Page 22 of The Rook

Whatever it was, she wasn’t sticking around. No matter the outcome, it wasn’t good for her. Tempest took two slow steps away from the table just as the portly man grinned outright.

“And where do you think you’re going, Lady Hound?!” the merchant bellowed after her, moving with surprising speed for someone of his size around the table. “Stay a little while.”

Time to go. She darted for the gangplank when guards materialized around her, blocking the path off the ship. Wicked hell.

“Get out of my way before I cut you down!” she snarled.

The sounds of swords sliding from scabbards echoed around her. The wind tugged at her cloak. She shook her head so the hood fell away, exposing her hair. She smiled nastily. Their stances told her everything she needed to know. They weren’t well trained, and they looked human. She had years of experience fighting soldiers and city guards. They didn’t stand a chance. And it did not take long for Tempest to disarm both men and leap across the gangway.

Her boots pounded along the dock as she sprinted back into the city, slipping and sliding in the mud. She veered toward the smellier part of town, gagging at the scent. It couldn’t be helped. With shifters involved, they’d probably picked up her scent. Hopefully, the odor would mask her smell.

She darted into a dark alley and paused to catch her breath; her gaze locked on the entrance. Her pulse thundered in her ears. Had she escaped? She didn’t think it was that simple.

“Why so quick to leave, Temp?” Chesh crooned into her ear, snaking a hand around Tempest’s waist as if they were lovers.

Her instincts and training kicked in. She slammed an elbow into his gut before stomping on his instep. He hissed and released her. Tempest swung her leg out to knock him off his feet. He’d already stepped out of the way and hovered just out of reach. Chesh gave her a crooked smile that saidcome and get me.She’d do no such thing. Only a fool would go on the offense with someone so much bigger than themselves. Tempest wasn’t a fool.

“I willnotbe sold to some sleazy smuggler. I’m not sure who you work for—”

“Hush, pet,” Chesh replied, closing the distance between them. She slashed at him, and he paused, arching a brow at her. “No need to be so feisty.”

Her top lip curled back, and she lifted her daggers higher. “I’m going to walk away, and you’re going to let me. I don’t know what you have going on right now, but I do know what those markings are for. Do your partners know who you are?”

He gave her a mischievous smile. “Fox was right. You are just delightful.”

Tempest took a step toward the mouth of the alley at the same time Cheshmoved. One moment, several paces separated them, and the next, he was only inches from her daggers. He calmly wrapped his hands around her wrists and gazed evenly down at her.

“Let’s put the daggers down and speak like reasonable people, shall we?”

She lashed out, aiming to kick him in the shin, but he sidestepped. He squeezed her right wrist, slowly prying the dagger from her fingers.

Not happening.

Instead of pulling away, she jerked forward and viciously bit his forearm. Chesh grunted and put more pressure on her wrist. She cried out and released his arm as he forced her to drop the dagger. Tempest prepared for his counterattack and grunted as he yanked her close. She gasped when he did the exact opposite. A purr vibrated his chest, and he rubbed his face affectionately against her temple and cheek. She leaned back as far as she could and gaped at the shifter.

“What was that?” she barked, losing some of her fear and anger. What the devil was going on?

Chesh laughed and leaned closer, brushing his nose against hers. “Just a friendly hello.”

“Knock it off,” she demanded as he rubbed his face against the top of her head.

“Just returning the favor, pet. You’re the one who initiated it.”

“Me?” she gasped.

“You bit me.” His smile was slow. “This kitty likes to scratch.”

Tempest’s brow furrowed. “You attacked me. I was protecting myself.”

“In my world, you just declared that you want me.”

She gaped. “I don’t think so! I thought you wanted to kill me or sell me off.”

“Trust me, Temp,” he said, once more using her nickname uninvited, “if I wanted you dead—if I ever meant you harm—then I would have killed you the first time I laid eyes on you.”

Nothing made any sense. “Then what in the name of Dotae is going on? Why were you bartering my life with that man if—”

“You served as a distraction,” Brine growled, appearing from the entrance to the alleyway with a box in his hands. “Something that you’re actually very good at, it seems.”

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