“What do you want? ”
“To kill you!”
Asher chuckled darkly. “If you only wanted to kill me, I’d be dead already.”
Narra blanched, her grip on the revolver loosening. He was right. Why hadn’t she killed him already? She’d had plenty of opportunity, but hadn’t taken her shot.
“I owe you,” he continued. “I told them it was you.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“I know.” Asher sighed, leaning back against the wall. Blood dripped from his hairline, leaving a red track down his bruising cheek. “But I repay my debts, so let me help you get whatever it is you want.”
Narra rolled her eyes. “What is it you don’t understand about not needing your help?”
“If you didn’t need my help, you wouldn’t have been caught in the first place.”
“If you or whoever you were protecting hadn’t killed a man, you would owe me nothing !” Her voice rose and rose. She couldn’t help it. Anger seeped out of her pores. Fire flooded her chest. She should kill him. She owed him that. So why was he still alive?
“You’re right,” he said. “But that isn’t what happened.”
“You’re impossible!” she growled, lowering her gun and spinning to face the window. When he didn’t move across the room to attack, she spun to face him. “Why do you insist on making my life worse?”
He blanched. “I’m not trying to—”
“But you are! I was nearly hung because of you, and you can’t even tell me why !” Her fists shook and she bared her teeth. Her heart pounded faster, pushing fire through her veins.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you why.”
Narra pushed her revolver into its holster and slammed her fist against the dresser. The loud thunk echoed in the hollow space.
“Who are you protecting?” she screamed.
“My son!”
Her breath escaped her chest, leaving nothing to fan the flames inside. They stared at each other with wide eyes .
His son? What had Claudia called him? Ezriel. How could someone care so much for their child that they would condemn another to death? Her father was a monster. Erik’s father had been too. Good fathers didn’t exist, so why should he be one? She couldn’t believe him. She wouldn’t. He was a liar. Why would he tell the truth now?
Her heart rammed against her ribcage, and her anger leeched away. With the fire gone, she was empty. Cold. She stepped away from Asher.
“Wait—”
Narra spun and lunged across the room. She slammed the window open and leapt, fleeing the nothingness inside.
W hat in Ashra’s seven hells was wrong with her?
Her fists shook as cold seeped into her bones. A chill like none other lay over her heart, filling the emptiness inside her with fear.
How was it possible to love a child so? Though she wasn’t a mother, and never wanted to be, she couldn’t imagine it. So many fathers were cruel, beat their children, forced them to submit to their rule. Her father had been the very same. He’d tortured her from the day she was born. Had it been because she killed the love of his life so that she could exist? Or was he simply a terrible man?
Her eyes stung. She looked to the stars, blinking back furious tears. She decided it was impossible. But why lie now?
Narra heaved a sigh, her warm breath fogging the night air. She glared at the cobblestone, watching her boots beat against its smooth surface. The high walls and ornate fences of East Gardens passed her by, their compounds quiet. She should be asleep as well, not tracking down lying demons.
She shook her head. Asher’s pained face flashed before her eyes, screaming that he was protecting his son. He was the General of the Emperor’s armies, why did he need to blame his son’s murderous behavior on another? Certainly, he could get him out of trouble on his own. Yet, the moment he saw her, he cursed her to death.
Narra wished Ashra would come back and take her.
Darkness wrapped around her, a constant reminder of her loneliness. Only the streetlamps lit her way home, one every block or so with long stretches of black between them. At least the stars were out. They would guide her.
Footsteps broke the silence. She froze. What now?
Below a dim streetlamp, a cloaked figure stood watching. Shadows hid their face from sight. Narra reached for her daggers.
“Rheka?”
Narra started. The familiar feminine voice was high and questioning. Marina. What was she doing here?
“Princess?” she asked.
Marina lowered her hood, her thick brown curls tumbling over her shoulders. Her hazel eyes danced with worry and her eyebrows furrowed.
Her heart leapt into her throat. “What’s wrong?” Narra closed the space between them. Her emptiness gave way to something new. A foreign feeling. Concern. A flash of surprise struck her. She’d never worried about anyone but her family before.
