“Drink that bottle, then,” Anya instructs, rising to her feet. “I’m going to leave before people get suspicious. Get your energy back.”
“Where is the woman?” I ask, looking her body up and down to insinuate the skin suit.
“Safe. Just temporarily borrowing her flesh. She’s being treated well. We assumed it would be best not to piss off Rittertoomuch.”
I grunt in reply, having recalled Anya mentioning she secured someone she believed to be among Ritter, a follower who frequents Skull’s Row to shop for ingredients—perfect for identity theft since she doesn’t sit in one place.
At least the fates are smiling on us alittle.
As Anya departs, I assume that this confirms Ritter doesn’t have anyone like me among him too. Otherwise they’d be able to sense Anya like a murderer smeared in blood. Uncorking the small bottle given to me, I immediately bring it to my lips, grimacing when the thick liquid tastes like rust and seawater.
What afoulaftertaste.
I lie back down on the blanket that hay pokes through to let the magical concoction work, trying my best to ignore the assault on my tastebuds.
As my exhaustion gets the best of me, my mind drifts back to Jane. If she is meant to be anything akin to permanent in my life, then I owe her that unwavering dedication I know I have.
The kind Inevergive out.
It’s a weakness. A huge fucking soft spot that anyone can strike, and it would cripple me.
Gods does that make me uncomfortable.
I know I need to speak tohimsoon.He’sthe only one I know like me who is as skilled as I am, so maybe he’ll have insight and understanding.
I’d literally burn the world down for someone born to bemine.
I’d burn the world down for Jane.
CHAPTER 11
MENTORS
J A N E
Gods, what a shit show.
The only silver lining has to be that while this isoverwhelming, there’s simultaneously so much relief in clarity. My gaze finds its way back to where Cypress had sat, staring there for however long until I’m slowly searching the room.
“Okay,” I say to myself, tapping a hand on my thigh, “Okay.”
Somehow, someway, I can hide all this from Soren.And that there will be a time when he can’t feel me…
He’snotgoing to like that?—
The door opens once more, and in the dim lighting enters Donna, her footsteps echoing softly against the worn stone. Both hands are in pockets of a cloak she wears—this one looks dry. “Thinking of yourownthrone?”
With a raised brow, I move my hands from the armrests when I realize what seat I’m in, scoffing slightly at the idea.Act normal, Jane. Practice on her. “I mean, the carvings are beautiful, but I wouldn’t call it athrone.”
“Eh, it’s his throne for now. Doesn’t sit on it much, really. We’ll get him a proper one once all this shit is done and over with, and we don’t have to live down here like moles.”
My mind is stuck deeply within what I just uncovered, and yet it wanders away just as fast when hearing someone speak about my father as if they know him. For so long, I refused to evenwhispera hint of his identity. A deep inhale fills my lungs with musty air. “How long has he been down here?”
“We’ve centralized in these tunnels for the last five years. Although he isn’t here much, like I said.” She pierces a knowing gaze through me, and being this close, I notice her dark lashes are as thick as her eyebrows. “He’s always off as Ern.”
I still can’t tell if it comforts or annoys me that he was so close for so long.
“I’m sure you all loved being here just so he could pretend to be a barkeep.”
