10. Kiera

Chapter 10

Kiera

Startled green eyes blinked at me. My sore ribs protested at being crushed against Aiden’s hard stomach.

A low whistle sounded. Instinctively, I turned to look, but Aiden caught my chin, forcing me to keep looking at him. My breathing grew ragged. Slowly, he lowered the scarf back over my eyes.

“Maz,” he growled, “quit gawking and shut the door.”

Maz chuckled, and his heavy footsteps trailed by. “What can I say, you two put on a good show. The blindfold is a particularly nice touch. What was the shrieking about?”

“An ill-timed spider attack,” Aiden answered, a hint of mirth in his voice.

Cheeks warming, I quickly rolled off him, landing on a plush rug. The musty smell of the tunnel faded under the scent of melted wax and rose petals. It vaguely reminded me of Renwell—a thought that sent a rush of vigilance through my veins. I swayed to my feet.

“Not so fast,” Aiden said, grabbing my biceps. He turned me in a few circles. “Now you can take off the blindfold.”

I peeled the scarf away and stuffed it in my pocket, blinking in the soft candlelight. A large sitting room slowly came into focus. A gold chandelier wreathed in fat candles. Thick crimson rugs over a gleaming wood floor. Wall tapestries stitched with stories too small to decipher.

Low couches draped in silks and furs were strewn around the room. Maz lounged in one, looking as though he’d never gotten up. Aiden stood, watching me, by a slender table cluttered with glass decanters.

Where was the door we had come through?

I spun in another, slower circle but found no sign of one. It must be behind one of the many tapestries.

“Look all you want,” Aiden said. “It will do you no good unless you plan on tearing this room apart.”

I gave him a lethal smile, the impression his body had left on mine still disturbingly present. “Is that permission?”

His lip curled. “You wouldn’t make it far.”

“Can’t blame me for wanting to know all the escape routes.”

“Not this one,” he gritted out.

I glanced at Maz. “Is he always this stubborn?”

Maz barked out a laugh. “You’re just scratching the surface, lovely.”

A door opened at the far end of the room, and a tall, beautiful woman stepped inside, tucking a key down her generous cleavage. Distant laughter and conversation filtered through the door before she shut it.

“You’re late,” she called as she glided across the room to join us. Blue silk and gossamer gold chains swayed over the curves of her body. A mass of long, curly black hair spilled over her shoulders and down the exposed back of her silk dress. Her dark skin was flawless.

She couldn’t have been more than a few years older than me, but she held herself like a queen.

“Apologies, Melaena,” Aiden said. “We had to take the longer route.”

“I see.” Eyes of the clearest cerulean blue met mine. Her observation of me was quick and business-like. Then she smiled. “Kiera, is it? Maz told me I’d be meeting you tonight.”

I nodded, trying not to look nervous. I didn’t recognize her, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t caught a glimpse of me somewhere.

But there was only kindness in her eyes. “Welcome to my club, The Silk Dancer .”

“You own this place?” I blurted out. I’d heard of The Silk Dancer but had never entered, figuring I would have less chance of getting recognized when I snuck out to rowdy taverns near the city gate.

I hadn’t expected it to be run by someone so young. Or so pleasant, given the circumstances of our meeting.

Her smile widened, making her features glow. “Yes. I inherited it from my parents. I rather enjoy running my own business.”

“And you do a beautiful job of it,” Maz declared, inclining his head to her from where he sat. “I was heartbroken to miss your Mynastra’s Tide performance last night.”

“Yes, we understand how very busy you must be, Melaena,” Aiden cut in. “So, we’ll make our business quick.”

She smiled at him, a fondness in her eyes that curdled like cold gravy in my stomach. “You always do,” she said.

“Kiera used to be a palace guard and witnessed Asher opening the vault where he keeps a large portion of Weylin’s wealth,” Aiden said. “Have you seen it?”

I stiffened at how easily he gave away details to Melaena. He must trust her a great deal.

But she took it in stride. “Yes, once. He made a grand show of paying me directly from his hoard.”

“How did he open it?” Aiden demanded.

“A key from a chain around his neck. But he didn’t let me watch him open it. Said that was only for High Councilors and royals to know.”

See? Believe me , I silently commanded Aiden as he frowned.

“Is there anything else we should know about it?” he asked.

Her red lips quirked to the side. “I’ve heard he sometimes keeps other things in there like important documents, payroll, sunstone, even fireseeds.”

Maz bolted upright, a feral look on his face. “Fireseeds, you say? Probably stole them from Dag traders, the bastard.”

The seeds were precious, harvested from the fireflowers on Arduen’s Mountain once a year. Depending on how many Asher had, he could fetch a high price for them. As well as for the sunstone. Father had built much of his wealth on the highly restricted sale of the gods-given rocks.

