“What do you want to be called?” Sera asked, a bit startled when the masked woman’s face lit up, the sunny smile reaching the soft brown of her eyes.
“No one has ever asked,” she said, bouncing on her feet and vibrating with giddy energy. “Okay, so my first thought was, I must include the ‘Archer’ part, the papers had that right. I mean.” She gestured to the bow, raising an eyebrow like she was asking Sera to be impressed. “And ‘emerald’ doesn’t sound terrible, but I’m not defined by one botched robbery, you know? So. Okay. How’s this?” She spread out her hands as she spoke, looking up as if picturing her name being written before her eyes. “The Lady Archer.”
Sera couldn’t help but smile, the woman’s cheer was infectious. “The Lady Archer it is.”
The Lady Archer pumped her arm in the air, doing a small leap and landing without a sound. “Tell anyone who asks, okay? The Lady Archer. It feels so validating to have a proper name, you have no idea.”
While the Lady Archer finished securing Cole’s henchmen, Sera realized they were nearing the end of their association. Which meant it was time to pay up.
“Thank you for the help. Will money suffice?”
“Money?” The Lady Archer quirked her brow, as if she had never heard the word before.
“For helping me. I assume you want something. I’m hoping it’s just money. Though, I guess after my previous prospects,” she gestured to the goons bound and gagged, “You’re an improvement.”
The Lady Archer’s smile was just as sunny, just as comforting. “Thanks, I think? But I don’t take payment.”
“Everyone wants payment,” Sera countered. “Or do you expect me to believe you beat up thugs in alleys just for the kicks?”
“Yes, exactly. The kicks. That’s a good way to put it. I have the skills and this is better practice than any. You should have seen me when I first started, the arrows went backward more often than not. Plus, I mean, what else is there to do?”
Sera was about to press that no one in the world worked for free, that everyone was out for themselves, but then footsteps reverberated through the alley. The Lady Archer darted in front of Sera, shielding her as she drew her bow and notched an arrow in one fluid motion.
Sera didn’t expect to see North sprinting toward her, but oddly enough, she wasn’t surprised either. Shewassurprised, however, by the relief so strong and total, her tight muscles relaxed, her frantic pulse eased. A calming sense that the dangerhad passed now that he was here filled her chest. Which was… ridiculous. Idiotic. Fairy tale nonsense. She would cease such fantasy at once.
He stopped running when their eyes met, slowing to a more manageable pace. Sera hadn’t intended to notice the icy, gray reflection of relief in his gaze. Or, perhaps she was just assigning emotions to him since he was so good at concealing them. She looked away before she could dwell on it too long.
“Friend of yours?” The Lady Archer whispered.
“Well…” Sera hesitated to call North ‘friend.’ “Let’s just say, he’s not a threat.”
The Lady Archer chuckled. “Fair enough,” she said, lowering her bow.
Shouts carried from the street. An assortment of voices that suggested several people were about to find them.
“Here,” North called, arms now behind his back as he surveyed the scene. A tide of boot steps marched into the alley. But one voice carried above the others. Maybe not thelastvoice Sera wanted to hear just then, but it was certainly high on the list.
Gideon stopped mid-order when he saw her. Then his eyes shifted to the masked stranger. “The Rogue! Everyone, move! Rachel!” He surged forward.
“On it.” Rachel Stone sprinted around Gideon, easily out pacing him.
“Well, stay safe Sera Blair.” The Lady Archer used Sera’s toppled tower to nimbly climb to the roof. In a blink, she disappeared into the growing shadows of twilight. Rachel attempted to climb after her, but the weight difference and the already fragile structure gave beneath her. Rachel landed elegantly, rotating into the fall as her boots scraped against the ground.
Gideon arrived a few seconds later, breath heaving. “Damn it. What the fuck are you doing with the Rogue?”
“Me? How about the three thugs tied up over there? You know, the ones who chased me in here and tried to ki—rob me.”
Gideon put a finger in her face and anger seethed in her chest. “And that’s the truth, huh? You didn’t lure them in here to robthem?”
“Sir.” Rachel’s level, firm voice nearly pulled Gideon’s attention away, but his glare never wavered. “Maybe we should survey the scene before throwing accusations.”
“That sounds much too practical, Rache, Gideon won’t be happy until he’s made an ass of himself first.” Sera said, and she could hear Rachel’s extended sigh.
“Ass of myself? It’s not exactly unfounded—”
Sera rolled her eyes. “Gods above, when will you let that go? I was sixteen! Mom just died and we needed to eat. I don’t recall your complaints when I bought us our first hot meal in two months.”
“You’d have a point, if you hadn’t just been arrested for trespassingtwo weeks ago. We’re not kids anymore, Sera, damn it. There are ways—”
