Page 34 of Blood Weaver
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need your flexibility.”
Her grin widened. “Unless … you’d prefer one of my girls …”
My attention snapped to her and I glared, not deigning to respond.
She threw her head back and laughed loudly, catching the attention of those around us. “I’m not surprised. Youarequite close to Selene,” she hinted.
I slammed down my empty cup of wine. “If you’re going to continue talking nonsense, it’s best if I leave.”
“Oh, please, don’t leave on my account. Enjoy the show.” With another unsettling smirk, the madam snapped her fingers to snag the attention of one of the girls and walked away, laughing hysterically.
I couldn’t wait for the day I’d drive a sword through her chest.
Ignoring the advances of the girl she beckoned, I kicked back my chair and stood. It was high time I left, anyway. The Rose Petal, for all its heady allure, was also a den of vipers. And with the Crimson Clan lurking in the shadows, it wasn’t safe for me any longer.
With one last glance towards the direction Selene and Marcellus had disappeared, I pushed open the heavy doors and stepped outside. Cool, crisp night air greeted me. The streets were quieter now, and as I walked, the noise of the pleasure house became a distant memory.
Tonight, it was time to rest. Perhaps tomorrow, I would seek more answers.
11
Iwas on my way to my clinic when a little body bumped into me head on. I took ahold of his shoulders to straighten him and the boy looked up at me anxiously. In the darkness I couldn’t be sure, but it looked like my new little informant. “Henry?”
He nodded. “Yes, Miss Leila. I was coming to look for you. You have to come quick!”
I frowned and held still when he tried to pull me away. “What happened?”
“The Valorian army is fighting the Crimson Clan!” he shouted. “They’re overpowering them!”
“The Crimson Clan is overpowering the Valorian army?” I clarified.
He shook his head. “No, the Valorian army is winning. The man who was in your clinic this morning is hurt!”
My brows shot up. “Which one?”
“The Crimson Clan member.”
My first thought was that Caelan had been hurt, and I relaxed when I learned my fear was misplaced. Not that I wished ill on Ronan, but I wouldn’t be hasty to rush in and help him,either. Whatever the Crimson Clan did to get themselves in the situation they were in was their problem.
Henry tugged on my arm again and tried to get me to follow him. “Come on, Miss. Leila, we need to hurry!”
I stopped him and squatted to be at eye level. “Henry, listen to me. We shouldn’t get involved in their business. Whatever the Crimson Clan did—”
Henry shook his head adamantly. “But they’rekillingthem!” he cried. “You have to save him!”
“Who, Ronan?”
He nodded. “This morning when I left your clinic, he gave me a pouch of coins and told me if I needed more to come to him. He was sonice, Miss Leila. We can’t just let him die!”
Ronan did that? Why?
Henry pulled on my arm again and threw me off balance where I was still squatting. I placed my free hand on the ground to keep steady. With a long-suffering sigh, I asked, “Where are they?”
“Up in the mountains!” he exclaimed. “On the cliff overlooking the river.”
“Henry, what were you doing all the way out there? You know the mountains aren’t safe.”
He slumped. “I know … but I was trying to get some information for you.”
