Risa followed, Brunie slinking close, and Javi took the rear. The inn was quiet, all patrons having gone to bed. The windows overlooking the alleys and stables were dark, allowing the trio to remain invisible as they crept by.
The Wolf stalked toward a post to tuck a pouch of reales into a hanging purse. Money for the innkeeper to pay back his soon-to-be-horseless patrons. For an outlaw, she was rather thoughtful.
The Wolf was heading toward the stables when the horses stirred as one, alerted by something in the air.
Risa had no time to prepare. She was thrown against the side of the inn, a horrible pop ringing in her ears. Sharp pain, like lightning splintering across a darkened sky, lanced down her arm. Shecrumpled to the ground like a rag doll, landing in a heap, her head spinning.
She choked back a sob, her arm hanging limp at her side.
Before her, bathed in scarlet and moonlight, was Mustache, holding the Wolf by her hooded cape. A wound at his shoulder pulsed around the dagger embedded in it. He looked unfazed by the injury as red-hot liquid soaked the front of his shirt. Magic scented the air and made her insides twist.
Mustache’s yellow teeth glinted. The Wolf struggled to free herself, feet kicking the air as she twisted in Mustache’s grip. With every fervent swing, her cape tightened further around her neck, a strangled noise escaping her throat.
Eyepatch stood at the end of the alley with another friend. Through the haze of pain, Risa could make out a smear of crimson on his friend’s right biceps, a tattoo of a crescent moon so bright red it glowed.
She remembered that symbol from another night, a night when dead guards’ blood had seeped into the ground like a grim stream.
“We almost believed ya,” Mustache told her, grin wicked. “About this boy not being el principito. But then I remembered all thoserings.” He turned his cold green eyes onto the prince. “If ya don’t want us to hurt yer little girlfriends any further, you’ll stop making a fuss and come with us.”
Javi raised both hands in surrender. “I can pay you double the reward. You can have all my rings. Let us go and it’s all yours.”
Eyepatch’s one eye widened. He exchanged a look with his fellow, Tattoo, whose face brightened at the prospect.
But Mustache laughed at the suggestion. His hand wound around the Wolf’s cape until she stopped moving.
“I don’t think so. We got a job to do, me and my boys. Orders from the top.”
“Boss.” Eyepatch scratched his nose. “More money is more money.”
“Genius observation,” Mustache growled, eyes rolling. His grip on the Wolf loosened a fraction. “We don’tneedthe money, ya big moron.”
Risa could sense a fight brewing in the air. Taking another step toward Javi, arm cradled by her working hand, she said, matter-of-factly, “Who doesn’t need money? The housing market is down, the price of”—she faltered, racking her mind for something—“stuff is so high.”
Tattoo nodded. “Eggs are through the roof.”
Mustache turned to Risa, eyes blazing. “Shut up.”
She didn’t need Mustache to grab at her with his other hand. What she needed was a distraction. “He’ll give you his circlet!”
Javi glared at her. She hoped he understood. She was doing this forhim, anyway. Well, mostly for herself, since she didn’t want to die, but also because she didn’t want to see anyone else die, either. She didn’t want to be responsible for another massacre, and certainly not for the death of royalty.
“You want me to give up an antique—”
“Yes.”
“A family heirloom—”
“You have other heirlooms.”
Mustache snarled as he pulled the dagger from his shoulder and chucked it at the ground. It clattered somewhere to the side. “Enough! Ya talk too much.”
From the corner of her eye, Risa saw the Wolf’s fingers sliparound her dagger’s twin, still sheathed on her other hip. She had to keep going, even if her arm was screaming in pain.
“It’s what makes her insufferable,” Javi agreed.
“Me?” Nervous laughter bubbled out of Risa and sent a spasm of pain down her arm. “You’reintolerable. Categorically exasperating. You are selfish, vain, maddening—”
Javi pouted, though his mouth flirted with a half smile. “If we’re going to list my attributes, you should include handsome, witty, great ass—”
