Erik whistled as he appraised the carved mermaid on the bow, with long hair barely concealing her exposed breasts. “Damn, that’s some fine work.”
“Would you hurry up?” Narra snapped.
Erik gave her a sheepish smile as he jogged up the plank. They’d barely stepped off onto the ship when a familiar sword was pointed their way.
“This has got to stop,” Narra said, deadpanned. Every time she visited, the same pirate, Derrick, pointed his blade at her throat. He was lucky she didn’t grab it and turn it on him.
“State ‘yer business,” he growled.
“We’re here to see the captain,” Narra said.
“Is he serious?” Erik chuckled .
Narra exchanged a look with Erik. “Unfortunately.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t gutted him yet,” Erik said.
“Me too,” the familiar, dark purr came from the passageway at the back of the ship. Avalon appeared from the shadows, a large grin on her face. “Rheka. How lovely to see you again.”
Avalon crossed the deck and bumped her crewman aside with her hip before enveloping Narra in her arms. “Thank you for bringing Caroline back to me.”
Narra’s cheeks heated. Avalon was as warm as the sun pressed against her chest. She squeezed Narra’s shoulders hard and buried her face against her hair.
Narra didn’t miss Erik’s amused chuckle, or the delicious smell of strawberries wafting from Avalon’s hair. When the pirate woman finally pulled back, Narra was dizzy and her cheeks were set aflame.
“You’re welcome,” Narra said quietly, trying and failing to hide her embarrassment.
“Who is this?” Avalon motioned at Erik. She didn’t share the same warmth with Erik as she did with Narra.
“Erik,” he said. He gave the captain a mocking bow and wink.
Narra wasn’t at all surprised when Avalon rolled her eyes and turned away. “Come and join me,” Avalon said. “Bring your friend if you must.”
Erik’s face went slack as he looked between the two women. Narra hardly held back her grin. Erik was not used to his charms being brushed away by women. He was a handsome man, and he knew it.
Narra poked him in the ribs as she walked past her friend to follow Avalon to her chambers. By the time they stepped into the familiar room, Erik had finally stopped muttering about what it was he’d done wrong.
“Sister!” Caroline bounced up from the bed at the back of the large captain’s quarters. “You’ve finally brought her back so I can thank her!” The short woman passed her sister in a few bounds and grabbed Narra’s hands. “Thank you for saving me from that wretched princess. I’m so glad to be free of her. ”
Narra smiled at the genuine glimmer of thanks in Caroline’s eyes. “You’re welcome.”
“Please, you must stay for dinner so we can thank you properly,” Avalon said. She motioned them both further in. On the left hand side of the chamber a large table for six was bolted to the floor, a bench on either side and a chair at each end.
Narra looked back at Erik, but he was looking into the shadows of Avalon’s bed, his eyes wide and his eyebrows high. She followed his gaze to find Kaja the tiger lurching from beneath the comforter, spilling pillows onto the floor as she prowled onto the hardwood, her lips drawn back in a snarl.
“What in Srah’s name is that?” Erik asked, his voice small.
Both Rupan women looked back at the giant cat. Avalon grinned and laughed while Caroline went to Kaja’s side.
“This is Kaja,” Caroline said. She pouted as she knelt next to the tiger and hugged its thick neck. “And she’s a beautiful tiger.”
Kaja rumbled a purr as Caroline rubbed her ears.
“You don’t need to be afraid of her unless you intend to harm us,” Avalon said. “Though I’d keep your distance. She isn’t very fond of men.”
Narra raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t known that.
Kaja looked between them all, hardly seeming to care that Narra was there any longer, but still she glared at Erik.
“Why is that?” Narra asked, curious.
Avalon’s amused smile fell. “She was abused as a cub, locked up for the pleasure of humans, and injured every time she did something her owner didn’t like.”
Narra’s heart clenched. “That’s terrible.”
Avalon nodded grimly. “It was. That’s why I took her from that awful place. I’d have given her back to the wilds, but she was far too tame to survive out there.”