“Is…” Marina paused, clutching a red amulet that hung around her neck. “Is my uncle alive?”
Narra blinked in surprise. She met Marina’s gaze with wide eyes. How had the princess known she’d come for General Asher? Her lips pressed into a thin line and she stepped back.
“How did you know I would be here?” Narra asked, her tone flat, accusing. She cleaned her face of emotion, and took a breath to still her pounding heart. Marina’s vulnerability confused her. She had to concentrate in order to think straight.
“I had you followed,” Marina admitted. Her cheeks flushed. “For when I needed to contact you.” Narra worked her jaw. “I only came when my men told me you were heading here. I know what my uncle did, but…” Her brows rose high and tears sprung at the corners of her eyes .
Narra’s face softened, and the steel around her heart cracked. “Your uncle is fine,” she said.
Her eyes lit and she breathed a great sigh of relief. “Thank Srah,” Marina said. Her gloved hand left the ruby at her breast. “Thank you , Rheka. For your mercy.”
Narra’s jaw slackened. Never before had she been thanked for not killing a man. Then again, she’d never shown mercy before. Was that what she’d done in fleeing Asher’s home? Had she shown him mercy, or simply saved his trial for a later date?
Narra shook her head. “Don’t thank me.”
Marina smiled, her cheeks dimpling. Warmth spread through Narra’s cold. “All the same, I am grateful.”
Narra shifted awkwardly, suddenly all too aware of Marina’s closeness. Her breath warmed the air between them.
“Is that all you’re here for?” Narra asked, genuinely curious. Had she truly come all this way to defend her uncle? Or did she have a task at last?
Though Marina had claimed she wanted Narra to steal the emperor’s crown, there was much more to it than that. She didn’t want her father’s physical crown, but to depose him indefinitely. That would require careful planning, and a lot more work on Narra’s part.
Marina’s smile faltered, but didn’t disappear altogether. Her intelligent brown eyes held mischief. “Walk with me, will you?” She stepped to Narra’s side, motioning down the street.
Narra narrowed her eyes. Where would she have her go? It was late, a strange hour for a stroll. If the Patrolmen spotted them, she’d have to flee, and leave Marina with her share of unanswerable questions. But Marina’s eyes beckoned, and her dimples flashed.
Narra sighed. “Very well.”
The princess nodded and dropped her hand from the amulet at her throat, leading the way south of East Gardens. Her steps were gentle, her heels clicking only slightly on the stone. Narra stole a glance from beneath her lashes, trying to determine Marina’s true purpose there tonight. The brunette stared ahead, seemingly lost in thought. She didn’t take in the street, the gardens, or the fine architecture, simply walked, her hazel eyes glazed over.
Narra worked her lip between her teeth. Marina was a strange woman. Though the daughter of the emperor, she led a revolution. Regardless of her upbringing, she seemed fair and kind, unlike her
family. Someone had to have shaped her this way, but who? Certainly not her father and sisters. Narra sighed and looked ahead.
Several blocks from East Gardens, tall spruce trees peeked above the shorter houses. She’d nearly forgotten a park was nearby. That had to be their destination.
Large rose bushes and thorny vines spread out before the ornate black metal fence guarding the park. Ahead, two brick pillars marked the entrance. A plaque on one stated this was the Willa Conservatory, after the late Empress Willa the Wilted, who’d died many centuries ago. She had the shortest reign in history, having been murdered on the second anniversary of her coronation—assassinated so that her bloodthirsty brother Barrett could take the throne.
Marina steered them inside, her velvet gown and fur-trimmed cloak swishing with her movements. Tall spruce and maple trees rose on either side of the stone path, lined with carnations. They’d be out of season soon, and wilt like the namesake of the Conservatory had many years ago.
