Page 34 of Her Cruel Dahlias
“I don’t mind staying with you!” Juniper chirped, her eyes wide.
“He suggested Zephyr, but if you—”
“No, that’s perfect. My brother’s great with blades and can use his vines to cut down anyone who tries to hurt you.”
That was true—Zephyr was great with swords and daggers, could easily hit the center of anything he put his mind to. While his vines could be lethal if he so chose. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I know you’ve been having trouble sleeping, and you shouldn’t be alone. Would you want to stay with me anyway?”
Juniper bit her lip. “Stormy actually just offered for me to stay with her, but I told her I was fine.”
A small smile curled the edges of Cricket’s lips. “I think you should, and not only to protect one another, but maybe to tell her how you feel?”
Juniper’s cheeks pinkened. “Now’s not the time to discuss that. But I suppose I will take her offer. It would be less cramped with two people.” She rested a hand on Cricket’s shoulder. “Just be careful. Every time I see or hear about death, it reminds me of my parents. So with you seeing this, so close to how you died, I can’t imagine what you’re feeling.”
“I just want this bastard found.” It was hard, but other situations had been harder. Losing her brother to the plague was a worse fate. She wondered how often her parents were still thinking about her. No matter what, she promised herself she would one day find them, let them know she was alive as soon as the murderer was caught. With her being taunted, even if she knew where they were, it was better they not discover the truth in case something happened to her again.
As she parted ways with Juniper, she rounded one of the caravans and found Zephyr talking to Mistress Eliza and Autumn. When his gaze locked on hers, Cricket chewed the inside of her cheek and motioned him to walk with her.
“How are you?” Zephyr asked as he sauntered up beside her.
She shrugged, wishing she could get the simple question out.
“Need a drink?” he asked, fishing out the flask and handing it to her.
“I need a favor,” she said but took a sip from the flask first, letting the liquor calm her nerves.
“I remember the last time we dabbled in favors—it wasn’t good. You still owe me one, remember?” He smirked, tucking the flask back into his trouser pocket. “But I’ll allow you a favor anyway.”
She rolled her eyes and folded her arms, her tongue like lead inside her mouth. “I was wondering if… This will sound ridiculous, but Bram wants you to stay with me. He’s worried about me, and now that I think about it, maybe it isn’t necessary since there are plenty of performers near my caravan...” Cricket trailed off, not revealing the true reason why Bram wanted Zephyr to stay with her.
He grasped her arm gently and drew her closer, his woodsy scent steadying her. “Would you want me to?”
“I suppose it wasn’t so terrible when you were there last night,” she murmured, attempting to sound more careless and failing.
“You’re going to think me a bastard for saying this now, but I would stay with you under any circumstance.” He lifted her chin so his hazel eyes fastened on hers. “Any.”
“I think your expectations of staying with me are a bit too high. I’m quite the stickler of where I like things to go.” She smiled.
“Then you can come to mine.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her forward. “I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself unless you ask me not to.”
“Stay with you?” She laughed, pulling him to a stop. “I thought you liked having your space to yourself?” Most of the performers had to share a caravan except for a few who brought in good wages from their performances. Cricket was lucky Mistress Eliza hadn’t moved her when she’d awoken.
Zephyr held up a finger. “Seems I changed my mind. Besides, my caravan is farther away from where the body was found. Maybe it would be less of a reminder if you need it.”
She didn’t think the memory would fade for a while, regardless. After another woman’s body had been discovered so soon, more than ever, the killer had to be found. She didn’t know if she could take any more macabre dead bodies decorated in bloody dahlias.
“I will then, but only on the condition that if I do something ridiculous, like spill secrets in my sleep, you promise not to tell anyone.” Cricket smiled, and her shoulders relaxed.
“Secrets, you say?” Zephyr grinned while pretending as though he was sewing his lips shut.
She released a sigh. “Thank you. I’m just relieved Mistress Eliza has allowed me to stay.”
His hand glided down her arm, stopping at her wrist, and he drew her close. “It’ll stay that way. You’ll get a hold of your curiosity, and the murderer will be hung. The authorities found yours before, and this one will be found too.”
Some cases weren’t solved as quickly—she knew that—but she hoped this one was coming to a close sooner rather than later.
“I think we need a break,” he continued. “The carnival will be closed, so let me take you into the city.”
She lifted her brows. It would be a wonderful distraction, and perhaps she could find out something about the latest victim, Joanna. “I’ll gladly take the offer.”