Page 33 of Nice

"Tell him Kris."

Frantic, I struggle in Red's grasp. "Tell me what?"

There's a pregnant pause. "She left."

Hissing, Kris crosses his arms. "Traitor."

Shaking his head, he suddenly lets me go. I look between him and Kris. "What do you mean she left?"

Red crosses his arms and glares at Kris for a moment before throwing his hands in the air. "She changed her mind and decided to be with you."

Elation flows through me before my entire being freezes. "How long ago was this?"

Kris continues sulking and staring into the fireplace. Ignoring his petulant attitude, I turn fully and face Red. Was she still in the city? In this house? Bile rises up my throat as I imagine the worst.

"I would say about an hour ago. Dancer took her from the dining area and led her to the door. I'm assuming she got her squared away in the inn. Did she not call you?"

Worried lines crease his forehead. My heart thumps loudly in my chest. If Dancer had anything to do with this, who knows what actually happened to Caitlin. Of all the reindeer troops, she's the one to never cross.

"No. No one notified me of anything." I whirled back around to Kris. "What the hell have you done?"

He examines his nails before pinning me with an eat-shit grin. "You mean besides pounding into her until she couldn't remember her name?"

With a roar, I leap forward and punch him hard in the face. The glorious sound of bones crunching under my knuckles fills me with such an extreme pleasure. It takes a moment before I realize that I've hit the man, and Red didn't stop me. I turn to look at him, expecting some form of reprimand. Instead, he leans against the wall with his arms crossed, watching the entire scene.

"You wilted poinsettia," Kris shrieks, holding his nose.

I stifle a laugh and lift my hand to punch him again.

"He's not worth it, Asmon. You need to go to Caitlin. I'm sure she'll fill you in on all the details.

"Oh. You mean Asmon's human?"

All three of us turn towards the door. Dancer leans against the frame, an air of lethal nonchalance rolling off her in waves.

"She was quite content when I sent her home to you Asmon. Do you mean to tell me she never arrived?"

Blood drains from my face as her words sink in.

"You sent her home? Not to the inn?"

A small smile lifts her lips. "I mentioned the inn. Yes."

"And?"

"And whether she avails herself to it or not is her prerogative. She has money to pay for it, I assume."

Red pushes past me, his face pale. "Whether or not she had the money, you saw what she was dressed in. There's no way any of it would be on her."

"You're right. I didn't give her any money."

A pink tinge stains Red's face. "Either way, it wouldn't have made a difference."

"Please tell me she wasn't sent out of here naked."

"Do you think I'd let anyone, mortal or otherwise out into the streets naked?"

Sighing, I wipe a hand down my face. "You're right. I shouldn't have assumed."