Long, quiet moments passed as they walked, a slight breeze rustling Narra’s hair. Dark shadows crept along the edges of the trees. Only dim light filtered into the park from the street, growing more faint by the moment. This could easily be a trap. With hiding spots in the trees, the bushes, and behind the large glass conservatory, Narra grew wary. Doubt crept into her heart, stirring its beat faster. She shouldn’t have gone along with whatever this was.
Narra stopped.
The click of heels ceased when Marina turned to the thief.
“Why are you really here?” Narra asked. Her fists clenched by her thighs. She had to know. If she couldn’t trust Marina, she couldn’t go any further into the darkness with her .
Marina sighed and smoothed her thick skirts. “I have your mission, thief.”
Thief ? A twinge clenched Narra’s chest.
“Our plans have been derailed by whoever destroyed North Station. Aboard the train was a soldier guarding a weapon. We sought to take it from my father and use it against him. We hoped to force him to step down from the throne, but someone got to the soldier first.”
Narra quirked an eyebrow, and her heart slowed. Marina’s words had the ring of truth to them. Her gaze was steady, and held Narra’s confidently.
“What is this weapon?” Narra asked.
“I don’t know,” Marina admitted. Her face fell. “We hoped to take it on the raid from the train. I’ve spoken with my men. No one could find it, which means someone else knew of its existence, too. Whether it be someone in West Port, Drestel Ridge, or even Rova City, I don’t know.” She heaved another sigh, her eyes cast downward.
Sympathy stirred in Narra’s chest. She nodded her understanding.
“Someone unknown has stolen my revolution’s hope, and I want it back.” Marina clenched her fists. Fire stirred in the hazel depths of her eyes. “My mission for you, Rheka, is to track down this soldier and find out what he knows. He must have seen something, or someone, that could give us a hint. Find him. We are at a standstill without this weapon.”
Again, Narra watched and listened for deceit in her voice and eyes, but there was none. Marina needed her help, possibly more than she understood. Narra didn’t know the inner workings of the Revolution, but if this weapon was so important, she would help. She had to. For her father. For the princess. She owed Marina much—her life, her future. Both only existed because of the princess. But more than her owed debt, was her father’s mysterious demise. He must have gone to Drestel for the weapon. But why? Why get involved with the rebellion? Could such a weapon really be worth risking his life?
“I’ll find him,” Narra agreed .
Relief washed over Marina’s striking features. A smile broke across her face, beautiful like the dawn before a storm. She took Narra’s hands in hers, warmth emanating through her leather gloves. Narra froze, her eyes flying wide. Her heart sped up, thumping loudly in her ears.
“Thank you, Rheka,” Marina said. “I am in your debt.”
And she meant it.
Narra swallowed, her mouth had gone dry. She worked to smooth the emotion from her face, trying in vain to flatten her features. “The debt is mine, Your Highness.”
The princess tilted her head to the side, her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“You saved my life.”
Her confusion fled, her smile returning. “It was my pleasure.”
Narra bit her lip. Did Marina know what she had been tried for? Hung for? Did she know the empire thought her a murderer? Somehow this bothered her more than her debt to the princess. She didn’t want Marina to think of her as a killer.
“We really do need your aid,” Marina continued. She stepped away, her hands falling to her sides. Narra’s fingers were cold without her warmth.
The princess motioned her on, her heels clicking softly against the pebbled pathway. She led the way to the center of the park, where trees dispersed to reveal a small courtyard. Narra followed, flexing her fingers in an attempt to forget Marina’s gentle hold.
A beautiful smooth stone fountain sat at the center of the clearing, a statue of the beautiful Empress Willa at its center. A bird sat on her extended hand; its wings open to take flight. A small stream sprouted beneath her feet, growing into a tall spray that gave Willa the illusion of a crystal skirt.
“My men are capable in many things, but not this. The connections you’ve made at the Guild will surely help you find this man,” Marina said, pausing by the fountain’s circular base. Her fingers wrapped around the pendant swaying against her breast. The chain tinkled quietly as she raised the large ruby to her lips, placing a kiss on the red gem.
“You know of my association with the Guild?” Narra asked.
