Chapter 4

Twilight painted the city with blues and purples, softening the sharp edges of the grand townhouses beneath me. They were stately four-story homes with gracefully arched windows, intricate stone balconies, and highly polished, solid oak doors. I was back on the rooftops, but now observing the Quinlin house instead of the law offices the guild had assigned me. Jareth and his friends had considered this a tough assignment, so if I could beat Remy to the prize, surely the guild's managing board would be impressed.

I had heard of Remy — who in the guild hadn't? — but I'd never met him. He didn't spend time at the guild house or socialize with other members as far as I knew. It was a smart move on his part. Being mysterious allowed his reputation to grow without being burdened by mundane reality. I doubted the real man could live up to the hype.

Below me, the steady clatter of hooves and distant murmurs of evening conversations faded, replaced by the golden glow of the first gas lamps flickering to life. A lamplighter carried a long pole and expertly touched the flame to each lamppost in turn. From my position, I could see the mews behind the Quinlin home and faintly hear the sounds of a groom hitching a horse to a carriage.

When a driver brought the carriage to the front of the house, I watched with satisfaction as a well-dressed high fae couple came out. The male helped the female into the carriage before climbing in himself and rapping on the ceiling. The rig trundled off, and I heaved a sigh of relief that I had guessed correctly about the opera opening night. Now I just hoped the woman wasn't wearing the necklace I needed with her lavish silk gown.

I waited a little longer until it was full dark, and the attic dormer candles winked out as servants went to sleep. Springing onto the Quinlins' roof, I quickly withdrew my enchanted cube and checked for magical wards. The roof was unprotected. Why did everyone assume trouble wouldn't come from above? Not that I was complaining.

I cautiously peeked over the edge into the backyard and gasped. While I had been passively waiting for darkness, someone had released a pair of faehounds. Although similar in appearance to large, sleek canines, their fur was iridescent, and their eyes smoldered red. They were renowned for their heightened senses and ability to detect intruders.

Now I knew why the exterior didn't have wards. Faehounds' loyalty to their fae owners was unwavering, and their presence alone was a formidable deterrent to would-be trespassers. Scooting back from the edge, I mulled over my options. I had planned to descend to the second-floor balcony by rope, but that would leave me too exposed to the faehounds. Even if they couldn't reach me that high up, they would undoubtedly see me and raise the alarm. I would have to enter the house on a higher floor and sneak down the steps.

Tying my rope to a balustrade on the roof, I crept past a dormer, praying it wasn't the bedroom of a chambermaid with insomnia. A thrill of anticipation raced through me as I lowered my rope to the cornice and painstakingly began my climb down. Normally, I would have dropped like a diving hawk, but sudden movements were more likely to attract the hounds' notice.

When I reached the cornice, I glanced down to find the faehounds snuffling in the bushes right below me. I flattened myself against the wall and didn't so much as blink. My heart, however, pounded so loudly, I was sure the beasts would hear it. After an eternity, they wandered to the far end of the yard and stretched out beside the back gate.

Using my body to shield the glow, I checked my cube to make sure the window wasn't warded before slipping my metal tool between the sashes. A sharp flick of my wrist found the window's lock, and with a soft click, it gave way. I eased the window open just enough to slide my slender body through and landed in a crouch, waiting and listening.

There was a rustling sound in the room, and my pulse kicked up another notch. As my eyes adjusted, I could make out a crib at one end of the room and a large rocking horse in the corner. I was in the nursery with a sleeping baby. Not good. In a household like this, if it woke up, a nanny would come running. My cube indicated the presence of protective wards around the crib but not on the rest of the room, so I tiptoed to the door and cracked it open.

Just then, the baby whimpered before letting out a shrill wail. Flinching at the sound, I rushed out the door and fled down the corridor. When I reached a shadowy alcove next to the staircase, I curled into it and clasped my trembling hands to still them. After a few minutes, I could hear someone singing softly in the nursery and assumed the nanny had arrived. The kid had a set of lungs, and I decided it was the perfect distraction for me to slip down the stairs.