I glanced at Aiden. His face was hidden by his hood as he paced the room. Gods, to be a fly on the wall of his mind. I’d learn everything I needed to know in a heartbeat.

He stopped and faced Melaena, every thought safely tucked away. “How is his security?”

“Tight. His mansion is walled off from the rest of the nobility with high fences and guards all around the perimeter. But there’s never more than a few guards inside and only one outside the vault.”

“See? I told you Kiera was telling the truth,” Maz said, standing and slapping Aiden’s shoulder. “How are we going to do this, then?”

I stayed quiet, my focus on Melaena. She didn’t bat an eyelash at where the conversation was headed. Did they plan this sort of thing a lot?

Either way, she was the key. My gut told me that any plan from her, Aiden would take.

“If you’re planning to do what I think you are,” Melaena said, “then you should know that Asher is having a party in about two weeks’ time. A luxurious affair for his birthday with many guests and additional hired help. He also wants us to put on a special show for him, which I agreed to. I also happen to know the woman in charge of preparations.” She quirked a manicured eyebrow at Aiden. “If that helps.”

“It does,” he said, his eyes flitting to me. “I thought we could steal the vault key from Asher here, as I know he’s a devoted patron of this club, but that presented some logistical problems. Problems that would be solved if we used his party as cover instead.” He didn’t look away from me as he asked, “Could Kiera join your dancers for the show?”

I gaped at him. “You must be joking. I can’t be in a show.” This was his plan? It was almost like he’d heard me thinking about dancing with him as he’d led me around blindfolded.

Melaena turned to me, giving me a more scrutinizing look. “Why not? Even if you’ve never danced before, I’m sure I could teach you well enough to blend in. Besides, you’re beautiful, even dirty and marked up as you are. But I’m guessing a bath and a few of Aiden’s healing salves would fix that.”

“And we need you to get close to Asher,” Aiden said, folding his arms over his chest. Something akin to disgust flickered in his eyes. “He lets Melaena’s dancers get... very close.”

My stomach rolled over.

“But you don’t have to touch him,” Melaena added quickly, shooting a stern look at Aiden. “We have rules here. No one does anything they don’t want to do.”

I threw up my hands. “Even if I could fit in with the dancers, he could recognize me.”

“Never mind that,” Melaena said. “I have a theme in mind that will use masks and makeup with very little clothing, so I’m sure he won’t be looking at your face too closely.”

Gods damn it, to be so exposed... dancing in front of strangers... pulling off a heist.

I had barely started one mission to be thrust into another within that. So many disguises, so many lies. But I supposed this was the life of a spy. I’d started myself down this path with the ill-conceived bait of Asher’s vault, and now I would have to keep to it until the end or risk all the progress I’d made.

But two weeks ? I hadn’t thought how much time I would have to ingratiate myself with Aiden and his crew to discover their purpose, but now I wanted more of it.

I shook myself. It didn’t matter. Once I found a way to tell Renwell what they were planning, he would put a stop to the heist—perhaps giving me more time to steal their secrets.

Aiden’s jaw clenched, his eyes hard as gemstones as he stared at me. “We can find another way.”

“No,” I said. “It... it’s just a lot to take in.”

Someone knocked on the door. “Melaena? We’re ready to start,” a woman’s voice called.

“Be there in a moment, Jayde!” Melaena called back. “Keep them entertained!”

“Ah, Jayde’s working tonight?” Maz asked eagerly.

Melaena smirked at him. “Yes, but I’d think twice about approaching her. She knows about you and Tullia.”

Maz grimaced.

“Maz’s labyrinth of a love life aside,” Aiden said, “what’s your answer, Kiera?”

I took a deep breath. “I’ll do it. But could I watch the dancers for a bit? To get an idea of what I’ll be doing?”

Melaena beamed and squeezed my hands. “Absolutely! Aiden can show you where to stand without being seen.” She released me, heading for the door. “I’ll give your name to the gate guards, so they’ll let you through for training tomorrow. Noon. Don’t be late. Aiden, we’ll talk more soon. And don’t bother my dancers, Maz. We have a private wrap party after our show tonight that I want all my dancers present for.”

She hurried out the door with Maz trailing her, muttering something about not being a bother backstage.

“After you,” Aiden said, gesturing me out the door.

I couldn’t look him in the eye as I passed. My emotions and thoughts were tangled in a thorny mess. I wanted to be alone to sort through it all, but that would never happen if Aiden had his way.

Outside the room, another door stood across the hall. But Aiden turned down the dim corridor, and I followed him as he walked most of the way down. He swung aside a heavy tapestry to reveal a small door that looked like nothing more than a broom closet.