“You’ve had a bounty on your head for some time, Rheka.” Marina smiled, turning a mischievous glance on Narra. “However, no one had seen your face until your hanging. Even then you called yourself Q. I wasn’t sure you were this mysterious Rheka at first, but I couldn’t believe you were a simple killer—if you’ve ever killed a man at all.”
Narra stared at the princess with wide eyes. Had Marina figured this out all on her own? She was even more intelligent than Narra had first speculated. “You weren’t surprised to learn my name then, were you?”
“No,” she confessed. “I suspected you were the infamous Commander Rheka.”
The star-filled sky was enough to see the flicker of light dance through Marina’s eyes. She truly was brilliant. Narra had always suspected the Patrolmen of Rova City knew more about the Guild than the commanders thought. If they had a bounty on her head, even before her escaped hanging, she wondered who else they knew of. She took solace that at least they didn’t know their faces. Only Marina seemed to have made the connection.
“I must admit, you are much different than I expected,” Marina said, dipping her head to one side. Her curls bounced, framing her beautiful bronze skin.
“As are you.” Narra averted her gaze, feigning interest in the conservatory beyond the courtyard. Her cheeks flushed. Had Marina truly spent time wondering what she might be like?
Marina laughed, her voice a soft tinkle. “What did you expect of a princess?” She taunted Narra with her brows, a grin spreading across her face.
Narra expected Marina’s sisters, but didn’t say as such. She shrugged, remaining still, her hands locked at her sides. She’d always thought Rova’s three daughters were the same: cruel, ambitious, blood thirsty—much like each emperor before them. That Marina was a kind-hearted revolutionary seemed nearly impossible.
“Not you,” was all Narra said.
Marina’s smile dropped, and her brows furrowed with disappointment. She’d wanted a different answer?
Narra cleared her throat. “What did you expect of a thief?”
Marina seemed to consider this, her hazel eyes racking Narra’s cloaked body. “In truth? A serpent, or a ferocious cat—not a beautiful woman.”
Footsteps sounded on the street then, breaking Narra’s shock. She sp
un, searching the street beyond the trees. The park was dark, layering them in shadow. But if their eyesight was adjusted, would the Patrolmen see them among the trees? Narra reached for the princess, her fingers wrapping around Marina’s slim forearm.
A question remained in Marina’s eyes, but she didn’t pull away when Narra flew past her, pulling them both down the southern path. While Narra rushed over the pebbles, as silent as dawn before the day, Marina’s heels clacked loudly.
“What was that?” a voice snapped.
Emperor’s ancestors .
Narra gritted her teeth and dove for the nearest crop of trees. Brambles lay heavy at the edge of the path, snaring her cloak. She ripped it free as it tugged at her shoulders.
“By the conservatory,” another man said. Boots trampled the stone path.
“We must hide,” Narra whispered. Marina nodded her narrow chin, picking up her heavy skirts as she stepped through the thorns.
Thick pines and a single maple stood tall, wilting ferns at their base. Beneath the pines there would be space enough for two. Narra helped Marina over the brambles, her heart racing as the footsteps drew closer. Hurry . She looked for the shadows of the Patrolmen. Maybe thirty feet down the path, two figures paced quickly, the outlines of their swords clear even in the dim light.
Marina reached the end of the brambles. Narra grabbed her hand, ignoring the warmth, and tugged her forward. She paused at the base of the pine tree and lifted a branch. Needles fell to the grass. Narra motioned Marina inside. The princess ducked low, taking to her hands and knees as she disappeared into the darkness beneath the tree.
“I think I heard something this way.” The men paused in the courtyard.
Narra ducked beneath the pine, letting the branch down easy as not to stir the surrounding needles. Pure darkness descended beneath the tree. Needles stung her palms as she crawled forward, her heartbeat slowing. She tried to peer through the dark, to discern Marina’s shadow, but all she saw was black.
“Marina?” she whispered. Narra crept forward slowly, unwilling to lay her knee or hand on a loose branch or pinecone, less they alert the Patrolmen to their location.
Clockwork Thief Box Set Page 11
