She faced me again, her eyes shining with misery. “Does it always feel like this?”
My whole body clenched. “No.”
She winced, but I didn’t elaborate. How could I possibly explain to her that each life I’d taken had left a different stain on my soul? No two lives were the same as no two deaths were.
“What happened to the other one?” she asked, not meeting my eyes.
“I killed him.” And I didn’t regret it.
“Two more dead Wolves,” she murmured, almost to herself. “Renwell will be furious.”
“The alternative was worse.”
“Was it?” Her mouth twisted as if the words tasted bitter. “You could’ve left me there to die. Reclaimed your wagon and hid your cargo. Then the remaining Wolf would’ve taken the only criminal he had.”
I sat back, not fully comprehending her words. “Was that what you expected from me? Do you really think I would leave you to such a fate?”
“You did for that other woman.”
“There werefourWolves that night. Fighting them would’ve gotten all of us killed. If I could’ve saved her, I would have.” I gripped the edges of her cot and leaned into her face. “But I willnotbe the reason you die, Kiera.”
She studied me for a moment, her gaze poking and prodding at mine. Then it softened. She lifted her hand slowly, haltingly, giving me time to pull away.
But I didn’t.
I let her brush my cheek with those fingers I craved. She cupped my jaw in her palm, and I closed my eyes. Just for one moment. One thread of connection. One beat of unity.
“I believe you,” she whispered, then let me go.
I pulled away from her. My heart contorted oddly in my chest. As if trying to figure out how to keep beating among these dangerous feelings.
What are you doing to me, little thief?
Chapter 18
Kiera
I killed a man.
And caressed Aiden’s face.
The first seemed as though it should be more significant than the other. But that one, warm, tender touch might prove to be more damning than murder.
What a strange life I led that affection was more dangerous than the knives I carried. But Aiden was the enemy. He just didn’t know it. And in moments like these, he didn’t feel like it.
But the Wolf . . .
Bile rose in my throat. I swallowed against it, but the acid remained. My eyes stung again. My head groaned under the sudden pressure.
I’d killed a Wolf and nearly killed another.
What was Renwell going to do when he found out? He would figure out it was me in that alley. He was the one who’d taught me to aim for an enemy’s throat with my knives. Probably didn’t expect me to use them on his Wolves.
Which meant I hadn’t just broken one of his rules. I’d obliterated it.
Fear crawled like spider legs over my skin, and I shivered.
“I’ll fetch you another blanket,” Aiden said, quickly disappearing into the other room.
