Every once in a while, I’d glance up and see Lukain watching me from the back of the cart. His scrutiny was unnerving. He didn’t trust me.How did things sour so quickly between us?
I was so damned confused. Now he was having clandestine meetings with outsiders. Sitting up with a sigh, I peeked over my shoulder at Antones driving the horses and wondered if he knew about Lukain’s little alleyway meeting.
My eyes swiveled to the scared boys. The sixteen-year-old had shaggy hair. His twelve-year-old friend was shaved bald. Their eyes implored me for something—anything—and I offered them a tiny smile.
“Don’t worry,” I said lowly, patting the twelve-year-old’s knee. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t get on this one’s bad side.” My chin nudged toward Lukain at the back, who remained silent, stoic, and intimidating.
“Who are you, ma’am?” asked the older one.
“My name is Sephania Lock. I’m a fighter. You two can also fight for your freedom with the Grimsons if you work—”
“That’s my spiel,” Lukain muttered.
I raised a brow.Now who’s being the brat?
“They aren’t Grimsons yet. They’re just sewerboys. Have to earn their way in.”
Earn their way in? That sounds like a new stipulation.
Lukain noticed my expression. “Firehold’s getting too packed. Stores are running low and there’s not enough food for everyone.”
“Then why did you buy the poor saps?” I challenged, throwing my arms up.
“Would you have preferred one of those fat slimy fucks to house them instead?” He leaned forward, eyes narrowing dangerously. “Don’t question me in front of our guests, little grimmer.”
I bowed my head in shame.No, I suppose I wouldn’t rather have these boys bought by those wretched slavers.
“Wait, did you saySephania?” the older boy asked.
“Erm, yes?”
“As intheSephania? The womanly vampire-fighter?”
Confusion danced on my brow. When I peeked over at Lukain, he looked as confused as me. Sitting back in my seat, I tried not to make too fine a point of it, but I did position myself in a way that showed the boys my chest was much different than theirs. “Womanly enough, I guess?”
The smaller boy scrunched his brow and tapped the older one on the leg. “What’s it y’on about, Genth?”
His dialect reminded me of Jinneth. It hurt my heart to hear.
The boy named Genth smiled a gap-toothed grin. “That’s her, Faidy. The one that kills bloodsuckers. Ain’t that crazy?”
Faidy smiled ear-to-ear. “Celebiddy.”
I snorted a laugh. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, boys. But I assure you I’ve killed—”
“More vampires than you can imagine,” Lukain interrupted. He gave the boys a firm nod before scowling at me over theirheads. “You’re in the midst of a legend, lads. If you’re lucky, she can train you.”
Faidy clapped once. “Well how’s-it-bout-that? Maybe it ain’t gonna be so bad after all, eh Genthy?”
A knot grew in my belly.The poor whelps. Have no idea what they’re getting into. Neither did I. Guess a little hope isn’t a bad thing to give them?
Once Antones parked the carriage, he led the boys down the grate and ladder to the Firehold, where their new lives would begin.
Lukain and I walked behind them.
“Don’t ever undermine your own myth and mystique, little grimmer.”
I frowned. “Even if it’s a fairytale?”
