Chapter 32

My eyes burned and my throat felt tight as I fled through the maze of stone tunnels that comprised the Veiled Vaults. Remy's offer to support me was generous, but he clearly didn't have the same definition of loyalty and responsibility that I did. He had told me himself that he was unable to make long-term commitments, but now he was making promises simply to win my cooperation. Did he think I was so simple-minded that I wouldn't recognize his attempt at manipulation?

When I reached the exit to the Vaults, I snuffed the candle and dropped it in the basket. I rubbed at my stinging eyes and was even angrier when my fingers came away wet. Taking a shaky breath, I squared my shoulders and marched through the illusion into the dirty alley on the other side. I refused to shed so much as a single tear over any man, much less this one.

I wasn't sure if I was more upset with Remy or myself. If I were being fair, it wasn't his fault I had fallen for him. He'd warned me repeatedly that we were ill-suited for each other, but I hadn't listened. Lonely and insecure in a new environment, I'd allowed myself to become emotional over what should have been a pleasant romp between the sheets with a sexy man. I'd broken my number one rule about becoming involved with someone in the guild and look where it had left me.

With only a few coppers remaining in my purse and fresh out of options, I made my way across the city to the guild house. The streets were subdued, and people hurried on errands with their heads down, not meeting anyone's gaze. Vendors did not call their wares to pedestrians and even the clop of horseshoe on cobbles seemed muffled. Uniformed Enforcers loomed on every other corner, glaring balefully at anyone brave enough, or foolish enough, to be out on the streets.

Arriving at the guild house, I gratefully slipped inside and shut the door. The main room was empty, although I could hear thumps and laughter coming from the basement, so at least a few members were here working out. I was in no mood to talk to any of them and skirted the large oak meeting table to run up the stairs to Lorget's office.

His door was cracked open, and I peeked inside, hoping he was there. Head bowed over a ledger, Lorget's salt-and-pepper hair fell forward around his face as he made careful notations with a quill. He looked up over his glasses and smiled as I entered.

"Ah, Ziola, put those books on the floor and have a seat." He jabbed at the upholstered chair buried under a stack of books with his quill.

I did as he asked, and Lorget studied my face for a long moment. "I take it your meeting with Remy did not go well," he said.

Embarrassed that my distress must have been so obvious, I sat up straight and placed my hands primly in my lap. "No. He has no proof but is convinced bringing the Eye to the guild will result in the poisoned waters of his vision."

Lorget removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you think he has succumbed to the lure of the Eye and just can't bear to part with it?"

I reflected on our conversation. Remy had seemed uncertain, not possessive. "I don't think so. If he could, I think he'd destroy it."

Lorget looked up sharply. "Surely not. It's much too valuable to destroy."

I turned both hands up and shrugged.

"Can you keep working on him to get him to change his mind?"

"That seems unlikely. We didn't part on good terms."

Lorget frowned and steepled his fingers. "That is most unfortunate."

My own thoughts and feelings were far too muddled to know if this turn of events was unfortunate or not.

Mindful of my empty purse, I asked, "Are there any jobs I can take now?"

"I'm afraid not. With the current Enforcer activity, we are all lying low for the time being."

My stomach dropped. With the money I had left, I could probably find some day-old bread and bruised fruit, but paying rent was going to become impossible very soon. I descended the stairs slowly, trying to think of what else I could do to earn some money. Sadly, there didn't seem to be much demand for acrobats or archers in Sageport.

As I reached the main room, the door from the basement exercise room opened and Jareth, Polix, and Gordon spilled through. Boisterous and sweaty, they jostled and shoved each other, laughing loudly. I glowered at the floor and jammed my hands in my pockets. I missed the casual comradery I'd known in the circus and felt more isolated than ever.

"Where's your guard dog, Ziola?" Jareth's voice cut through my musings, and I spun to look at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Jareth sauntered toward me with a smirk curling his well-formed lips. "You let Remy off his leash."

"I have no hold on Remy. The directors gave us an assignment and now it's finished. Not that it's any of your business."

"No hold? That's not what I heard. I heard you had his parts well in hand." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively as Polix howled with laughter and Gordon thrust his hips back and forth.

By the gods, how did other women find this man attractive? He was vile. I turned toward the front door, but Jareth stepped in front of me.

"Did you dump him? Are you ready for a real man?" He leered as his eyes roved over my body.

I tried to step around him, but he shifted to block me. "Move, Jareth. I'm leaving now."

Jareth clutched both hands to his chest and gave an exaggerated sigh. "Don't tell me he abandoned you and broke your heart?"

I pushed past him and opened the door.

"I can make you forget you ever knew him, sweetheart," Jareth called.

As I escaped through the door, the sound of their bawdy laughter followed me into the street like an unwelcome stray dog, nipping at my heels and impossible to shake off.