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“How about a fox?” Luna grumbled under her breath, earning a confused look from the man.
I ignored her, beginning to haggle with him over the price.
“This doesn’t count, you know,” Luna said. “Buying something for Ember isn’t the same as buying something for yourself.”
I gave the bag she was still holding a closer look.
“What price could you give if I bought the bag as well?” I asked the stall keeper, causing Luna to instantly brighten.
After several more minutes of haggling, we left the stall, my new bag slung over my shoulder with the collar tucked safely inside and several coins still left in my pouch. Amara had been generous.
“Are you really going to put a collar on Ember?” Luna wrinkled her nose.
“I don’t have any interest in collaring her in the traditional sense,” I replied, busy looking around for the source of a particularly appealing, sweet aroma. “I won’t be attaching a lead or anything like that. But she likes to wander the streets at night, and I worry that someone is going to mistake her for a wild animal and a pest and attack her. I want anyone who encounters her to know she isn’t a wild fox.”
“I suppose that makes sense.” Luna sounded disgruntled at having to acknowledge the value of my purchase.
“Ooh, it’s those hot cakes making that smell.” I pointed to the line in front of a small stall, instantly distracting Luna.
“You’ve still got coin left, don’t you?” She gave me a cheeky smile. “Feel like buying us a birthday treat?”
“Of course,” I said promptly. “As many as we can eat.”
We joined the end of the line, Luna rising onto her toes to try to peer ahead at the stall.
“I hope they don’t run out before we get to the front,” she said. “I don’t have the patience to wait for them to bake a second batch.”
“I’m sure they’ve prepared plenty,” I said absentmindedly.
My mind was going rogue again, reminding me of the early days in my travels with Amara when my heart would leap every time I caught a glimpse of any tall, broad-shouldered, and dark-haired figure. Over the weeks, I had grown used to Nik’s permanent absence, but apparently my morning’s wayward thoughts had brought my old bad habits back to the surface.
In a large marketplace, there were plenty of tall men, so I hoped I would get on top of the instinct quickly. I was going to develop a twitch otherwise. I forced myself to focus on Luna, who also seemed to be having trouble standing still.
“You’ve been so focused on me, but is there anything you need to buy?” I asked.
“Only some practical things.” She quickly added, “But I can get those later.”
“No, why should you? We’re here now, so we should get everything done while we have the chance. Why don’t you go now while I wait in line for our cakes?”
Luna hesitated, her eyes flicking toward the far end of the market and back.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure! Go, go.” I pushed her lightly, propelling her out of the line toward the direction of her gaze.
“Thanks, Delphine. I won’t take long.” She flashed me a quick smile and disappeared into the crowd.
I readjusted the bag on my shoulder and shuffled forward as the line moved. The baker served more quickly than I expected, and I soon had a bundle of hot cakes wrapped in a length of clean material and tucked into my new satchel.
Congratulating myself on the usefulness of my recent purchase, I tucked myself out of the way of the crowds, between the baker’s stall and the neighboring one selling metalwork. From this vantage point, I would see Luna as soon as she returned—an unexciting option but one much less fraught than plunging into the crowd in an attempt to find her.
I watched the people lining up for the cakes, idly guessing at their stories and trying to tune out the overwhelming awareness of so many beating hearts and pumping lungs. Hayes had said I would always have to live with some level of squeamishness—an unwelcome prospect. But at least the mere presence of other people no longer made me feel ill. I didn’t even have to suppress symptoms unless I touched someone who was actually injured or ill—or else was taken by surprise like I was at the law keepers’ hall.
I eyed a man in line whose breathing was slightly labored, trying to guess at the cause, when a hand grasped my upper arm and pulled me backward. Caught completely off guard, I stumbled into the side alley behind me, defenseless. I would have fallen if I wasn’t supported by strong, steady hands that deposited me against a wall.
As soon as I caught my balance, I thrust out one hand, seeking any inch of my attacker’s skin. It didn’t matter how large he was, the moment I touched him, I would have the upper hand.
But a second before I made contact, my eyes flashed up to his and my hand froze, just short of touching him. It wasn’t a stranger or thief attacking me, but a familiar figure who had haunted more of my thoughts than I wanted to admit.