My footsteps were silent on the thickly carpeted steps as I raced down two floors. On the landing, I paused to orient myself and recall where the dressing room was on the floor plan. I was about to dart down the hallway when I remembered to check my magic-detecting cube. My stomach clenched at the sight of regularly spaced alarm triggers marching down the corridor like railway ties. Gods, I'd almost trampled all over them in my haste to reach my goal. If I didn't pull myself together and pay attention, I was going to get caught.

Taking a deep breath, I picked my way cautiously through the wards to the master bedroom and entered. I looked around, gawking like a country bumpkin on her first visit to the big city. The room was grand and spacious, with high ceilings and tall windows framed by plush brocade draperies. I had a sudden urge to bounce on the overstuffed feather mattress on the enormous, canopied four-poster bed. Sumptuous carpets covered an intricate inlay floor, and silk wallpaper adorned the walls.

I gave myself a mental shake and entered the adjoining dressing room. It was a cozy space lined by wardrobes with a dressing table at one end. Brushes, hairpins, a hand mirror, and a jewelry box sat on the vanity and a large mirror hung on the wall behind it. Carefully, I moved the mirror to one side and found a wall safe. I was slow at opening combination locks, so I hoped Lady Quinlin was careless with her jewelry and just kept the necklace in the jewelry box.

Bending over the box, I removed my picks and inserted them into the lock. I closed my eyes and felt for the mechanism, coaxing it to yield. When it did with a snick, I couldn't help a small, satisfied smile. I lifted the lid and the dim light glinted off the diamonds inside. Yes! I had done it. The guild masters would have to hold me in higher regard after this. I practically levitated with excitement.

Just as I reached for the necklace, a soft thunk startled me and I realized my left hand was stuck to the vanity. Glancing down, I found a still-quivering knife pinning the sleeve of my jacket to the polished surface of the table. Shocked, I scanned the room and saw a shadowy figure standing in the doorway. My heart slammed into my throat. Did I trip an alarm somewhere that alerted a household guard?

The shadows coalesced into a lean man of average height, dressed entirely in black. I tugged the knife out of the vanity and waved it in front of me. Even though I hadn't trained with knives, I knew how to stick the point in flesh if I had to.

I couldn't see his features clearly in the gloom, but what I could see looked decidedly unimpressed. Expressionless, he held up a hand and said, "Return."

The knife flew from my fingers and slapped into his palm. I gaped first at my hand and then at his. The man glided toward me, loose-limbed, graceful, and lethal. I had no doubt he could put Jareth and his friends to shame with that blade. I also had no doubt this was the famed Remy.

As he neared, I could discern his face more clearly.

"You," I gasped as that face resolved into the man who caught me when I'd slipped a few nights ago. I would not have guessed this was the infamous Remy. For one thing, he was only about five years my senior, and from the way everyone talked, I had assumed he was closer to forty, not late twenties.

Despite his scowling countenance, I still found Remy extremely attractive with those sharp blue eyes and full lips. Last time I had been too rattled to notice, but I could now see that his hair was an especially fascinating mixture of brown shades tipped with black. The hint of stubble covered his cheek, and I peered closely to see if his facial hair was similarly colored. Inanely, I wondered if he dyed his hair to keep the ends dark.

I snapped my attention from his hair to the issue at hand—staying alive for the next few minutes and keeping possession of the necklace. Picking up the jewelry box, I clutched it to my chest and took a step back. Remy flowed forward and held out a hand.

"Give that to me." His voice was as smooth and silky as I'd remembered.

"No. I got here first." That sounded ridiculous, even to my ears.

His eyebrows shot up. "This isn't a school playground with teachers to keep things fair."

"I didn't go to school."

A corner of his mouth kicked up. "I didn't either. Now hand it over."

I drew myself up and glared at him. "And if I refuse?"

"I'll take it off you."

"You can try," I said with a bravado I absolutely did not feel.

