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Blade scooped up his prize and tucked it inside his shirt. “Sit down.” He held out a hand of welcome to Gill.
We all took a seat at the booth. Unfortunately, I was the lucky one to land on the chair the fat pirate had vacated, and his sweat soaked into my skin. Every instinct in me wanted to brush it away with a napkin, but that wasn’t what my whore character would do. Cringing inside, I suffered in silence, smiling, nibbling at Gill’s ripped shoulder.
“You’ve changed, Princess,” said the assassin.
“The name’swench.” I took one of his shot glasses and tossed back the alcohol. The burning liquid warmed my throat.
Everyone stared at me in surprise.
Good. If my act was shocking them, then it must be convincing everyone else, too.
“What can I do for you,wench?” Blade gulped down the contents of his last glass.
Fin answered for me. “We’re looking for the collector’s trove.”
Blade leaned back in his seat and grabbed a handful of nuts from a woven basket. “Do you want to go back to the trade market?”
The assassin’s words cut deep. My imagination ran riot at the thought of being caught again. I had to use all my concentration just to focus on Gill. For him to hold me in the moment. I squeezed his thigh, and he returned the pressure on my hand.
Fin remained level-headed as always, never showing his fear. “We believe the collector might possess an item we wish to acquire.”
“The collector owns all manner of magical items,” Blade said, plucking a dagger from beneath the table and shoving it inside his boot. “Or she could find it for you. That’s her specialty.”
That was good news. But would she be willing to bargain with four merfolk who’d escaped her? That was money out of her pocket. I’d bet she’d sooner apprehend us again and have us back on the market.
The assassin took a swill of his beer. “But do you trust her?”
I certainly didn’t.
Fin leaned in and said in a low voice, “We’re not below stealing.”
“Maybe we can bargain for my sister,” Gill chimed in, “and the rest of the merfolk.”
A few people at the tables surrounding us stared as if their suspicions were aroused. I’d let down my guard and abandoned my act. To redeem myself, I licked Gill’s ear, liking the salty taste of his lobe. My hand glided over his chest and down into his lap, squeezing his leg and then his groin, the way I’d seen many a whore do in the past. His privates twitched, encouraging me to rub it further, but this was neither the time nor the place…despite the fact that the idea of doing it in front of all these people turned me on. Such was the effect he had on me.
“Do you know where it is?” The apple of Gill’s throat bobbed, as if he was having a hard time concentrating.
The deep, dark part of me expanded with disappointment as he pushed my hand away. She really wanted the excitement of getting him off in the bar.
Gill pulled me into his body so I leaned against his chest, enjoying the way his rocking breaths comforted me.
Nemo glared at me from across the table. I blew him a playful kiss and winked at him. This time, my efforts failed miserably, and he turned away, refusing to look at me again. We were really going to have a talk about this. Jealousy was not becoming. Not on a man as sweet as Nemo. Sea god. Nemo was making the guilt eat me up inside right when I was starting to enjoy myself.
“No one has ever gotten into the collector’s trove,” said the assassin. “And don’t think I haven’t tried.”
I slumped against Gill. Now, how were we supposed to get the pearl and save my father and Gill’s sister?
“Well, I’ll die trying,” growled Gill.
I was willing to do the same for my family if it came to it.
Blade scooped all the round wooden chips into his palm as if he prepared to leave. “Tomorrow is Sunday. The day she visits her mother’s grave. The trove will be empty for a few hours.”
My mood brightened, and I sat up straighter.
“Go to the old ruins in the Darkwoods,” Blade said. “Head east for two leagues. Look for the twisted trees. There, you will find the entrance. Good luck, my friend.”
He stood up, approached my side of the table, and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “If you ever want to spend a night with arealman…” He tossed a chip on the table in front of me.
