I ignored Lavinia’s pointed remark because I couldn’t really explain it myself—Theron hadbeggedher to heal me? Instead, I asked, “Where is he?”
“He’s resting.”
“I’m right here.”
I whirled and found Theron standing in the doorway of the dining room, arms crossed and expression darkened with rage. He, too, had changed. He now wore a leather tunic with holsters for his daggers, along with black trousers that hugged his legs in ways that made my toes curl.
But all heat left my body when I saw the lethal look in his eyes—directed at me.
“We need to leave. Now.” Without another word, he turned and stalked from the room.
Lavinia huffed in exasperation and smoothed her hands along her apron before marching after him. “Before supper? I’m almost finished with the meat.”
I followed both of them into the small sitting room that boasted a long, squashy sofa that Theron no doubt had been resting on.
“We’ve already overstayed our welcome,” Theron saidtersely, donning a cloak I hadn’t seen him with before. Without looking at me, he tossed an identical one my way. I caught it and stared at it, fingering the soft fabric uncertainly.
“Where did you get these clothes?” I asked.
Theron didn’t answer. Lavinia turned to me and said, “He keeps a stash of clothes here for when he needs it.”
“That’s enough,” Theron barked. His steely gaze shifted to me. “We’re leaving.”
“And what about the handsome payment you promised me?” Lavinia placed her hands on her hips.
Theron, halfway to the door, paused, his shoulders tightening and his stance rigid. “I left it on your counter.”
Lavinia’s face lit up with glee, and she rubbed her hands together. “Excellent.”
Theron swung open the door, and I hurried after him. Just before we left, Lavinia shouted, “I’ll catch you next time you’re in a dire emergency, foolish boy!”
The door slammed shut as I struggled to match Theron’s brisk pace. When I caught up, I grabbed his shoulder and spun him to face me. His brows pulled together, and he gave me his fiercest scowl.
“Theron,” I said breathlessly. “What happened? How did we end up here?” I glanced around. As far as I could tell, we hadn’t left Tolston. The street and buildings looked the same.
“You were dying. Lavinia healed you. I paid her.” His words were clipped.
“What did you pay her?”
“Ninety gold pieces.”
My jaw dropped. “Theron?—”
“We don’t have time to argue about this. We need to move if we’re to make it to the palace before dawn.”
“Before dawn? Why? The queen wants us both dead! We need to re-think our plan.”
“There is no plan,” Theron snapped. “I’ll deliver you to the palace, as promised, and our bargains will be fulfilled. We can be rid of each other at last.”
I tried to ignore how much his words cut. “What are you talking about? Why are you acting like this?”
He met my gaze, his mouth curling into a snarl. “How could you have been so reckless? Sostupid?”
My chest tightened, and my face heated. “Theron, what’s?—”
“We could have escaped, Eira,” he seethed. “Now she knows you’re here—and with me! We arebothtargets now. Sneaking you into the palace is impossible thanks to your recklessness. But I’m bound by this damn bargain, so I have to get you there somehow. We don’t have any other choice.”
My heart sank like a stone, but indignation rose up inside me. “I get it,” I snapped. “You’re right. This is my fault. But I don’t regret it. Vikros would have killed those children. That blood would have been on my hands.”
