Page 67 of Bounty Hunter

“Sounds like something you need to discuss further with the fae, I have nothing to do with the potency of their potions, but I did pour it on your leg, and it helped.”Not a lot, but maybe a bit.Is that still a lie? It’s certainly not an answer to his question. My brain is misfiring and tired, and I know I can’t handle much more of this before all my secrets gush out into the open. I can’t have that.

An intensity simmers in his eyes, maybe even a hint of desperation. “You’re a Healer, just tell me yes or no.”

“Okay, fine, yes. I’m a Healer.”Sort of. I add in my mind so it doesn’t feel like so much of a lie. I smile in a somewhat normal way as I push a finger lightly against the muscles of his chest, and he respectfully steps back, but there’s a knowing, confident sort of smirk on his face. I worry that I have, indeed, made myself prey. What began as a seemingly straightforward arrest-turned-business-deal has become even more tangled and confusing. I don’t want to lie more than I already have, but I can’t tell him the rest. Ever. Especially now that it sounds like he’s friends with one of the low kings somehow. For being so serious and overconfident, he makes friends easier than I do. I’d sulk about that for a moment, but I need to escape from this dangerous, and somehow very heady, conversation.

As I’m about to attempt another exit, he leans in again, his nose practically nuzzled into my neck, and then ever so slowly leaves a scorching trail of the lightest, heat-inducing kisses I’ve ever experienced up to my jaw. I don’t know what his plan is, but I will not be seduced. In the next moment, my breath is shaky, and all I know is that, criminal or not, soldier, whatever he is—I want him. I try to resist and fail miserably.

I turn my head, and my lips find his, a perfect balance of warm, soft, and firm as he leads us into a realm all our own. I slide my hands around his sides and pull myself closer as his gently slide across my jawline and back into my hair, tilting my head for a better angle to deepen our kiss. That fae scent mixes perfect with the leather and musk that always clings to him, the hardness of the strength beneath my hands, his lips against mine, the light scratch of a day’s whiskers against my skin. Him. He’s intoxicating. He pulls back and presses his forehead to mine, and I notice with wicked delight that his breathing isnearly as heavy as my own. I want to grab the lapels of his jacket and drag him into my room, tell him every secret I’ve ever had, wake up beside him in the morning, revel in the safety of his presence that I’ve gotten so attached to.

But I don’t. I’ve completely forgotten why I’m out here, and now all I want is him.

He steps back, eyes still matching the desire I feel and whispers a rough goodnight. He enters his room without a backward glance.

I’m thoroughly dazed and somehow stumble my way into my room, slip out of my dress and heels, and lay in bed. I replay the evening, wondering who he really is. He seemed to have enjoyed our kiss as much as I had, but he seemed like heneededto know if I was a Healer. Is he playing me? Why does it matter if I am or not? I wonder if he has fae blood. He’s too good at these games. I flip over in frustration.

The next morning, I don my new clothing and take a moment to inspect it in the mirror. It’s been a very long time since I’ve worn something as feminine and form-fitting as this for work. It feels good. It helps that Mama Tina bought it for me since I’m too cheap to spend anything on decent clothing myself. Besides, I couldn’t afford these on my own right now. If my clothes hadn’t been stolen by the shifters, I may have just stuck with those, dirty and ripped as they were. For so long, I’ve hidden beneath men’s clothing. Trying to be small, unnoticed, and to be honest, uncaring about my appearance. Being mistaken for a boy at times has its benefits in my line of work. But something has changed. When Mama Tina joined me to buy clothes, I expected to hate it. It’s been years since I’ve lether buy me anything. This time, I was immediately drooling over this outfit. Now that it’s on, I feel more like myself than I have in years, and I find I don’t miss my over-large clothing anymore. Not only that, I have two more outfits already folded neatly in my pack.

I head down the stairs. We have our things packed and ready to leave by the door. Neither of us mentions the kiss from the night before, but I can hardly look at him without blushing. If I don’t pull it together pretty quick, Mama Tina is going to end up in the know, and that’s the last thing I want.

