Page 394 of Hunters and Prey

Vesper sat back in his seat, his brow arched. “The kind of arsehole that would kindly ask you to mind your own damned business.”

The woman leaned down toward me. “You don’t have to put up with it, you know. You can leave. I run a shelter for women like you. Mistreated, used, and taken for granted.”

Oh, God. Why hadn’t I left Jezebel outside? “That’s very kind, but honestly, I’m fine. This axe belonged to my ... my grandmother, and she made me swear never to let anyone else carry it. When those thugs stole our cart, I managed to save it. Barny begged me, he pleaded with me to let him bear the load, but I wouldn’t allow it. I just couldn’t, you see. I couldn’t break a promise to my dead grandmother.”

Damn, what a shitty story. No way would she believe that crap. But her expression softened and she nodded, suddenly all sympathy.

“Of course. An heirloom, is it? Family heirloom.” She nodded as if it made perfect sense.

Was she really buying that crap? “Yes. It’s the only thing I have left of her.”

Opposite me, Vesper had tucked in his chin as if in deference, but the fucker’s shoulders were shaking. He was gonna blow this.

One of the guys placed a hand on Vesper’s shoulders. “Apologies, friend. There’s only so much you can do when faced with a stubborn woman.”

Great. So now I was stubborn and the sympathy was all for my poor husband?

His female companion slapped his arm. “It’s an heirloom.”

They wandered back to their table, and Vesper pressed a hand to his forehead, head still bowed.

“Cut it out.”

He held out his other hand. “Just. Just give me a moment.”

I polished off the last of the chicken.

“Barny? Heirloom?” he asked.

“Did you want to get into a fight?”

He shrugged. “Would have been a nice after-dinner exercise.”

“These people are innocent. Not to mention kind.”

His expression sobered. “It’s a shame the Dreki-human union didn’t simply create Skins. The Bloods may look the part, but you Skins ... you have the heart of the Dreki.”

I blinked at him in surprise. “Wait, was that a compliment?”

He snorted. “An observation. Now, let’s get out of here before someone else takes issue with that damned beast on your back.”

Before we could move, a familiar buzzing filled the air and a static-laced voice drifted through the open window.

“Citizens of the Outlands. Criminal wanted for crimes against Draco City. One hundred gold coin for capture and return.”

A drone came drifting into the tavern projecting a halo image into the room. A halo image of my face. What the heck? Why were they looking for me? I was just one Skin? Vesper looked just as confused, but the woman who’d just been speaking to us looked pretty certain as she nudged one of her male companions. They looked our way.

Shit.

“Um, Anya, I think it’s time we take a walk that turns into a run,” Vesper said softly.

But it was too late. Too many of the Skins in the tavern had recognized my face. Too many eyes were on us, on me. The drone continued to repeat its message, with the halo image of my face up close and personal.

One hundred gold was a fortune to an Outlander and a pittance to a Blood.

I was so fucked.

“It’s you, isn’t it?” the woman asked me. “You did something to piss off the Bloods.”

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