a fist, and I forced it open. โI didnโt ask you to look for opportunities.โ
Jericho nodded, dragging the back of his hand over his mouth. โI fucked up.โ
โYou did.โ Aware of Kieran moving closer to my right, I reached for the bottle of whiskey. โAndโฆyou didnโt. You did what I asked.โ I jerked my chin at the chair. โSit.โ
Jericho was listening to me now, sitting his ass right down.
โYou opened the spot for me.โ I poured a shotโs worth of whiskey into a glass. โAnd for that, I am grateful.โ
The wolven eyed me from behind the lengths of his shaggy hair. Kieran inched even closer.
โYou sure about that?โ Jericho asked, resting both of his forearms on the table.
โI am. Now, I will be able to proceed correctly and safely with our plan.โ I set the glass in front of him. โDrink. Youโve earned it.โ
Relief seeped into his features, easing the tension in the set of his jaw. โThank you,โ he said, reaching for the glass.
โOne thing.โ I smiled, and he halted. โYouโre right-handed, correct?โ โYeah.โ Wariness skittered across Jerichoโs features. โWhy?โ
โJust curious,โ I told him, nudging the glass closer to him. โDrink.โ
I watched him reach for the glass. Kieran realized what I was about a second before I moved. He cursed under his breath, but I was faster.
Reaching inside the cloak, I unsheathed one of the short swords. Jericho hadnโt even picked up the glassโhe didnโt see it coming. All he felt was the clean, quick slice ofย myย blade as I brought it down on his left wrist, severing his hand. Blood spurted, spraying across the table.
โHoly fuck,โ someone gasped.
Jericho jerked back so quickly he knocked over his chair as he stared at where his hand had once been.
โThe next time, do as I order, not as you see fit. We need the Maiden unscathed whenย Iย take her. Disobey me again, and it will be your head.โ I looked around the room, meeting stares. โThat goes for everyone.โ
There were quick nods of agreement. Jericho began to scream.
Stepping back, I cleaned the blade of my sword on my cloak as Jericho doubled over, pressing his arm to his chest as his howls became pitiful whimpers. I sheathed the sword, then reached for the cloth Jericho had been using. โYouโre going to need this.โ I tossed it at him, then turned and left
the room.
Kieran followed, stepping out into the hall. I looked over at him. Heโd stopped, his arms crossed over his chest. โWhat?โ I questioned. โI didnโt kill him,ย andย I poured him a drink.โ
Kieranโs lips twitched.
โI wanted to do much worse,โ I reminded him. He sighed. โI know.โ
โI want him gone from the city,โ I said. โSend him to New Haven.โ
โWill do.โ Falling quiet until we reached the outside, Kieran then asked, โHow in the hell did she get her hands on a bloodstone dagger crafted with wolven bone?โ
โDamn if I know.โ I stopped near where the man had been passed out upon our entry, but he was now gone. A heartbeat passed. โShe had it with her the other night at the Red Pearl.โ
โReally?โ He drew out the word.
I nodded. โShocked the piss out of me. She said she knew how to use it.โ I tilted my head. โGuess she does to some extent.โ
Kieran shook his head as he turned his stare to the moon. โA Maiden with a wolven-bone dagger and, at the very least, no fear when it comes to using it?โ One side of his lips tipped up. โWhy do I have a feeling we may have underestimated her?โ
I let out a short, low laugh. โBecause I think we did.โ