Page 23 of The Rook

“A distraction?” she repeated. They’d scared years off her life. Her gaze moved back to the cat shifter holding her hostage. “I hope you have nine lives,” she muttered. “Because I am going to kill you.”

He winked at her. “It was all in good fun.”

“That was not my idea of fun.” She glanced pointedly at his hands. “Now, if you’d be so kind as to set me free?”

Chesh released a rumbling purr. “I could show you how I have fun…”

Tempest growled as her cheeks heated at his insinuation. “No, thank you.”

Chesh sighed. “Your loss, pet.” He let her go, and Tempest slashed at him half-heartedly with her left hand. “What fun you are,” he said.

“I’ll show you fun,” she muttered, stooping to retrieve her discarded dagger from the mud. Her nose wrinkled as she cleaned the hilt with her cloak and slipped the weapon into the leather sheath at her right hip. She stood and pinned Brine with her gaze. “And what did you need a distraction for?”

He held up the plain box in his hands. “This.” He glanced at Chesh and rolled his eyes. “Will you stop your antics? You’re worse than Fox.”

The shifter in question had crept closer to her, still purring. He gave her a mad grin and then moved a respectful distanceaway. He inclined his head politely, which only served to confuse Tempest beyond all reason. What was his deal? What sort of game was he playing? And why was a prince of the Hinterlands consorting with the Talagan rebels? Questions for another time.

She forced herself to concentrate on the matter at hand. “What’s in the box?”

“None of your business,” Brine replied, so quickly Tempest felt like swearing at him. What she didn’t expect was for Chesh to take the box from Brine and pass it over to her.

“Thank you…” she murmured, running her fingers over the intricate wooden surface. It almost looked like a puzzle. She rotated the box, looking for a latch.

Chesh tsked and laid a hand over her own, halting her exploration. “You may carry it, but no opening it,” he said. “You have to take this to our lovely Jester as is.”

“Seriously?” she huffed.

“Yes, be a good girl and listen to your elders.”

Tempest felt like screaming, but she tamped down her irritation. “You can’t be much older than I.”

“I’m an old soul.”

“Positively decrepit,” she said dryly. Tempest ignored his narrowed eyes and focused back on the glowering wolf. If they wouldn’t let her open it, then she needed to gain as much information as possible. “Was this box in the smuggler’s possession?”

“Indeed,” Chesh answered. “He’s been touting a deadly drug to Heimserya’s neighboring countries claiming that it’s protection against the disease that’s affecting the country. Everyone is terrified by the news coming out of Heimserya, so people are buying this drug in droves.”

Her stomach twisted at the notion. Now there was not just one killer drug on the market, but two.

“He was also stealing from the Jester,” Brine added. He waved a hand toward the box. “We were collecting evidence to prove it. Now the Dark Court can rightfully eliminate him.”

Eliminate. Lovely.

She ran the back of her arm over her face, then indicated behind her with her dagger. “So, where is blasted Fox, then?” she asked. “Where do I have to go to—”

“I’m taking you there, of course,” Brine cut in, looking thoroughly unhappy. “Why would wetellyou where he is, you stupid dog?”

And they were back to square one. “I’m too tired to deal with your insults, Brine.” She’d walked for hours today, been falsely sold, and chased through a pirate city. Her body was done with the abuse.

“Good,” he said, smiling viciously. “Then you won’t put up a fight for the next few hours.”

She baulked at the idea. “The next few hours? Can’t we find somewhere to rest first?” She was hungry and needed a proper bath. She stank.

Brine merely laughed. “A wolf travels best at night, girlie. So, if you want to prove your worth, then you’ll keep up with me without complaint.”

Tempest didn’t know if she wanted Brine’s respect or not, but it became clear she was going to have to continue traveling with him on his terms, regardless.

Chesh sashayed up to her, and, quicker than lightning, licked the side of her face.