“Thank you,” Thrax interrupted, collecting the bracelet and handing it straight to me before walking off in the direction I’d come from.
I looked down at the black beads that were identical to mine, digging into my pocket. I pulled out the money, but when I held it out, the merchant shook her head, tilting it towards Thrax’s walking figure as she held up a note.
“He’s already paid.”
“What? When?”
“When he collected the bracelet. He exchanged the money with it.”
“Oh,” I muttered, giving her a short nod, my brain still caught in the time glitch moment, before jogging after him. “Since you paid, you must have it.”
He glanced at the bracelet in my palm, then back at me, unimpressed. And without a word, he kept walking.
I shoved it into his coat pocket as I passed. “Throw it away then,” I said, moving ahead, fully aware there was an actual real possibility he might lob it at my head.
He didn’t. Instead, he stayed a few paces behind, his stare burning between my shoulder blades. I slowed until he caught up, only for him to keep his pace, refusing to close the gap.
“What were you doing there?” he asked suddenly.
“Going for a walk. What wereyoudoing there? Staring at me like a creep?”
He didn’t answer, so I turned and stopped in front of him. “How long have you been in Nimorran?”
He feigned boredom. “Two months.”
“What are you here for?”
“Personal matters.”
“Where do you live?”
Thrax cocked his head, eyes scrutinising me. “What is this? You’re not allowed to ask questions outside our deal.” He stepped around me, keeping his stride.
I sighed, falling into step beside him. “Then you can ask me questions too. I’m sure you’re curious about—”
“I’m not.”
“What’s my favourite colour, then?” I blurted out.
He flicked his gaze to my hair, answering wordlessly.
Green.
“Okay. My favourite thing to do?”
“Daring death with no sense of danger.”
Oh—
“What’s my future ambition?”
“Staying alive.”
Wrong.
“What’s yours?” I asked.
“To die,” he said flatly.
