Page 20 of A City of Smoke and Demons
‘A natural redhead,’ Ezra said.
The Gendarme shot Ezra a puzzled look, before turning back to Analise and clearing his throat. ‘I’m glad I found you, Ms Delarosa. You’re being followed. Your landlord raised the alarm when you didn’t return home last night.’
Analise sucked in a sharp breath. That was a lie—her landlord didn’t give a shit about his tenants, but how did this man know her name? Her heart was pounding so loud she was certain both men could hear it. Her muscles tensed, ready to run.
The Gendarme mistook her silence for fear. ‘We’ve been watching someone, and it seems like he’s got his eye on you. He’s known to us, and he’s dangerous.’ He flashed a brief, reassuring smile. ‘I’m Jem.’
Analise’s instinct was to tell him he was wrong, to laugh, but she found she couldn’t do any of those things. Jem narrowed his eyes slightly at her lack of reaction to his news.
‘Why is he following me?’ she whispered, reaching up to cover her mouth in faux distress, hoping it was convincing. Jem didn’t mention the Familiar specifically, but who else could he be talking about?
Ezra had found himself a shirt and was in the process of buttoning it.
‘We’re still looking into it. I’ll take you to one of our safe houses,’ Jem said.
Analise shook her head. ‘Thank you, but I’m going home.’
‘It isn’t safe,’ Jem protested as she got up to find her boots.
‘Then I’ll go somewhere else.’
‘But—’
She put her hands on her hips, her irritation rising, despite the situation—she was trapped in a room with a member of the fucking Gendarme. ‘You think I’ve survived in the Credges by accident?’
Ezra leant against the door, arms folded. ‘Someone broke into her workplace last night.’ Analise shot him a murderous glare. ‘And those marks on her throat? I didn’t do that.’
She held her breath as Jem stepped closer to inspect the marks.
‘He’s already taken care of.’ She spoke without thinking. For a moment, she felt those fingers around her neck again, and her magic tingled, wanting to be released. She thought she saw Ezra narrow his eyes, but when she looked, his expression was composed.
Jem wasn’t done with his questions. ‘By taken care of …’
‘He won’t bother me again. He didn’t appreciate being hit by a woman and if that’s a crime, arrest me.’
Jem smiled. ‘It’s not a crime, but it would be criminal of me to let a lady walk out of here unprotected.’
There was no way out of this predicament, so Analise decided to play along. She’d run when she had the chance. ‘Fine. Can we just go then?’
This time, Ezra did narrow his eyes at her.
‘What?’ she asked. ‘First you act like you’re worried about my safety, and now that I’ve agreed you’ve changed your mind?’
‘I thought you’d argue for longer, to be honest.’
‘You think you know me well enough to make assumptions about my behaviour?’ She sat on the edge of the bed to pull her boots on, avoiding looking at either of them. Fear pricked the back of her neck and her fingers trembled, but Ezra’s chuckle made her grind her teeth.
‘Not a bit, but you’re such a ray of sunshine, I expected—’
Jem cleared his throat. ‘Ezra will be staying with you, Analise.’
Ezra looked as horrified as she felt. ‘I will?’
‘Fucking fantastic,’ Analise muttered.
Morning fog kissed the cobblestones. Scowling, Analise pulled her coat closer to her body. Jem and Ezra walked either side of her like guards. They passed busy shops, crossing the road at the tannery, heading past the emporium. She had no idea where Jem was taking her.
The fog lifted, and the sun came out, casting the slums and all its grimy glory in stark relief. Mud and horse shit slicked the streets, rubbish littered the pavement, and beggars were already about, dented bowls held between scrawny fingers.