“This is it?” I asked in disbelief as Aiden let me inside.

“You’ll see.”

I scowled and swiped away a cobweb that brushed my shoulder. No spiders here, at least.

At the end of a short passage was a tightly wound staircase. We climbed to the top and reached a small balcony that clung to an upper back corner of a huge room. More candle chandeliers hung from the ceiling. It felt like I was floating above a sea of flames. A large stage draped with a crimson curtain stood opposite our balcony.

I peered over the edge where Melaena’s glimmering clientele lounged on couches or around tables. Was Asher down there tonight? Or anyone else who might know me?

The balcony was clever as no one in the room below could see me unless I leaned too far over the railing while they looked straight up.

“Holy Four,” I breathed. “Are there usually this many people?”

Aiden rested his elbows on the railing, gazing down at the crowd below. “Yes. Melaena’s entertainments are quite popular. As well as her exceptional wine and food.”

“How did you meet her?”

His gaze cut to me. “All you need to know is you can trust her.”

Only as much as I can trust you. Questions burned behind my lips. Were they friends or lovers? Was it purely professional? They clearly had a deep bond. But over what?

“Do you still want to do this?” he asked, shattering my thoughts. “Knowing your role in what is to come?”

The curtain lifted, and Melaena swept onto the stage to thunderous applause. Her voice echoed up to us, welcoming everyone.

“I do,” I said. “It won’t be easy. It’s not a role I’m used to playing, but I learn quickly.”

“I have no doubt,” Aiden murmured.

I ignored him—and the flutter in my chest—and watched four other women join Melaena. Unseen drums and flutes filled the club with sweet, seductive music. As the tempo increased, the dancers twirled and leaped across the stage, spinning silk scarves around their lithe bodies. Their movements were as precise as the ones Renwell had taught me to fight.

Just with much less clothing. And a smile.

My scarred fingers curled into fists. I could do this. It was simply training. And all the while, I would be learning everything there was to know about Aiden, Melaena, and what they were up to.

“I’ve seen enough,” I announced as the dancers left the stage to weave through the crowd. “Back to the tunnel?”

Aiden smirked down at me. “Not a chance. I don’t want you—or the Wolves—seeing anything near there. We’ll take the gate. The guards don’t question people leaving the Noble Quarter, only those entering.”

My hands swept over my hips, searching for knives that weren’t there. “Will they be a problem?”

“The Wolves? One never knows. You were trained to keep silent and unseen, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

His eyes glowed with a challenge. “Then let’s see how well you dance with the shadows, little thief.”

We left The Silk Dancer via a servant’s door off the main lounge and quietly funneled through the Noble Quarter gate with our hoods lowered.

I wanted to ask where we were going but felt that, in doing so, I’d be failing some sort of test. Instead, I trailed a whisper behind the flap of Aiden’s cloak.

He left the main road almost immediately, plunging us into a labyrinth of alleyways. I’d studied maps of the quarters but not nearly to the detail of pinpointing where I was.

My lip curled. That was probably exactly what Aiden hoped to accomplish with his twisted path.

Darkened clay buildings that had existed since the Age of Gods still radiated with the heat of the day. Doors and windows were shut tight, not even allowing a candle flame to light our path.

Shadow-Wolves patrolled the city at night, and Father always said they did an excellent job of keeping the peace. But this didn’t feel like peace. This felt like silent terror. It clung to the air like a mist.

The empty dirt pathways glowed under the stars and partial moon. The silver light was tricky and elusive, the indigo shadows reigning supreme.

But just as with the tunnel, Aiden didn’t falter. How long had he lived here that he knew every corner and bend of this city? Jealousy nibbled at my heart. After all, knowledge banished fear. And I wanted to not be afraid. Like him.

My boot struck a bottle, which skittered into a foul-smelling gutter. The sound was like a rock thrown through a window, shattering our illusion of safety.

I froze. As did Aiden, his hood whipping in my direction.

Gods damn it, I’d been too preoccupied with him to watch where I was going. I was used to being alone.

Moments passed, but nothing swooped in on us from the shadows. The whole quarter seemed to hold its breath, waiting.

Aiden jerked his head forward, and we continued on.

We must be getting closer to the heart of the Old Quarter. It was the largest of the four, a wide swath of pebbled dirt from above. From within, a forest of buildings one could easily get lost in. I’d heard of travelers getting lost in the dense trees and foliage of Twaryn, never to be seen again. Perhaps the same was possible in Aquinon.

Aiden pulled up short, and I skidded to a halt to keep from toppling into his back. I glanced around, eyeing the distant rooftops and window ledges, the shadows that bruised every wall. Nothing.

Then I heard it.

