Page 156 of Mud

Nope, not even a twitch of his eyes, damn him.

That was probably it, though. That’s why he wanted me to show up at that place, just like I showed up at the Blue House.

But the thing was, I wasn’t actually going to survive this, was I? I kept telling myself this—I was going to die in this game, and if I accepted his help, I’d have an easier time before the end.

And I’d be close to him until it was over. I’d be with him while he completed the rest of the challenges, too. Not that I’d admit it to myself, but that could be the best gift life could offer me before my end—a little time with Taland.

“I’ll be there,” I said in the end, defeated and excited at once. “September twenty-first, midnight.”

He smiled. “Good girl.” Goose bumps erupted down my arms—I both hated and loved when he called me that. It made me want to be agood girlfor him all the damn time.

“Now go downstairs and eat. I’ll meet you outside.”

He pulled the window up and jumped without warning, without hesitation.

I let go of a long breath.

I knew I’d gotten myself in trouble with him—of course I did.

But that day I still had no idea just how deep Taland Trouble really ran.

Chapter 30

Rosabel La Rouge

Present day

The food I’d wrapped up in paper towels wasn’t going to look pretty, probably, but it was delicious anyway. Half a baked potato, a piece of grilled chicken breast, and dices of cheese—that’s what Vuvu had served me, and I’d saved some for Taland. If he was going to help me with magic, might as well make sure we were both physically capable of handling this place until it was over. There was only so much apples could do for hunger, anyway.

But when Vuvu let me out, telling me he hoped to see me back there again for my last coin—he had no idea I’d already given it away—Taland was not there.

I walked out of the alleyway and onto the street, searching the many faces of the residents, as well as a couple of players. The Whitefires who’d tried to kill me weren’t there waiting for me like a part of me had feared,and neither was he. I didn’t feel his eyes on the back of my head like usual, either.

Which surprised me, but more than that—it concerned me. He’d been following me since he found me here, and now, right when he wassupposedto be there, he wasn’t?

I didn’t like it, but what exactly could I do?

Looking up at the sky, I wondered if Refiq had managed to get that cloud ready yet. I wondered when he would. I wondered if he was even going to. Or maybe he just tricked me and took that coin, and now he was somewhere laughing at me.

Only time would tell.

For now, since I was not going to be planning for any of the residents toaccidentallyfall to their deaths in some way, I was stuck in Night City, and Taland was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe that was a good thing. Maybe I could hide in the shadows and keep watch for that cloud on my own. Maybe I could even find another place to hide in until it was time to go.

Securing the wrapped food in my pocket as best as I could—not ideal, but it was the best I had—I made my way down the street and through an alley that wasn’t a dead end but actually led to the other side of the buildings. All the while I stuck to the darkness, a gun and a dagger in my hands, my eyes wide open.

I was wide awake. Throwing up had drained me at first, but now I felt like I had let all of it out—the bad and the ugly. And Taland’s kiss and touch had revived me, sparked the wires in my head, so to speak. Even now as I thought about it, I blushed and heat spilled all over me, especially between my legs.

That guy can kiss.For all his faults, he knew how to kissme and touch me and do all kinds of things to me that felt better than heaven. No wonder I’d never wanted to be even near another guy. As unfair as it was, who could possibly compare?

The memory of his cocky grin pissed me off, though. He thought I belonged to him—I didn’t.

Well, I did, but he would never know that. And I was going to prove it to him just as soon as I got out of here. I was going to pick a guy and I was going totry, damn it. I was going to try to get over him, and eventually, I would.

That’s what I told myself, anyway.

With all that food in my system, I had more than enough energy and patience to move slowly and in the shadows down this new street I hadn’t explored before because I thought it would be the same as the one in the middle.

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