19. Catriona

19

CATRIONA

I 'm exhausted, but I'm awake. Monsters prowl the night, but they aren't what consume my thoughts and make sleep elusive.

As Felix lies unconscious beside me, I touch my fingers to my lips. Over and over, I relive our kiss. Even now, love-drunk butterflies flutter in my stomach.

My mind moves from the kiss to our practice duel. Felix has never fought like that. This new side of him has awakened a yearning inside me. I want to push him harder to see what else he's been hiding—what he's capable of—both while training and here, in the privacy of our apartment.

I roll over, trying to find sleep as I picture future kisses, many more heated than the sweet, innocent one we shared tonight.

"You're still awake?" Felix murmurs from his side of the bed.

I go still. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"You've been restless all night."

"My mind is on the monsters," I lie.

He makes a soft noise, shifting closer. "They can't get through locked doors."

"A werewolf could come through a window," I point out.

"It'll look for easy prey first."

He's right. Which is why my thoughts were on him and not the monster we were sent to hunt.

"Are the memories too close?" he asks quietly.

"No."

But he must not believe me. Rolling over, he wraps his arm around my waist. He pulls me close so my back presses against his chest and his breath tickles my neck.

I go still, the position so sweetly intimate.

"Sleep, bluebird," he murmurs, sounding like he's halfway back to unconsciousness. "Morning will come too soon."

I close my eyes, knowing I'll never be able to sleep like this. But the heat of his body soaks into mine, and the press of his muscular frame feels solid and safe.

Tucking in closer when he feels me soften against him, he sets his hand over mine. His fingers find my ring, and he toys with it briefly before his breathing becomes deep and even.

Soon, I drift as well.

I wake to a loud, insistent knock at the shop door. Bright morning sunlight streams through the drapes, making me think we slept too late.

Felix stirs behind me, growling softly against my neck before he pushes himself up. "Stay here," he says groggily. "I'll see who it is."

Already in trousers, he throws on his shirt and boots and then leaves the bedroom.

I rise once he's gone, dressing quickly. I make it downstairs just in time to hear Arnold say, "We were worried the beast got you, too."

I join Felix at the door, now fully awake. "What happened?"

"There was another attack last night," Arnold says, his face looking haggard. I'm not even sure he brushed his hair before he pulled it back.

"Who was it?" I ask, terrified. I'm growing fond of our neighbors.

" Catriona ," he exclaims instead of answering, his eyes on my face. "What happened?"

It takes me a moment to realize he's talking about the redcap's handiwork. I'm sure the scratch looks ghastly this morning. "Oh, it was nothing," I assure him. "Please, go on."

Hesitantly, he pulls his eyes from my cheek and says, "The creature got Norris Albright. He's a peddler that comes through every once in a while." He rolls his shoulders. "Or he was. No one cared for him much, but you don't wish this end on anyone."

"Norris?" I remember hearing the man's name spoken in a vapid giggle. "That's the man Millie was with last night."

"You saw Millie?" Arnold asks.

"We found her after we left your house and then took her home to Belinda," Felix explains.

Arnold rubs his hand over his face. "Imagine if you hadn't come across her? We might have found that foolish girl's body next to Norris's."

"You found his body?" Felix asks.

"Yes…" He glances at me, likely worried I'm a squeamish female. "In the woods, east of the village."

I want to ask what state it was in, but that would be suspicious.

"Otis said we're going to have to enact a curfew," Arnold continues heavily. "I hate to do it, but I'm afraid he's right. There's a meeting about it at the village hall, five o'clock. We'll be taking a vote."

"We'll be there," Felix promises.

We say our goodbyes, and Felix closes the door.

"Do you know what's scared of werewolves?" I say heavily.

"Norris?"

" Felix, " I reprimand, exasperated. "You can't say things like that."

He shrugs.

" Redcaps ," I say.

"They're scared of draugrs, too," he muses. "Low on the spirit monster social ladder, redcaps are."

"Felix, think about it."

I see when the light dawns in his eyes, and then his expression darkens. "You think Frida is our wolf? You think she killed Norris?"

"They ran from her. You saw it."

