Page 19 of A Rose Among Snakes

I stuffed both feelings down and brushed my hands down my skirt. “There is nothing to forgive.” Choosing to move past the moment, I asked, “Do you usually spend your evenings here in the greenhouse?”

Velian looked around at the plants surrounding us. Outside, the sun had drifted low enough that golden rays tore through the glass and greenery, drenching him in warm light. Despite that, a shadow crossed his face as he said, “Only when I need some peace and quiet.”

When his gaze shifted back to mine, a weariness had settled into his features, and I took it as my cue to leave.

“Well, in that case, I will leave you be. Enjoy your evening, sir.” I began to curtsy but was halted in my tracks when his hand shotout as if to touch me again. His hand retreated to his side as I drew up to stand, humor dancing in his emerald eyes.

“Mihrra, you don’t have to curtsy every time you see me.” He gave me a light smile that didn’t exhibit the dimples. “And, please, call me Velian. I prefer it.”

I nodded. “I’ll try. Goodnight, Velian.”

“Sleep well, Mihrra. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I walked away faster than what would have been considered normal, but I was desperate to get out of there. Before pushing the door open, I threw one more glance over my shoulder to find Velian still standing where I’d left him, watching me retreat. My heart jumped and I walked outside, the cool air hitting me like ice. The contrast was so stark I gasped, but it was exactly what I needed. I still clutched the aloe leaf in my hand and I rubbed it all over my face and neck, begging for relief from the heat still radiating from my insides.

I took my time walking back to the manor, watching where I stepped in the dim lighting. I crept into my room, trying not to wake Narell, who had already passed out in bed. With barely a sound, I changed into my nightclothes and crawled into bed, stifling a groan as I settled into the feather-down mattress. As tired as I was, my mind still raced with thoughts of Velian and the softness of his hand under my chin. My stomach flipped, but I pushed those thoughts aside and remembered my intentions. I felt for the chain around my neck, sliding my thumb through the too-big ring.

Focus, Mihrra. You cannot fall for your employer, no matter how attractive, kind, or– NO. You’re here to find out what happened to Father.

To help myself fall asleep, I reminisced on memories of my father coming home from work trips. I would run out the door and jump straight into his waiting arms. He would spin around, hugging me tight, and everything would be right with the world.

Chapter Ten

“Come, Mihrra,” Kezara chirped the following morning as she grasped my wrist, tugging me behind her. “There’s a shortcut around here.”

“A shortcut to where?” I asked, tripping over a rut in the compacted dirt road. I had still been finishing up my hair after a luxurious first night of sleep in my feather bed when the bell on the wall rang. The second I set foot inside Kezara’s room, she was already jabbering about her plans for the day. I, however, had been focused on not moving the muscles in my face too much, scared of the pain from my sunburn, and missed where she said we were headed for the day.

Kezara skidded to a halt and whirled around, the amber specks of her hazel eyes glittering from the light of the ascending sun. “Didn’t you hear a word I said this morning?” she pouted.

Remembering my place, I swallowed my impulse to put her in hers as I would to one of my siblings, ducking my chin instead. “Forgive me, Kezara, but I was distracted.”

Her lips quirked to the side, but she shrugged and turned around. “Oh well, we’re almost there. We’ll cut through this alley,” she said, yanking me toward a dark corridor between woodenbuildings. Every poor word my mother had ever said about Port Deering had my body tensing, but I’d already made one error this morning, and I wanted to stay on Kezara’s good side.

Inside, I couldn’t see anything at first, but after a few rapid blinks, my eyes adjusted. A rattling breath sounded behind me as one bony arm looped around my waist and another held a knife to my throat. My hand slipped out of Kezara’s and she spun around, her expression fierce as if to scold me before opening up into surprise.

“Don’t move,” said a man’s brittle voice, the words thin as if barely able to escape his dry throat. I couldn’t move if I wanted. Aside from the cold press of the jagged blade against my throat, I was entirely numb. My mind couldn’t even process what was happening. I wanted to tell Kezara to run, but my mouth wouldn’t form the words.

“What do you want?” Kezara asked without the slightest tremor.

“Money or Ziffem, whichever you have.”

Of coursemy life was in jeopardy over Ziffem. I couldn’t get away from it.

“Let me see what I have,” Kezara said, reaching into the coin purse dangling from her wrist. She plucked out a coin, but her hand shook and the coin dropped to the ground. “Oh no,” she muttered, stooping to pick it up. When she stood, her teeth were bared, and her arm wound up behind her head. With a grunt, she threw something at his head. My eyes squeezed shut, bracing foran impact on my face, but the man cried out and stepped back from me. Then I was being pulled forward and Kezara was yelling,

“Run!”

My legs remembered how to work after a few stumbling steps and then we were propelling toward the light at the end of the alley. The breath burned in my lungs, but as staggering footsteps clamored behind us, I pushed past the discomfort. We burst into the daylight and continued running until we were in the middle of the road. Around us, people muttered and looked back toward the alley. Every heaving breath pushed against my ribs, but my thudding pulse slowed when it seemed our attacker did not follow us into the light.

I bent over, bracing my hands on my knees, sweat beading on my forehead. Perhaps there was some merit behind my mother’s warnings after all. When I caught my breath, I looked up to find Kezara standing with her hands on her hips, a crooked smile pulling at her mouth.

“We… are taking… the long way home,” I panted.

Her smile grew. “Don’t you like a bit of risk, Mihrra?”

“Not particularly.” I stood up straight, looking at the crowd around us. A few people stopped to ask if Kezara was alright and she would send them on their way with a charming wave, assuring them she was fine. When I returned my gaze to Kezara, her expression had sobered. Flyaway hairs curled at her temples, clinging to the damp skin. She worried her lower lip between her teeth and said,

“I’m sorry, Mihrra. Normally they stick to a different side of town, and admittedly, I’ve never used the alley myself. I’ve just heard about it.”

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