Page 44 of Crowned A Traitor
"I take it the King is unaware of your marital status."
"There are some things that are best left unsaid, and if you want to keep our bargain, it will remain that way."
"Don't threaten the poor girl. There's a Ghoul outside causing trouble, brought in some Guards looking for this young one," Glaudine said, and Klara felt her stomach reach her toes.
“Silvia must have been watching through the window when I dropped the glamour.”
Lokey ran his hand over the desk, and suddenly the carved wood disappeared, and the front of the den came into view.
"Silvia," Klara said as she watched the distraught woman howling at the patrol to "FIND HER."
“Making friends everywhere you go, just like your Father in the old days,” Lokey said, nudging Klara.
"Should have taken her head when I had the chance," Klara said, and Lokey winked.
“Spoken like a true Lucifer, offer the Guards a cup or two of our finest. That should keep them busy," Lokey gripped Glaudine's hand, and Klara grew nervous.If Father discovers them, he will have their heads for aiding me.Klara couldn’t help but stare at the protective hand over Glaudine’s stomach.
"And the Ghoul?" Glaudine asked Lokey.
Klara spoke up, "let the Ghoul cause a scene, judging from the navy uniforms they are Port patrol on leave. They would much rather get their fix, than hunt for me."
"Lilith trained you well," Lokey said, and Klara saw sadness fall over Glaudine’s striking features.
Lokey pushed on the wall of his office, revealing a hidden passage that led them to the edge of the toadstools. "Will she be okay, in her condition?" Klara asked as she had never seen a pregnant woman before.
Lokey laughed, "I worry more about what she will do to the Port patrol or the deranged Ghoul if they make a mess. Tapped has been in her family for centuries."
The toadstool stalks grew thicker until they had to squeeze through.
"Careful," Lokey warned, and Klara walked straight into a glamour shield. The zap pulsed through her and a run-down cabin with smoke billowing from a small chimney took the toadstools place.
"I warned you," he shrugged, opening the creaky wooden door. Moss grew from the rusted hinges and kept the door from closing behind them.
Klara lingered in the low doorway as she looked into the tiny living quarters with bunk beds and a small kitchenette.
The room was empty, not a soul within. Klara thought that if she raised her arms, she would be able to touch the thatched roof.
"Cheap trick." Klara placed her hand on the logged walls and the glamour began to lift from the door to the end of the cabin. A little girl slept on the lower bunk of a makeshift bunkbed. Judging from the black soot on her clothes, she had escaped the flames. Spurs of mushrooms filled every corner of the cabin. The one arched window would have brought in more light if it wasn't caked with mud and dust.
The girl shifted in her sleep when the clink of glass brought Klara's attention to the lean man standing at the sink. "Play nice," Lokey said, and the man turned around.
"Arthur?" Klara said, moving through the cabin in haste and threw her arms around her friend. "I'm so glad you're alive."
Klara thought he would have been the first off Abadan's list. Considering Arthur was her only ally in the Castle. "Glad you're alive," he said as she loosened her grip.
"I'll leave you all to get acquainted but one last piece of advice. The Ferrier isn't known to be patient."
"We'll leave as soon as possible," Klara thanked Lokey, as he let himself out.
"How did you get out?" Before Arthur could respond, swift movement from the top bunk distracted Klara. Heavy feet hitting the rotting floorboards shook the small cabin, and Klara pulled her axe.
"Don't," Arthur protested as Klara's axe landed at the stranger's throat. She reached her arm up, to compensate for the height difference. He remained still, his chest rising and falling. Klara noticed the small girl clutching his leg and his stiff shoulders relaxed as his hand went to the small child's shoulder.
"Klara it's okay," Arthur said, placing a hand on her wrist, and she trusted him enough to lower her blade. The stranger’s amber eyes assessed hers before drifting to the girl at his leg. Klara sensed he wasn't about to harm her in front of the child.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare her," Klara said, putting away her axe, and the little girl peered out from behind his legs.
"You didn't tell us we were waiting for the Heir to Hell," the Lycaon said. There was a roughness to his voice she guessed was from inhaling too much smoke.
