Page 15 of Trapped By Vengeance

If stealth and agility weren’t two of the other seven Kinfolk Tenants, I would say something.

Sighing, I take Valda’s platter and make my way to her door. I do my best to ignore the soreness from sleeping on the floor.

If only any of my fellow Guild members would have taken this job with me, I could have a reputable crew. But only a fool would take on Baron Schwerin, and they all know it.

But I have nothing left to lose, so who cares if I court folly?

I undo the bolt and carefully open Valda’s door, ready if she bolts again.

She’s not in her bed, and I quickly scan the room, her scent still strong.

“Over here.”

I step into the room and finally find her in the farthest corner— and nearly drop her platter before she can even try to knock it out of my hands.

Valda is standing in a puddle of her coral dress, her chemise on full display.

Instinct has me looking away. Then I remember the door is open and quickly close it. Except, now I’m behind a closed door, unchaperoned with a barely dressed woman—

“I’m sorry,” Valda says, her voice drawing closer. “Am I making you uncomfortable? I just wanted to change into something fresh . . .”

“Not uncomfortable at all.” I choke out the words in the least convincing way possible. Then I quickly set the platter on the table before I can drop it.

“That’s excellent news.” She’s upon me now, and I turn to face her instinctively because she is a hostile. Even if it suddenly feels like nothing has changed since that night at the inn. “Because I need some assistance undoing my corset.”

I can’t even see her corset, which means it must be beneath her chemise. Which further means I willnotbe assisting her with it.

My hands clamp onto her shoulders to keep her from moving any closer to me. It definitely isn’t an excuse to touch her, but by the glint in her eyes, she thinks it is. There is a confident smirk to her lips, like she’s winning some kind of twisted game.

That game is playing me like a fool, which she is doing a superb job of right now. It’s like she knew I accidentally dreamed of her last night, her pretty face flitting between childhood memories.

I need to get back into control now, or I won’t be the captor here.

“I am not your lady’s maid,” I say with a bit more growl than necessary. “I will not be helping you d-dress or undress.” I stutter slightly and move quickly past it. “If you wish to change, there’s an old outfit of mine in the chest if you think that would be more comfortable, but that is all the assistance you will be getting from me.”

Soon, though, there will be coin enough to have far more garments to choose from. I’ll be able to provide Eloise with gowns of the same caliber as Valda’s.

Valda’s eyes flash, and I can tell she’s not happy with my grim pronouncement. But her lips still hold their vixen tilt, and then one of her gloved hands is on my chest, slowly climbing toward my shoulder.

I know this tale— I need no bard to sing it to me, because I’ve lived it before— two nights ago. Before, I was the villain in her story, and she invited me to be her hero. She gave me a kiss as a promise of reward.

It didn’t work then, and it certainly won’t work now, with her fingers curling behind my neck and drawing my lips down to hers.

I’m sure it would have been easier to fight if I’d never tasted her before. But the moment Valda’s lips left mine that night, there was a part of me deep down that needed them back. And now I’m kissing her as passionately as I wish I had then, already dreading the next time our mouths will be separated. Because that’s when the regret sets in.

I already live and breathe regret. Best to hide from it as long as possible.

Dancing Valda away from the door, I press her against the wall. Then I pull back, hesitating for a moment. Doessheregret this?

Valda’s fingers tangle into my hair and drag my mouth back to hers.

My hands plant themselves on her waist, and there is far little cloth between me and the warmth of her body. But that can befutureKonrad’s problem.

She parts her mouth from mine, kissing across my jawline to my ear.

“We could run away together,” she whispers.

I tense, confused. “Run away?Together? What in the Three Heavens are you talking about?” And why haven’t you tried to dart from my arms and out the door yet like a proper captive? “I’m the villain of your story. You shouldn’t want anything to do with me except vengeance.”

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