Without another word, Remy lunged, his lithe frame agile as a cat. He reached out to grab the box, but I sensed his movement before he was within reach. I sidestepped, guiding his momentum away from me with a smooth pivot of my hips and a sweep of my arm. I was no offensive fighter, but one of the circus jugglers had taught me how to blend with an attacker's energy and deflect it. Townsfolk sometimes confused female performers with harlots, and I had needed a non-lethal way to defend myself.

Remy stumbled but recovered quickly, his eyes momentarily widening. Undeterred, he shifted his weight and lunged again. As his hand was about to close on my wrist, I twisted my arm, leaving him grasping empty air. I slid one foot forward and pivoted on it, bringing me behind his exposed back. Before I could take advantage of my position, Remy rolled forward, gracefully returning to his feet and facing me.

His eyes gleamed with an emotion I couldn't place. I would have liked to think it was respect, but it was probably amusement. "You're unexpected."

"And you're not getting this box," I retorted.

Remy sighed dramatically and held up a palm. "Are you going to make me bring out my knives?"

At times like these, I wished I'd been part of the knife-throwing act in the circus, rather than shooting apples off of heads with my arrows. I'd be a fool to challenge this man to close quarter combat when he was armed.

Before good sense could prevail, I blurted, "Master Lorget sent me."

He rocked back and dropped his hand. "Why the bloody hells would he send someone who can't even climb down a wall on a job they assigned to me?"

Was he calling me clumsy? I lifted my chin and locked gazes with him. "Maybe because I'm good."

He had the nerve to laugh out loud at me. As I stood there quivering with indignation, Remy gave me a sardonic smile and said, "Yes, I'm sure that's what he was thinking." He looked me up and down. "If he even sent you."

"You think I'm lying?"

"Yep."

"I am with the guild."

"No doubt. But I don't think anyone sent you. I think you're just a grasping opportunist who stumbled upon information about an upcoming job."

Heat flooded my cheeks, and I shifted from foot to foot. "Think what you like. I'm the one holding the jewelry box," I replied, feigning arrogance.

Remy once again reached for the box, and I spun sideways. But this time, instead of following through, he snaked his foot around my leg and yanked it out from under me. Arms pinwheeling for balance, I dropped the jewelry box. Quick as a striking snake, Remy caught it before it hit the floor.

He threw me a mocking salute. "It's been fun. Maybe I'll see you around the guildhall sometime."

I chased him into the bedroom, where he scooped up a cloak that had been dropped on the floor next to one of the tall windows. Wrapping himself in it, he lifted the sash and stepped onto the sill.

"Wait. I'm coming with you."

He looked back over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "Unless you can alter your very human scent to get past the faehounds, I suggest you find another way out." And with that, he dropped out the window.

I sputtered and ran to the window to stare after him. My human scent? What was he? In the few seconds it took me to get to the window, he was already little more than a dark shadow climbing fluidly up the stone wall at the back of the property. On the top, he turned and hesitated. I swore I could see the flash of his teeth as he picked something up and tossed it at a snoozing faehound. With a yip of surprise, the hound leaped to its feet and looked around. Then it started baying.

That bastard. He had deliberately alerted the faehounds to raise the alarm. I could hear servants calling from the mews and running into the yard. It wouldn't be long before the house staff woke and came down to see what the commotion was about.

I bolted into the hallway and skipped over the floor wards in a mad dash for the staircase. Taking the steps two at a time, I sprinted back up. I wasted more breath than I could afford calling Remy every foul name I could think of. And I could think of a lot. Back on the fourth floor, I hesitated, dithering over the nanny's possible presence in the nursery. I could try one of the other rooms. How many windows opened onto the cornice? Damn it, I couldn't remember.

In the end, I decided that haste was more important than stealth. The household already knew there was an intruder, and if I couldn't outrun a wet nurse holding an infant, I was in the wrong business. So, I flung open the nursery door and darted across the room. A wide-eyed woman sitting in a rocking chair gasped and hugged the baby closer to her breast. As I dove through the window onto the ledge, she screamed, the baby joining in a moment later.