Ikar and I end up at the door for one more round of goodbyes. Mama Tina leans forward to hug me, and I wrap my arms tight around her, her light floral scent surrounding me. I inhale deeply and squeeze her a little tighter before I let go, savoring her familiarity and motherly sort of love. When we finally step apart, she turns to Ikar with a sparkle in her eye and hugs him, whispering something in his ear that has him chuckling and nodding.

Mama Tina turns back toward me and lifts a questioning arched brow. I realize she’s waiting for the money to send to the Tulips. I never told her my decision.

I lean toward her, give her one more quick hug, and whisper, “Use the money I left to pay for Renna’s dues. I won’t be paying them any longer for myself.”

I can tell she wants to know more, to ask questions, but she smiles widely. I try not to let that approval buoy me so much. I made this decision for me and me alone. And though I don’t need her approval, it’s nice to see that she’s pleased with my decision.

I glance at Ikar and see questions in his gaze. I forget he has his magic back, and he may have heard, but I act as if nothing out of the normal has happened.

Renna steps forward next and I squeeze her hard. “I left the money. Use it for your bracelet, okay?” I whisper.

She nods. “Be careful, Vera.” She eyes Ikar for a moment over my shoulder and then returns her attention to me. “And thank you. You’ve given me more than I can ever hope to return.”

“Sisters by magic,” I whisper with a grin, as I hug her again before I step back and grab my new pack.

We throw out a few more goodbyes, and I quickly wipe away a few stray tears. It’s always difficult to be away. And then we’re off. Only another two days to the High Kingdom, and hopefully Rhosse and Darvy are waiting for us, alive and well.

Rupi finishes devouring the pile of seeds, tiny worms, and nuts a maid has left on her fancy perch in the sitting room, then she swoops to land on my shoulder as we walk out the door.

Usually, she acts a little down when we leave Mama Tina’s. She is never better fed than when we’re there, but this time, she seems happy to be on our way, chirping cheerfully as we stroll through the complex and beautiful fae city. I soak up the depth of color and smell here. Colors appear deeper, beautiful aromas clearer, and sounds of the forest as a true symphony. As soon as we step through the realm door, the world will seem muted, as if the fae stole half the world’s beauty and doubled their own.

Ikar pulls me from my thoughts. “I think meeting your family was a complete success,” he says with a confident grin and a swagger in his step. We’ve left the fae now and are entering forests shared between kingdoms. We see occasional travelers and fully expect the rest of our trip to be uneventful. I appreciate the reprieve before we enter the Lucent Mountains for the job I accepted.

I look at him, attempting to gauge if he is joking or not.

“Which part was the most successful?” I hold up my fingersone by one as I list off. “Getting into a fight with my ex-boyfriend at the dinner party? Getting caught about to kiss by Mama Tina? Or, lying to the fae about being a criminal so you’ll never be welcome there as anything else?” I wait for his reply.

“All of the above.” He grins proudly. “I’ve only had a chance to fight a fae once before, so this one went better than expected.” He rolls his shoulders like he’s anticipating another challenge in the near future. “I’m sure they’ll welcome me again.” He’s never sounded more confident.

I saw the way he was so readily accepted, so this time I don’t argue with him.

While we walk, I let the reality of my decision sink in. I’m leaving with half the savings I had, as I left the rest with Mama Tina to pay Renna’s dues. At least Renna will be safe with the fae, and happy. She deserves it.

And while I feel a new sense of freedom, I also feel terrified that I messed up. My parents sacrificed so much to keep me safe and keep the dues paid. They, and the Tulips, have stressed the importance of that protection since I can remember. And now I have simply decided to set aside years of warnings and sacrifice. Apart from that, I never considered when the protection of the bracelet will lapse. One month? Two? A few days? Yesterday? I’ve never been able to remove the bracelet, its charm ensuring it won’t fall off or be removed. Now that I haven’t paid, I test it with a strong pull. It holds, so I suppose it’s still working. It’ll probably fall off when the money should have arrived to Tatania and it doesn’t, but how should I know? I have the strongest urge to turn back and shove the money into Mama Tina’s hands and go back to living my life the way I always have. I don’t realize how fast I’m walking, how my fistsare clenched, or how fast my breathing has become until Ikar speaks up.

“What is it?” Ikar asks, looking concerned.

I hesitate, not sure how much to share. “Have you ever done something that seems like the right thing, but most would say is wrong?”

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