Normally, Viri could happily lose time wandering around the stores, or just people-watching from the railing that overlooked the hollow center of the mountain. As the midpoint in Mount Verta, glancing up afforded a spiraling view toward the Entertainment Guild, the Scholars’ Guild above that, then the Summit, where the High Council convened. Glancing down found the City Services Guild, the Healers’ Guild, then the base of the mountain, where the hunters and Nox presided. Seven main levels, covering everything the citizens of Aravell needed to survive and thrive on Elverdine Isle.
While the inner design of Mount Verta had always fascinated Viri, tonight she paid it little heed as she led Reeve along the darkened alleyway, past familiar cafés and market stalls, all locked up tight for the evening. There were plenty of after-hours businesses in the Entertainment Guild that Viri could have taken him to—eateries, theaters, taverns, gambling houses—but she didn’t want to be around crowds right now, constantly looking over her shoulder in fear of being caught. As soon as Darik woke, he would send out his Nox—there was no doubt about that. What Viri needed was a discreet place to hide while she obtained the answers she’d been promised.
“We’re nearly there,” she said, seeing lights coming from a shop carved into the mountainside ahead.
“Don’t rush on my behalf,” Reeve replied. “I’ve always enjoyed a good nighttime stroll.” He patted his stomach. “Aids digestion.”
“Elders forbid you show the slightest hint of concern about being on the run,” Viri muttered.
“I’ve been on the run for seven years.” He gave a careless shrug. “From you, mostly.”
“I haven’t been chasingyou.”
“No, but you’ve been chasing—”
“We’re here,” Viri cut him off, not needing a reminder of all the years she’d been trying—and failing—to catch the Reaper Priest. As his closest follower, Reeve might have interpreted that as her searching for him as well, buthewasn’t the one who had killed her parents, so her vendetta hadn’t been focused on him. Nevertheless, he was a reaper, so it was inevitable that she would have hunted him eventually.
“Betty’s Bakes,” Reeve said, reading the sign above the door where she’d halted them. “You brought me to a bakery?”
“Not just any bakery—the best bakery in Aravell,” Viri said loyally, waving to the mouthwatering assortment of cakes and pastries displayed in the window.
Reeve tapped theClosedsign. “Are we breaking and entering? Barely an hour together and I’m already a bad influence on you. That’s a new record.”
Viri rapped her knuckles against the wooden door. “It’s only closed to customers.”
“What are we? Fish?”
Inhaling slowly, Viri sought patience and explained, “The owner—Betty—always stays late to prepare orders for the next day. She’s used to me dropping by during my hunting shifts, so she won’t think it strange that I’m here tonight.”
“And me?” Reeve asked.
Viri flicked his borrowed coat. “You’re my Nox friend.”
“ ‘Friend’?” He smirked. “How scandalous.”
“Notthatkind of friend,” Viri gritted out. She heard footstepshobbling toward the door and quickly warned, “Betty’s old and kind, but she’s also nosy. Be careful what you say in here. And for Elders’ sake, behave yourself.”
“For Elders’ sake, or for your sake?”
“Foryoursake,” Viri said, but the menace in her tone only made him chuckle.
Before she could tell him exactly what she would do if he said anything inappropriate, the wooden door opened, releasing a delicious wave of baking aromas that instantly made Viri’s stomach rumble. Light flooded out from within, revealing Betty’s short, rounded figure, her hair as white as the flour that dusted it, her wrinkles like aged parchment. Large, circular glasses sat over cloudy brown eyes that squinted into the darkened alleyway, but then a wide smile stretched across her face as she lunged forward, arms open in welcome.
She wasn’t, however, reaching for Viri.
“Sugarplum!” Betty cried, pulling Reeve to her ample bosom. “I’ve missed your visits!”
Viri’s mouth dropped open as she watched Betty embrace Reeve tightly, then release him to pinch his cheeks.
“Handsome as always,” the elderly woman said. “Just like your father.”
“But less of a scoundrel,” Reeve said with a roguish grin.
Betty wheezed out a laugh. “I doubt that. But what’s life without a little mischief?” She turned to Viri, sending her a wink. “Good thing hunters know how to have fun. Right, sweets?”
Viri couldn’t respond, her brain struggling to process what was happening. Not only did Betty know Reeve, she’d also known hisfather, who, if Viri recalled correctly, had died from an untreatable blood infection shortly after Reeve’s fifth birthday. His motherhad abandoned him as a babe by running off with another man, so his father’s passing had left Reeve bouncing between group homes and orphanages until he’d finally been adopted by an elderly couple—Viri’s childhood neighbors. That was how she’d first met him all those years ago. He’d been, quite literally, the boy next door.
“I’m sorry,” Viri said weakly, waving a hand between Reeve and Betty, “but how do you two know each other?”
