Xarion walked with me, stepping behind the pump to work the handle. “Granny isn’t going to be thrilled that you knew Razorfang was sampling and you didn’t mention it.”
I didn’t have to. She’d known.
“Let me handle Granny. You should stay out of it.”
“Or maybe you won’t get in trouble, since you’re the favorite around here.”
“If I’m the favorite, it’s because I work hard and do more than wander around with my thumb up my ass spreading rumors. Maybe you should try to be useful for a change. You might get a fancy cloak all your own.”
He snickered. “Nah, I’m good.” He stepped back from the pump. “I don’t think I’d like her watching my every move and controlling my every step.”
“I don’t know why not. That’s what your mate does.”
“Har, har,” he said, dogging my heels as I turned for the creek. “Just think, you could’ve been my mate.” He snapped.“Wait, no, that was the real Red. You, I wouldn’t touch again for all the gold in the world.”
“Is that why you tried to feel me up at the dance last winter? How’re your balls, by the way?”
He crinkled his nose at me in jest. He’d been drunk that time, lamenting about peer pressure and not mating me instead of his woman. Then he’d apparently thought he should try to rekindle old flames. I’d reacted without thinking.
I let myself out of the gate and closed it behind me, keeping him on the other side.
“Wait, you didn’t hear the really juicy stuff,” he said.
I sighed and stopped, my back still to him. If I didn’t listen and get it over with, he’d follow me to the creek, chattering. I needed to get a bunch of work done. Granny was leaving in a few days and I still had a lot of product to finish up.
“Go on,” I said.
“Well, apparently Granny is trading our product for prices higher than ever. She shows up at the markets like royalty. She hardly deals with the dangerous people anymore. Alexander was pissed that he has to keep it professional all the time now.”
I walked slowly away, cocking my head a little. That also had to be preposterous but... Alexander’s reaction to it rang true. Given he was the one telling the story, though...
“Anything else?” I asked, stopping.
He hesitated, his body tense and his expression unsure. “Do you ever wish you could live on the Outside? Get out of here? I know we have everything provided for us, and we shouldn’t complain, but... don’t you find it a little restricting?”
“No,” I said, walking again, and it was the truth. Despite my wobble yesterday, I definitely didn’t find this place restricting. I found it comforting. I knew who didn’t want me within ten feet and who would tolerate me in their space. I knew who would sneak into my cottage for a little sexual relief and whowould bash my head in if I so much as hinted at wanting to get intimate. Most importantly, I knew Granny wouldn’t let anyone run me out or hurt me too badly. Here, I knew what tomorrow promised. My world was largely predictable. I took solace in that.
After a fast-paced workday,I’d gotten back to my cottage just after sundown. After chopping up meat and vegetables and throwing a stew together, I was just about to sit down and wait for it to be ready when a knock sounded at my door.
Frowning, I checked the contents of the pot, set to hang over an open flame. After stirring it, I crossed to the door and pulled it open.
A brawny man stood on my stoop, his weight leaned back onto his heels and his thick arms crossed over his chest. Alexander. His dirty blond beard reached down past his neck and his light brown hair was kept shaggy. Granny didn’t much care about appearances of those in her employ and no one in their right mind was going to saybooto this character. All you had to do was look into his slightly manic eyes to know you had other places you’d rather be.
A thrill of fear zipped through me. It was not good news when this guy made house calls. Raz had learned that just this morning.
In the past, Granny had never let Alexander off the leash when dealing with me. I was more fragile than everyone else and didn’t heal as quickly. Plus, I had work to do and didn’t have a replacement. She’d always been on hand to ensure my punishments didn’t get too extreme.
She hadn’t shown up today.
Xarion had clearly told him I’d been listening to the gossip, and Alexander had come to ensure my silence.
Chapter 6
Aurelia
Ipulled all of my terror deeply inside of myself so that I was mostly a shell of a person. No emotion would show on my expression or color my tone. It was imperative not to show fear with this guy. He fed on it.
“Making the rounds?” I asked placidly.
