Page 14 of I Regret Nothing
ei was taking too long to get to breakfast. There was too much at stake with Faust and that witch after her. Rajack went to get her while I fixed a plate for her. I didn’t know what her favorite foods were, but I knew what was acceptable to eat here in Silverhold. The powdered eggs were by far superior to the oatmeal, and there was never enough sausage for the entire prison. I grabbed enough for all three of us.
Rei’s late appearance made sense when Astrid plopped down at my table and looked utterly put out. I liked Astrid. Out of all the gang leaders here in Silverhold, she was probably the least petty. She was in here for some epic curses cast in revenge, but you could say those people had it coming.
Astrid took care of her witches and made sure none of them did anything to earn more time here. Sure, they killed and got revenge, but they were sneaky about it, and it never pointed back to them. Idid notwant Astrid and her witches focused on my thief.
“Have you claimed the fox you were sitting with at dinner the other day?” she asked.
“Rajack and I both have, and I already know what you’re about to ask. We know all about your new witch and the bad blood between the two. We followed both of them on the news after they got busted. Have you looked into Venus at all?”
Astrid shrugged.
“I know she’s a thief, and she got caught because your fox assaulted her. We’ve come at people for less in here. I know she’s yours, but she hurt one of mine.”
“We don’t deny she bit her, but—”
“Venus would have needed stitches if one of the guards at the scene wasn’t a warlock and healed her wound before they took her to jail. She has a scar. Your fox left permanent damage on my witch and landed her in jail.”
“Your witch was sloppy. If she were good at what she does, the guards wouldn’t have chased her into the parking lot where they were fighting. From what the news said, she was sloppy at several other scenes they tied back to her. She sold out her clients for a lesser sentence. Rei didn’t do that.”
Astrid sighed.
“Venus left that part out. Still, I have to give her something. Rei busted her lip in the shower.”
“I think there’s part of that story you’re leaving out, Astrid.”
“Okay, fine. Venus started it. My witches stopped it. Rei got just as nasty with Venus as she did with Rei.”
“I get the feeling there’s bad blood there that goes beyond the whole Museum of the Profane. They are both thieves. They probably knew each other before that. Rajack is coming with her now. We can ask her.”
“Oh, fine. Can I have one of those sausages?”
I smacked her hand away.
“Only if Rei doesn’t want them.”
Astrid cocked an eyebrow at me.
“You’re pretty possessive over the fox. What’s going on, Dakarys?”
“Let me worry about it.”
Rajack glared at Venus. I knew he didn’t entirely trust Rei yet, but she needed time to spill her secrets. I knew she wasn’t telling me everything too, but I didn’t think she was ready for that yet.
“Control your witches, Astrid,” Rajack growled.
Astrid looked longingly at my sausage haul.
“My witches stopped it, but your fox was the one that did the damage.”
“I’d do it again,” Rei said. “Venus is a shitty person, and she’ll stab you in the back the first chance she gets. I speak from experience.”
Astrid perked up.
“Tell me all about your experience, Rei.”
I realized how much we lucked out deciding against Venus as Rei told us a story about how Venus betrayed her mentor, almost got him arrested, and they beat him several times. I also realized how much more diligent I was going to have to be watching Rei’s six. It wasn’t just Faust. Venus was probably sharpening her toothbrush as we spoke. Astrid looked disturbed.
“If what you say is true, I don’t want her in my coven, but I can’t have her as a free agent and stealing my witches.”