A scrape, a shuffle.

The hair rose on the back of my neck. My fingers desperately, fruitlessly searched for my knives again.

A low groan.

Aiden’s head snapped in that direction, a sliver of a dark alley. The shadows were a writhing mass. And they were headed our way.

Aiden seized my arm and flung us back the way we’d come, but the murmur of soft boots was too close.

A shrieking howl shattered the night behind us.

An answering scream seared my throat, but I bit down on my lower lip to keep it from escaping. Bitter blood wet my tongue.

Aiden dragged me off the path into a deep, dark corner. The crux of the buildings cradled my spine. But there was nowhere to go. Nowhere to run. My heart fought against my chest. If they found us, we would die like rats in a trap. We had to leave. Now.

I tried to escape Aiden’s grasp, but he shoved me back and pressed his whole body against mine, fanning his black cloak around us to meld with the only thing hiding us. Darkness.

“More come,” he breathed in my ear.

I peered over the edge of his cloak. Shadow-Wolves. Two of them. No, four. They were hard to count, as they were little more than walking shadows. They dragged something large and heavy between them. Something that moaned in pain.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Gods, what had this man done to be captured? Had Renwell ordered it or had the man done something to anger the Wolves?

“Jerell? Oh, blessed Four! Jerell!”

My eyes flew open at the woman’s hysterical voice. No.

Aiden’s body stiffened. I dug my fingers into one of his arms that caged me.

Never interfere with my Wolves. We could do nothing but wait. And watch.

A young woman in a simple dress rushed forward on bare feet, tears streaking down her pale cheeks. She glowed like a white flame amid so much black.

“Please,” she sobbed. “Please, don’t take my brother! He’s all I have left! He’s done nothing wrong. Please, I’ll do anything, any?—”

The silent slice of a black blade, and a weeping line marred her throat.

I reared back, hardly noticing Aiden’s hand clamping over my gasp of horror. The woman fell like a wisp of cotton that quickly became soaked in an inky puddle.

The man—Jerell—began to shout garbled words, but the boot of a Wolf silenced him. Then the Wolves continued to drag their prize as he trailed his sister’s blood.

Moments drifted past like dust in a wild storm. Chaotic, biting, fleeting.

Was this why Renwell kept me away from them? Why he told me to never interfere with them? Because they would murder me if I did?

Slowly, Aiden released his hold on me, his features edging into my vision. But I only saw her. A woman trying to defend her family. A woman who got in the way. A woman who was now silenced forever.

“Kiera,” he whispered.

I didn’t want to hear my name on his lips. I didn’t want to hear that there was nothing we could’ve done. Or that he was gods-damned right that I might not survive without him in this city.

I tore away from him, stumbling toward the woman. I fell to my knees at her side. She laid there in the moonlight, her pale hair and limbs strewn about in defeat. She looked like one of the lullaby lilies Mother had loved so much. But crushed, broken.

I brushed my fingers over her cheek as a familiar, soul-deep pain unfurled its wings inside me.

Mother had looked like this woman when they brought her body back to the palace. Except she had been tucked away under a sheet, as if she were sleeping. But the cold marble skin, the rusty tang of blood that stained her clothes, her soul drifting ever further away from me. Those were the same.

“Kiera.” Aiden knelt beside me.

“I know,” I snapped. “We need to leave.”

His voice turned harsh and guttural. “No.”

I finally met his gaze. His eyes were like shards of green glass, sharp with silvery edges. It felt as before, in the prison, like I was finally seeing beneath his mask. Fury, grief... guilt? Or perhaps I was merely seeing my own emotions mirrored back to me.

“We’re not far from home,” he said. “I’ll lead you there and come back for her.”

My eyebrows slammed together. “What are you going to do with her?”

“I’ll give her what little peace I can offer.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

His jaw hardened. “I can’t carry her and protect you. If we run into more Wolves?—”

“—then I will protect us both,” I said. I held out my hand, the one that had touched the woman’s cheek. “Give me what weapons you have, and we’ll see it done.”

He stared at me. I stared back.

This was an argument he wouldn’t— couldn’t —win. He was just going to have to trust that I wouldn’t stab him in the back.

Something shifted in his gaze like a key twisting in a lock, and he reached under his cloak to draw two curved knives out of his belt.

I breathed steadily through my nose as he slowly placed them in my hand. I clenched one in each fist, feeling their weight and balance. They were longer than the law allowed. Shined and sharpened steel meant for slashing and stabbing. They were not my usual short, spearhead-shaped throwing knives, but I knew how to use them. In training. I’d never severely harmed or killed someone before.

But Aiden didn’t need to know that. I said I would protect him, and I meant it.

I slipped the blades into my belt. “Let’s go.”