Caroline smiled back at her sister as she rubbed Kaja’s scruff. “You did good, Sis.”
Avalon smiled. “Thanks, Cari.”
Caroline stood, but Kaja didn’t leave her side, even as she went over to the dinner table and took a seat at the head of the table. “I still can’t believe you named her after Kaji.”
Narra looked between the sisters. They looked so alike, but the age difference was obvious now that Caroline was cleaned up and back in regular clothes. They had to be nearly ten years apart, putting Caroline at roughly twenty years old.
“Cari,” Avalon warned.
Caroline didn’t look up from her plate, which was silver and empty, but she traced the delicate carved pattern along the edge with the tip of her finger. “I was just saying.”
“Who’s Kaji?” Narra asked.
Avalon snapped her teeth shut with an audible click.
“Her daughter,” Caroline said.
Narra’s eyebrows shot up. Before she could say anything, Erik asked, “You have a daughter?”
Avalon looked away out the curved windows lining the side of the room. Though thick violet curtains shielded most of the outside world, some remained parted on the ocean side next to the dining table. “I did, once.”
Again, her heart squeezed painfully. “I’m sorry,” Narra said.
Avalon sighed and shook her head. “It was a long time ago.”
She remembered now in the heat of the moment when Avalon had saved her from Asher in the hospital. The pirate had said she’d had a daughter once, and that she was dead now, but killing the man responsible hadn’t brought her any solace. Her daughter was still dead, as was Asher’s son.
The tension grew heavy until only Kaja’s purring drowned out the lapping of waves on the side of the ship.
“Come sit,” Avalon said. She motioned to the table before going back outside. She only leaned out the door for a moment, exchanging whispers with someone on the other side before she went to sit on the bench near Caroline.
When the pirate captain was seated, Narra and Erik exchanged a quick look before they joined them.
They sat in silence for some time until Avalon’s crew delivered dinner, and then left. Kaja rumbled as she rubbed her head against Caroline’s arm, making the young woman giggle.
“Traitor,” Avalon whispered. Her lips curved in an amused smile as she eyed the tiger.
Caroline grinned. “She’s always loved me more.”
“Not true.”
“Well, maybe not.” Caroline sighed wistfully. “I can’t wait to return to Rupa. I miss my pet.”
“You know Kaja isn’t a pet, Cari,” Avalon scolded.
“I know. She’s a companion , or whatever you want to call her.” Caroline rolled her eyes.
Narra watched the two sisters with amusement. It had been a long time since she’d seen two people act in such a nice, carefree way.
They ate dinner and chatted idly for some time, until they were done and their plates were taken away. When they finally relaxed with mugs of foreign red wine in hand, Avalon finally turned to Narra with a surprised look in her eyes.
“I just realized something,” the pirate said. “I never asked you why you came.”
Narra’s breath hitched. She’d almost forgotten as well. She’d been so preoccupied with all she was learning about the pirate and her sister that she’d forgotten her and Erik had come to visit Avalon with a purpose.
“Oh yes.” Narra swallowed the lump in her throat. “I need to call upon
my favor.”
Avalon’s relaxed expression grew hard, and she quickly removed her boots from atop the table, suspicion creeping into her eyes. “Oh? And what is it you want?”
Narra bit the inside of her cheek. She hated to ask after such a lovely evening, but she had no choice. “I need your help to bring down the soon-to-be empress of Rova.”
“ Y ou want to dethrone Marina before she’s even started her reign?” Avalon asked. She’d already rephrased herself several times in an effort to make sense of Narra’s request.
“Yes,” Narra said. She didn’t need to explain why. Avalon already knew much of their history, or had probably guessed most of it.
Avalon worked her jaw back and forth. “You know I want revenge against that wretched girl for taking my sister, but I had planned on returning to Rupa with Caroline.”
Narra bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something she might regret. Instead, she took a deep breath. “Please, I need your help with this.”
