She shook her head rapidly, eyes wide. “What if the beast is out there?”
“I would protect you,” I insisted, trying to squash her fears.
Prudence sat on the bed, her hands wringing her skirt with worry. “Don’t go.”
Sighing, I went to my bed, tossed my black dress under the covers, letting the skirt hang out, then plumped up the pillows and my cloak into a good imitation of my body.
“There,” I said smugly. “At least I’m still here, so you can go and get food and see the sights. Just make sure to bring back food for two, so no one gets suspicious.”
Her smile widened, and she seemed relieved at the idea. I hid behind the door as she left. The guard interrogated her, asking where she was going. Her quick reply of downstairs for food pacified him. Through the crack in the door, I could see him lean in and glance at the bed before pulling back out into the hall and motioning her onward.
Once the door was closed firmly, I counted to one hundred before moving to the window. The distance to the next roof wasn’t an issue, rather it was my long legs and pulling them through the small window that caused me discomfort, but once perched on the windowsill, making the jump to the roof was a breeze. Landing on all fours, I waited to regain my balance and then headed to the tree growing near the side of the roof. In less than a minute, I was down on the ground and wiping bark dust from my hands, looking up at the tree in victory. I didn’t need Eden’s glamour ability or Maeve’s flight to go on adventures.
Sneaking down the alley, I followed the sounds of laughter and came upon two people hiding in the eve of a building kissing. The woman’s pastel dress was like a beacon and impossible to hide, and her signature laugh made me cringe. She tried to move away, but the man pulled her back into the shadows and they continued to kiss, their hands wandering where none should stray. It didn’t take a genius to guess the identity of her partner; after all, Xander preferred to kiss girls in the shadows.
Feeling extremely vindictive, I whispered a curse upon the two and had to hold back a cackle when I felt the air thicken as it materialized and floated over the two lovebirds.
“Vesputin.”
Yasmin sighed and pulled away, and I ducked behind empty barrels to watch as she adjusted her hair and lipstick before heading into the inn. Xander didn’t follow her, the sound of his steps diminishing into the night.
The moon was full, and its light cast down upon me as I walked, making my skin slightly itch. Rubbing the back of my neck, I stretched my arms until the feeling passed. The town square had been hastily decorated with ribbon and brightly colored banners for the arrival of the crown prince and his new wife. A ragtag band of musicians was playing upbeat folk songs, and vendors continued to hawk their wares now that a new affluent group of buyers and soldiers had come to town. Little did they know we weren’t here for a celebration but were hunting a threat to their community. If they knew, would they be celebrating so recklessly? I had to remind myself that the beast stuck to the woods, hunted alone and not near populated areas. The town was safe—I hoped.
A flash of red uniform caught my attention as I zeroed in on Lord Earlsgaarde leaning against a building, drinking and watching the villagers with a face akin to disgust. His eyes caught mine from across the square, and he lifted his tankard in a solemn salute. The side of his mouth curled into an intentional smile, one that alleged he knew my secret.
I shuddered at his salute and turned, ignoring him and moving through the crowd, putting as much distance as I could between us. I was surprised when I came to the edge of the square and saw troops stationed at the main road into town, and even more so that Xander himself was standing guard. Was there a threat we didn’t know about? And more to the point, if he was here, then whom did I curse in the alley?
A lone deep rumble reverberated through the night, and I stilled in fear, turning to look beyond the troops and up the mountain. The rumble was