Page 7 of The Omega Thief

“And who did you get to go into the actual caves?”

“We’d paid a local youth who’d done the task before,” he admitted uncomfortably. “But he was sick and couldn’t go.”

“We?” Raz asked, pretty certain he knew the answer.

“Attiker Lynch and I. We had an agreement. Fifty-fifty division of all expenses. We even had the drying areas and team hired.”

Raz looked blankly at Thakeray.

“The Lapiz needs to be dried within six hours of being cut, sire. And I believe the plant only blooms once a year. The plants need turning every fifteen minutes for a full day and night.”

Which meant a large team. Which meant an expensively large team.

“So what did you do?”

“Attiker undertook getting the blooms himself.”

Raz paled. The thought of his bonded going into the warren of tunnels in the Patir Hills made him feel ill. Anything could have happened. He could have gotten trapped, hurt, lost. But then he was here, so nothing untoward could have befallen him.

“And was the search successful?”

“Yes, Highness. Attiker turned his ankle and had to wait some hours to return, but we managed to get the blooms to the drying areas in time. I accompanied them and arranged to have them dried. Then I left Attiker his agreed portion and took my leave.”

Raz’s mood soured even more, and he felt his Fenrir growl softly. “You left an injured man on the side of the cliffs?”

“We left provisions,” Jeremiah said quickly. “Attiker agreed the whole thing would be for naught if we didn’t get the plants dry in time.”

Which was true, Raz supposed. He didn’t like it, but he could appreciate the argument.

“Then I fail to see how you could accuse Mr. Lynch of stealing when you had the blooms in your possession.”

“Because they were taken,” Grape spat out, his voice rising. “I left his share as soon as I had dried mine, and we set out. If I had delayed, I wouldn’t have made the arranged meeting point.”

“So after drying yours, you left the others for Lynch, assuming he managed to scale down the cliff with an injured leg?”

“Well, he must have because mine were stolen. We stopped to rest the next night, and they were taken. We got attacked by a group of anti-shifters.”

“And how was that Attiker’s fault, if, as you say, he wasn’t even there?”

“He put them up to it. I know he did. Everyone says Attiker knows the rebels.”

“And what did your guards say?”

Grape spluttered. “Attiker was supposed to be providing security. I didn’t have time to make other arrangements. I had arranged the delivery and exchange.”

“So let me get this straight. Your partner injured himself doing a task you were unable to do, and, as a thank-you, you left his share to rot. Then you got the plants stolen because you’re further incapable of securing them against rebels, and you blame the one man who you left on the side of a cliff?”

Afterward, Raz would always congratulate himself on not letting his wolf shut the stupid man up. Raz waved at Thakeray, completely disgusted, and Thakeray dragged him to the door.

“But he’s a thief!” Grape shouted. “He’s a pickpocket and a slum-whore. His mother was exactly the same. You have him arrested already, and I demand restitution.”

Raz had partially shifted before Grape suddenly realized he was in a precarious position, and instead of struggling against Thakeray, let the man push him out into the anteroom. He’d heard of Attiker’s arrest and decided to jump on the bandwagon. All that about not wanting to bother the prince when he was busy was a load of waxerbeast shite. It was nearly the celebration of the bells. There was no way the flowers would bloom in the Patir Hills in temperatures this low. No, this happened in the spring or summer, but Grape had heard of the arrest and hoped to cheat Attiker of more coin. It was likely the final anti-shifter nonsense was just thrown in for good measure.

Raz calmed himself. He needed to get back to his bonded and looked up as Thakeray came back into the office. “He’s left, Highness.”

“Then I think it’s about time everyone else did. Leave the announcements for tonight. Go home and see your husband. Tell the kitchen I’ll ring for supper but to prepare a range of dishes, then they can also leave.” He didn’t know what Attiker liked, but they had a lifetime to discover his favorites.

He also wanted to hear his story. The thought of Attiker being alone and hurt as a child did funny things to his insides. He didn’t like it. His wolf liked it even less.

---