Avalon looked back at Caroline. “I can’t, Rheka. I need to get back to Orillia. Please understand.” She paused to look back at Narra. “You should come with us and escape all of this mess with the empire and the Daughters.”
Erik shot Narra a sharp look. “You told her about that?”
Narra narrowed her eyes at him. “Yes. I had to in case I ended up dead.”
Erik blanched.
“You should strongly consider this, Rheka,” Avalon continued. “I know how much your Thieves mean to you, but do you really want to remain here in all of this chaos?”
Narra met Avalon’s eyes, which sparked even in the low light. She wanted to genuinely consider Avalon’s offer of escape. Leaving to Rupa would mean she’d no longer have to deal with her potential punishment from the Thieves, or with Marina’s coming reign, or the assassins lurking in the shadows.
But she couldn’t seriously consider it, because Erik was free, and Alden was still missing, and she wasn’t going anywhere without them.
“I’m sorry, I can’t,” Narra said.
Avalon sighed. “I understand.”
“But you still owe me that favor,” Narra continued.
Avalon’s jaw hardened.
“Sis, it’ll be fine,” Caroline said. “We can stay and help.”
Avalon glanced sharply at her sister. “No. You’ll be heading back to Rupa in the morning. Alone.”
“What ?” Caroline gasped.
“I won’t let you stay here and risk you being taken again. You’re going back to Rupa.”
“You can’t be serious!” Caroline scoffed.
“I am quite serious, Caroline.”
Caroline blinked in surprise. Narra had a feeling that the younger sister wasn’t used to Avalon using her full name.
“I won’t go,” Caroline said. She folded her arms in defiance. “This woman saved me, and it’s the least I can do.”
Avalon stood suddenly, slamming her palms on the table. “You will do as I say, Caroline.”
Caroline’s eyes went wide like saucers. She didn’t say a word, and after a tense moment of silence, Avalon sat back down.
Narra exchanged an awkward glance with Erik. She hadn’t meant to step on anyone’s toes, but they really did need the help. Bringing down the next empress wasn’t going to be easy.
“We’ll discuss this later,” Avalon told Caroline more quietly this time .
Caroline nodded, and avoided their gazes as she scratched Kaja’s ears. When the purring returned to fill the silence, Narra relaxed slightly.
“So what’s your plan?” Avalon asked.
“We’ll need to meet with Asher again soon to work up a new plan of attack,” Narra said. Erik’s shoulders stiffened. He didn’t like the general, which was understandable given the man had framed Narra for murder. “I’m sure there will be another way to prove Marina isn’t fit to rule, and Asher is our best bet.”
Avalon dipped her chin. “All right. We might as well go tonight, then.”
Narra looked at Erik, who was avoiding her eyes. “That’s fine.”
Avalon stood. “If you’ll give my sister and I a moment, we can leave in a few minutes.”
Narra nodded and stood. Erik followed, and they left Avalon’s chambers in tense silence.
She slipped down the hall past Derrick, who scowled at her the entire way, and went out onto the deck. Salty air brushed her hair back, and Narra squinted into the wind.
“You really think the general will help us dethrone his niece?” Erik asked.
Narra looked over her shoulder. “He was willing to before.”
“And you think he still is?”
“I imagine so.”
Erik looked out to sea. This late at night, the ocean was black below a starless night sky. With the cloud cover so thick, it blocked out nearly all light from the heavens. If it weren’t for the gas lamps on deck, and out on the City Docks, they’d be cast in total darkness.
“What’s wrong?” Narra asked when Erik didn’t continue.
“It’s nothing,” he said.
That was doubtful. Erik always had his concerns, and she knew a lot of them were about her. Irritation pricked at her skin and sent a small wave of heat to her fingertips. She appreciated Erik’s concern, but he was only being overprotective now. She’d met with Asher many times in the past, and today would be no different .
“Ready to go?” Avalon said. She walked across the deck, back in more casual clothing with a thick wool cloak wrapped around her shoulders.
