Page 58 of Trapped By Vengeance

Finally, the cottage door bursts open, and a little lady steps out wearing a long green gown with a golden belt at her waist that trails down to her ankles. It is the dress a noblewoman would wear, not a little elfling. But it’s definitely an elf wearing it, because her hair is carefully braided out of the way of the pointed ears we normally try so hard to hide. Considering Eloise is now traveling with both a werwölfe and an estrie, I am hoping no one will be foolish enough to draw our ire.

Eloise twirls just like Valda did. I’ll have to make sure she doesn’t pick up any other habits now that she’s decided she likesValda. If worse comes to worse, I can always mention the part where Valda tried to sacrifice me. As of right now, Valda and I have kept all that transpired in the castle between us.

If only everything else between us could be as easy to ignore. At this point, every time I look at her, I can’t tell if I should remember the last time that we kissed . . . or the one time she threw me on a table and threatened to make me her thrall.

As if I summoned her, Valda strides out. She’s wearing her hooded cloak and gown that is a different shade of red than when she went in, and I really hope it’s just the lighting. We can’t be spending all the coin at once— it’s got to last us until next the timeless estrie remembers to pay me again.

Valda smiles and waves at me, her dark hair flowing freely with her favorite red ribbon trailing down her hair. Then she moves out of the way as the seamstress follows, carrying a large box.

No . . .

But the nightmare continues as the seamstress is followed by two servant girls, each carrying three parcels each.

It looks like I’ll be taking that job from the Guild after all.

Eloise is all smiles by the time she reaches me. “Lady Valda picked me out a complete wardrobe!”

“I can see that.” Last minute, I remember to force my mouth into a grin.

“She’s going to teach me how to be a proper noblewoman during our adventure!”

“You’re already a proper noblewoman to me, pup.” I muss her hair, which has her ducking out of the way and good-naturedly sticking her tongue out at me.

Then Valda sidles up beside me. “So, are you taking that heist job you mentioned?”

I take in all the parcels in the servants' arms as they wait for direction. “It seems you have onceagain forced my hand.”

Valda grins. “I’mverygood at getting what I want.”

“Even though I was hoping I didn’t have to drag Eloise into missions anymore, now that I have a proper job.” I frown. “Well,almostproper.”

“Myvater’smoney makes it so you can be more selective about your jobs, though. And the heist looks fairly safeandlike it would be an excellent educational opportunity.”

“You’re such a sweet family.”

Glancing up, I find the seamstress smiling at us as the servants load up the carriage that Valda insisted was necessary for her travels.

I quickly step away from Valda. “Oh— we’re not a family. Well, that’s my daughter.” I glance at Eloise, who is twirling for a cat in the alley now.

Eloise pauses and gives me a confused look, as if asking how we aren’t a family yet.

I mouth, “I’ll explain when you’re older.”

She rolls her eyes in a way she must have also learned from Valda.

Meanwhile, Valda closes the distance between us. “We’re just friends.”

Raising an eyebrow, I purse my lips. “Barely.”

“He’s warming up to me again,” Valda tells the seamstress even though her eyes are locked on mine. “I think he misses me more than he lets on.” She puts a possessive hand on my arm.

“We’re taking things slow,” I counter, like the seamstress cares. “Veryslow. Especially since I’m in her father’s employ now.”

Valda steps closer, so there isn’t a hairbreadth between us. And the sensation of alluring danger from the table is back.

Forgetting about the seamstress, she drops her voice to a low whisper only I can hear. “You kissed me as your captive. You can certainly kiss me as my bodyguard.”

“Valda.”

Grinning like she knows exactly what her proximity is doing, she pushes away. “I’ve warned you, Konrad— I’m very good at getting what I want.”

I cross my arms as Eloise skips to the servant girls she just met a fortnight ago to give them all a fond farewell and introducing them to Sir Pigeon. “And what do you want, Lady Valda?”

She smirks over her shoulder at me as she pets one of the black stallions from her father’s stables that will carry us on our adventures. “Konrad of Schwerin, you know that already. One way or another, your heartwillbe mine.”

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