“Perhaps,” she murmured although she didn’t believe it. She’d already been put to the test and had failed it miserably.
She looked around. Kai was still talking to the dark-haired woman, Emeric was staring into his tankard, and the rest of the patrons were engaged in business of their own. “I’m a spare part here,” she said to Rosa. “Is there anything I can to do help you?”
Rosa blinked, taken aback by the offer. “Why, that would be very kind of you, my dove. You can help me clear up dinner if you would like?”
Caitlin nodded eagerly, glad for something to occupy her mind. She began wiping down the tables and collecting dishes while Rosa chatted with some of the patrons. As she worked, Caitlin glanced at Kai. To her surprise, she found him watching her. Then his dark-haired companion said something and he looked away again. Caitlin found heat flooding through her cheeks and an uncomfortable feeling filling her stomach like acid.
What was wrong with her? Was she feelingjealousof all things? That was ridiculous. She and Kai were just strangers thrown together by the oddest of circumstances. She barely knew him. She shook her head, scolding herself for being so foolish. She finished clearing the last of the tables and walked over to Rosa, who was counting her earnings for the night.
“Thank you,” Caitlin said, hoping her gratitude was clear. “I really enjoyed helping out.”
Rosa smiled, pocketing the coins. “You’re a good lass. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”
The door suddenly opened and Conall walked in. His gray eyes swept the room, taking in Kai and his companion, flicking to Emeric sat alone and brooding at his table, and then finally to Caitlin standing with Rosa. He gave Caitlin a friendly smile then crossed to Emeric’s table and sat down. The two men spoke in low tones then Emeric got up and disappeared up the stairs whilst Conall gave Caitlin another quick look before taking out a book and starting to read.
Caitlin frowned to herself. Had she just seen a shift-change? Was it Conall’s turn to be her minder now? Annoyance flashed through her. Did they all think she was so useless she needed watching every minute of every day?
She marched over to Conall and stood looking down at him with her arms crossed. He glanced up from his book.
“Good evening, my lady,” he said with a nod. “I trust ye find yer accommodations to yer liking?”
His accent was lighter than the others’ and she remembered Oskar saying that Conall was nobly born. Caitlin wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. Was he a baron or something? But if that was true, why was he running around with Kai and his band?
“My accommodations are just fine,” she said. “Did Kai tell you to come down here? Are you my new minder?”
“Yer what?” Conall said with a puzzled expression. “I dinna know the term.”
Caitlin rolled her eyes. “Never mind. I just don’t need someone watching over me all the time.”
“I’m not watching over ye,” Conall said, his voice low and serious. “I’m merely here to make sure ye’re safe.”
Caitlin bristled at the implication. “I’m not a child. I don’t need anyone to look after me.”
“Of course not,” Conall said smoothly. “But it never hurts to have an extra pair of eyes and ears, does it?”
He had a point. She was in a strange place, and she couldn’t afford to let her guard down. Still, it rankled her that she was being watched like a prisoner.
She swallowed hard and mumbled an excuse before turning away from Conall and walking to the stairs. She paused at the bottom and glanced over her shoulder.
Kai was watching her again, ignoring the dark-haired woman who was whispering something in his ear. Instead, his gaze was pinned on Caitlin and the intensity of it made heat flash up her neck.
She quickly turned away and climbed the stairs, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her flustered. When she reached her room, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a shaky sigh. She breathed deeply, trying to calm herself.
It had been a wild, crazy day and exhaustion washed through her. All she wanted to do was sleep.
Things will seem better in the morning, she told herself. Locking her door, she crossed to the bed and lay down fully clothed. Her eyes drifted closed and sleep took her.
There is something pinning her down. A heavy weight lies across the lower half of her body. She cannot feel her legs and when she tries to move, nothing happens. There is a strange smell in the air and a sound that’s coming closer. It takes a moment for her to place it.
Smoke. Fire.
She glances to her right and in the dim light sees a woman lying next to her. She strains against the weight pinning her down, calling out the woman’s name. But there is no response.
The heat is becoming unbearable. She has to get out. There is a beam lying across them both and Caitlin reaches out to try and move it, but although it isn’t yet on fire, she can feel its heat radiating through it as if it’s already been engulfed by the inferno. She screams, pulling back her hands as agony rockets through her.
There is no escape—Caitlin can feel it in her bones—but still, she cries out for help. Her throat is raw from screaming and all that comes out of her mouth is a desperate croak, barely audible even to herself.
She is trapped. Trapped.