"But she's lived here her whole life. People know her."

"You're right, and I don't think she could live alone. Let's see if we can find her family."

"Maybe they'll come to the village meeting tonight," Felix says.

"We should probably talk to Johann."

Felix grimaces. "Why would we do that?"

"You don't think he noticed a gunshot at midnight? I'm surprised he didn't come knocking last night."

"What are you going to tell him?"

"I haven't figured that out yet."

His eyes travel to my face. "We should probably put some more salve on your cheek."

I cringe. "How awful does it look?"

"Not bad. It isn't deep, and thankfully, it missed your eye."

"How am I going to explain it to people?"

"Tell them it was a cat."

"We don't have a cat, Felix."

"Say it was a stray."

"So many lies," I sigh.

"Tell them it was a monster if you want. I said it before, and I'll say it again—the beasts don't just show themselves to guild-certified hunters."

I nod slowly, deciding he's right. Touching my cheek, I say, "I think it's all right for now. Let's go talk to Johann."

Felix extends his hand toward the door. "Lead the way."

We find Johann talking to Friedrich and Jane. They turn when we enter, the mood somber.

"No school today?" Felix asks the schoolteacher solemnly, his tone matching the occasion.

Jane looks visibly shaken. "I only have a few students, and I walked them home. Most arrived before the news had traveled the village. No one could think after…"

"That's understandable," Friedrich says, and we nod.

"Catriona!" Jane gasps when she looks at me. "What happened?"

Though I didn't have too many qualms about admitting we ran into live redcaps to Johann, I'm not sure Jane is in a state to receive the news there are monsters prowling the village.

"Oh…" I glance at Felix uncertainly. "We spooked a small creature when we came home last night."

Johann's forehead knits. "A creature?"

"It was dark," I explain. "It was a cat or…something around that size."

"I imagine you heard the commotion?" Felix gestures to the ceiling above with a concerned laugh.

Johann shakes his head. "The upstairs apartment is empty. Werner is hoping to rent it out soon."

"Where do you live?" I ask.

"With Werner and his son, Anselm. They didn't want to be alone after…" He casts a concerned glance at Jane. "You know."

"Well, I'm glad we didn't wake you," Felix says.

Jane winces, bringing a hand to her forehead.

"Are you all right?" Friedrich asks her.

"It's just a headache. I think I should go home and lie down for a while."

"I'll walk you."

She gives the baker a grateful smile.

We say our goodbyes, and as soon as the door closes, Johann says, "A cat? Or one of the monsters Frida claims her ceramic statuettes keep away?"

The question surprises Felix and me, but he recovers first. "You know about them?"

"The redcaps rarely venture into the village, but we see them from time to time."

"And those statues of hers?" I ask. "Do they…work?"

"No," Johann laughs. "Bless her; she has a kind heart. And to her credit, she genuinely thinks they do."

"The little monsters are scared of her, though," Felix says. "We saw several of them run from her last night."

Johann frowns. "What time was it?"

"Well after midnight. We were on our way home from Arnold's place when we saw Millie. We took her home to her sister and had a run-in with the redcaps when we returned."

"What was Frida doing out that late?" the shopkeeper asks, looking genuinely concerned.

"She said she walks the streets to protect the villagers," I say.

He sighs heavily, looking worried. "I'll have a talk with Bruno."

"Bruno? The tavernkeeper?"

"Frida is his aunt. He's supposed to keep an eye on her while his parents are in Valette, but…"

"He's busy running the tavern," I supply.

Johann nods, and our attention moves to the door when an older couple I don't recognize steps inside.

"Welcome," Johann calls to them in a tone that makes me think they must be tourists.

Felix steps away from the counter. "We'll let you get back to work."

"Will we see you at the meeting tonight?" Johann asks as we leave.

"We'll be there." Felix waves over his shoulder as we step into the sunshine.

It's markedly cooler today, the breeze carrying a brisk chill.

Felix shoves his hands into his pockets and turns to face me. "Now what?"

I rub my hands over my arms. "Now I'm going to change into something warmer and fetch a shawl, and then we're going to check on our gluttonous dragon."