Narra nodded.
“Then let’s head out.” Avalon led the way off the deck and down the plank to the dock. Narra followed, and Erik trailed after her.
As they walked up the street in silence, Narra was again left wishing she’d brought an extra grappling hook. If she was going to continue hanging out with the pirate captain, she’d need to teach the woman how to fly with one. Walking across the entire town was getting tiresome.
Narra’s boots crunched the dried leaves on the other side of the wall surrounding Asher’s home in East Gardens. It had taken several hours to cross the city, and with tense silence reigning, it hadn’t been a quick trip.
She stepped away from the wall in time for Erik to land beside her. They’d already helped Avalon over first, and the pirate waited at the trellis, the same way they’d taken to break into Asher’s home last time.
Narra took the lead, scurrying up the vine-covered trellis in moments before flinging herself over the railing onto the patio atop the sunroom on the first floor. She didn’t bother flattening herself to the ground. Instead, she pulled out her lock picks from the pocket on her thigh, and deftly slipped them inside the lock.
Asher hadn’t upgraded security since the last time she was here, and with a few quick flicks of her wrist, the door clicked open. She didn’t enter just yet. Instead, she clung to the shadows and waited as Erik and Avalon joined her a couple minutes later. It took Avalon the longest to get up, something she’d been anticipating. Erik, however, wore an irritated expression the second he reached her side.
Narra bit her lip on an amused smile, but Erik must have caught it forming as he glowered at her .
“We have two more minutes before patrol passes,” Avalon whispered. She was the one keeping track of time, while the Thieves did the rest.
“Excellent,” Narra said. She cracked the door to peer inside. Warm light spilled from Asher’s bedroom door instead of the study.
Hm. That was a first.
Was the general still awake?
Narra slipped inside, opening the door just enough for her to get through. Avalon was quick to join her, and Erik brought up the rear, shutting the door with a quiet click . The second the door was shut, a groan pierced the quiet. Heavy breathing came from down the hall.
She tilted her head, and her eyebrows furrowed. It took her a second longer than it should have to understand what was going on, and once she did, her cheeks heated and her eyes flew wide.
Asher wasn’t alone tonight. He was with someone. In his bedroom. At night.
Emperor’s ancestors .
Narra backpedalled a step, a myriad of emotions washing through her. She bumped into Avalon, who grunted in surprise before her hip knocked the hall table. Its clawed feet scraped across the wooden floor and a vase tipped off the edge and fell toward the ground. A few inches before it hit, Erik caught it. He met her wild gaze with wide eyes of his own.
Thank Srah .
The moaning stopped.
“What was that?” a breathy female voice asked.
Narra stared at the ceiling. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She’d snuck into Asher’s home several times now, and not once had he had company, let alone this kind of company.
“What do we do?” Avalon whispered feverishly.
Narra sighed. “Nothing. Just wait.”
Shuffling filled the quiet left by her words, and seconds later, the door to Asher’s bedroom flung open. The general stepped out in only a robe, a sword in one hand and a lamp in the other.
His brow was furrowed with determination, but relaxed the moment his gaze landed on her. Narra quirked an eyebrow and relaxed her weight onto one hip, crossing her arms as she silently asked him what the hell he thought he was doing.
Flames of irritation rushed through her chest. She’d thought he was still upset, distraught even, over the loss of his son. Every time he showed up to see her, or she to see him, that’s all he seemed to care about. And yet, there he was, bedding some woman.
“What are you doing here?” Asher growled once he’d regained his composure.
Narra rolled her eyes. “We need to talk.”
“Can’t you see I’m busy?”
Narra looked him over, and heat rushed to her face when she realized his robe was tented.
“It’s important,” she said, but her voice was strained. She wasn’t used to being embarrassed, and couldn’t say she cared for it, or any of the other things she was feeling right now. The embers of her anger were building inside her, making her eyebrows furrow as she tried to figure out why.
Clockwork Thief Box Set Page 51
