Page 59 of Throne of Ice and Blood

It was the human resistance who gave me those special gloves and shoe covers that I use for climbing. That’s what the Red Hand is using as well. That’s how he can manage to get in and out undetected.

My heart beats nervously in my chest while I try my best to look neutral as I remain standing in front of the window while Draven and another one of his soldiers, a woman with white blond hair and pale blue eyes, crouch down next to the body on the floor.

Draven is certain that the Red Hand is still here since he can’t fly. As long as he doesn’t figure out that the Red Hand can easily scale the walls, he will keep searching for him in all the wrong places. And I have to keep it that way.

With one eye on Draven and the blond shifter, I shift my position slightly and casually stretch my arm. The moment both Draven and the woman are focused on the corpse before them, I yank the window closed. And I make sure to shuffle my feet in a way that makes my shoes squeak slightly against the smooth floor at the exact time when the window clicks shut.

My pulse thrums in my ears. But neither Draven nor the woman looks up. I breathe an inwardly sigh of relief. The window is now firmly shut. Draven will never know that that’s what the Red Hand used in order to get out.

“Sir,” the blond shifter says. Her gaze flits down the corridor in the other direction for a second before she meets Draven’s eyes again. “We’re only four corridors away from the treasury.”

My heart jerks. The treasury isn’t just somewhere on this floor, it’shere. Dread washes through me. What if the humans are inside?

“This guy isn’t connected to the treasury,” Draven replies. A considering look blows across his features as he gazes down the corridor as well. Then he nods. “But I’ll check it out anyway.”

He straightens and takes a step forward. When she does the same, he gives her a look full of authority.

“Stay here and make sure that no one, and I meanno one, touches the body,” he commands.

She immediately stops and then takes a step back towards the body while lowering her chin. “Yes, sir.”

Draven slides his gaze to me and jerks his chin. “Selena.”

I resist the urge to reconfirm that I have properly closed the window behind me and instead quickly follow Draven as he strides down the corridor. He slows down a little, allowing me tocatch up, but says nothing as we continue down the hall and into the next one.

As soon as we have rounded the corner, he turns his head and locks eyes with me while we continue walking. “Don’t touch anything.”

I shoot him an exasperated and half offended look.

“I mean it,” he says as he slides his gaze back to the corridor, only glancing at me occasionally as he keeps speaking. “I’ve already saved your troublesome ass from jail once. If you get blood on your hands now, it’s going to be very hard to explain it away a second time.” He nods towards my throat and lowers his voice. “Especially since you’re not wearing your collar right now. So just… don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself.”

Since the messenger was already waiting for us outside Draven’s door, we didn’t get the chance to put the collar back on me. So I’m still only using my hair as cover. To be honest, it makes me feel a little nervous too. But I don’t tell Draven that.

Instead, I arch an eyebrow at him. “First of all, you appeared to be liking myassjust fine a few minutes ago.”

He chokes on his breath and snaps his gaze to me.

I flash him a smug grin before fixing him with another pointed stare. “And secondly, I’m not stupid. I’m not going to start dipping my fingers in the blood of a murder victim and paint red flowers on the wall.”

He arches an eyebrow right back at me. “Need I remind you that your hands were completelycoveredin blood the last time you were near a dead body.”

“That’s because I tripped over him.”

“My point exactly.”

Drawing my eyebrows down, I let out a huff.

And before I can come up with a suitable retort, we reach the end of the corridor. A guard in silver armor meets us there. He leaps to attention the moment his gaze lands on Draven.

“Commander,” he says.

Draven gives him a curt nod in reply before turning to me. “Only a select few are allowed past this point. And you are not among them. So stay here.”

Frustration and disappointment rip through my chest. Goddess damn it. We’re still three corridors away from the actual treasury. I was hoping that Draven would be taking me with him all the way to the treasury. But apparently, there is a limit to the amount of luck I’m allowed this particular evening.

“And behave,” he adds, holding my gaze.

Since we have an audience, I decide not to argue. Letting out a soft sigh, I give him a nod.

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