Chapter 16

Ryker

I seethed asI pulled Ellery toward one of the nearby merchant booths. I ripped a ribbon free from where it hung on a rafter to show off its navy blue color.

The woman standing inside the small building released a small squeak but didn't offer any further protest when I shot her a look and pulled Ellery out of view of Samael. I hauled her up against the wall and jerked her cut wrist toward me.

"What the fuck were you thinking by volunteering your hand in place of a street rat's?" I demanded.

"I was thinking I'd save the hand of a child. Ow!"

I ignored her protest of pain as I wrapped the ribbon around her wrist to staunch the blood flow. "I don't know why I'm bothering to help you save a hand you were so determined to lose."

When her other hand encircled my wrist, some of my irritation ebbed as her warmth flowed into me. She was an idiot, but she felt and smelled amazing as her delicate fingers tightened on me.

I resisted the impulse to turn my hand over and clasp hers as she gazed at me from wide, pleading eyes. "He's not a street rat," she whispered.

"No, they smell better."

She recoiled before she jerked her wounded arm away. She fumbled for a few seconds, but when she couldn't tie the ribbon with only one hand, I took it from her again and cinched it into place.

"He's only a child!" she snapped.

"And an attempted thief, except he's not very good at it. He'll lose his hand one day, and if you're not careful, so will you. If I were you, I'd steer clear of Samael from now on."

"He doesn't like you much either."

"Yes, but he can't come after me, and he knows it."

"Yet I'm fair game."

When I lifted my gaze to meet her beautiful, unique eyes, she peered up at me from under her thick, black lashes. She was strikingly beautiful with her pert nose, round face, and lips that could envelop a cock and bring a grown man to his knees.

The freckles speckling the golden skin of her nose and cheeks created a pattern that I had to fist my hands to keep from tracing. She was about ten inches shorter than my six-four frame.

And she was missing a brain.

"Next time," I said, "stay out of it and let nature take its course."

"That wasn't nature! Tempest is a land currently ruled by greedy assholes who can't be bothered to help those who need it most. And if you think it's okay to stand by while they take the hand of a starving little boy, you'll fit right in."

Before I could reply, she turned on her heel and stormed away. I watched until she vanished into the crowd, but I couldn't deny her parting words had stung. However, instead of correcting her, I let her go.

I'd had enough of fighting, politics, and bullshit today. I'd come to Nottingshire looking for a thief and failed, but there was always a bright side to everything.

I slipped from behind the booth, tossed a carisle to the woman selling the ribbons, and strode toward the nearest tavern. While there, I could have a few drinks and learn more about the Hooded Robber.