A Thief of Nightshade(20)

With this, he let her go. She had barely steadied herself when he grabbed a small knife from his vest pocket and held it against her chest. He cut her a little with the tip, a warning. “You shut your mouth about my children, you—”

Aislinn leaped out of the shadows and snatched the man. He held the man by his shirt, snarling, and was ready to tear into his neck when Aislinn’s expression abruptly fell and he dropped him.

Shaking with fear, the man crawled backwards on his hands and feet until he was against the wall of the building and looked up at the bear. “Beast, I beg you, let me live. I meant her no harm,” he whimpered.

Aislinn stood frozen where he’d let go of his prey. “You have fallen so far, Rustin,” he said sadly, his voice wavering with emotion. “Has so much time passed that I simply no longer know you, or is it that I never did?”

The moody, unpredictable animal she’d come to know no longer sounded estranged at all from the kingdom of Man.

Like Jullian, whom he’d referenced on more than one occasion by his first name, this contemptible creature who’d had his grimy hands on her was someone Aislinn knew, though how she couldn’t begin to guess.

“What are you?” Rustin asked. “How do you know my name?”

A low rumble sounded in Aislinn’s chest and erupted as a full-out roar. Rustin didn’t take the time to ask his question again and instead made his way down the alley as quickly as he could.

Aubrey walked to where Aislinn stood in silence, his body turned away from her. She touched him lightly on his injured shoulder, still wrapped in cloth.

His exaggerated movements had started it bleeding again. He jerked away from her and with his teeth he pulled the bandage tight again. “I’m fine. Leave me alone.”

“You knew h—” Her confrontation was abruptly stopped as the sharpest pain she’d felt yet tore through her, bringing her to her knees. She couldn’t speak, not even whimper. All she could do was breathe.

Aislinn had his paw on her arm, ready to scoop her up, when the door beside her cracked open. She saw him retreat to the shadows as a black-booted foot stepped in front of her.

“What manner of creature scares off business from my doorstep this evening?”

Aubrey felt hands touching the back of her neck as whoever had spoken looked at her wounds. “Take slow deep breaths instead of shallow ones, it will help with the pain.

Better yet, take this.” Aubrey felt a sharp sting on her arm and turned her face up to see the woman tucking an antiquated syringe back into the pocket of her night coat. “Come in, let’s get you out of this miserable evening and see what can be done with you. Your friend may come, too.” She motioned to the shadows.

Aubrey felt the effects immediately of whatever she’d been given. The pain subsided completely, leaving her light and without care. “I need to speak with Lady Crimson,” she murmured.

The woman smiled sweetly, helping Aubrey upright. “Well, you needn’t go far, I’m right here.” They passed several couples, their voices echoing softly in the darkened alcoves where they hid. None of them seemed to notice the intrusion as the three of them walked through the connected rooms, finally coming up the stairs to a small fire-lit bedroom at the back of the house. Aubrey wasn’t sure what she’d expected when Tabor had told them to come see her, but the peaceful, unmarred woman who guided them now certainly wasn’t what she’d imagined.

Lady Crimson ushered Aubrey to sit on a chaise beneath the window sill where she could sit opposite her.

“How strange that you would travel with protection of this sort when you so clearly could have chosen a human to safeguard you.” She touched Aubrey’s cheek with the back of her hand. “Skin that isn’t ruddy from the factories or dried out from a housemaid’s work and innocence that cannot be bought. You’ve only been with one man,” she leaned in to whisper, “of your own accord.” She straightened. “I can tell these things, you know.”

Aubrey’s

skin

burned

with

embarrassment, only confirming that what Lady Crimson had said was true. “I need your help,” she said.

Lady Crimson rose from her seat and walked to the dressing table just a few feet away. She picked up a silver brush and began brushing out the untidy auburn tresses that fell at Aubrey’s shoulders.

“Such a pretty thing you are, unmade by paint and glitter and fuss. So very few are naturally beautiful. You would fetch more than a bride price with every gentleman you escorted. Pity. So you merely seek instruction? You wish to know how to pleasure a man before you take your last breath? I know the wounds you bear, child. Are you certain this is what you want in your final days?”

Aubrey was nearly lost in the fog of whatever she’d been given and the sensations of having her hair toyed with at the same time nearly lulled her to sleep.

She fought the urge to close her eyes.

“No,” she said softly, laying her hand on Lady Crimson’s and stopping the brush.

“You’ve confronted her. You know how to save him.”

Horrified, Lady Crimson let go of the brush and Aubrey both, bolting to her feet.

“Get out,” she whispered. “How dare you come here, asking anything of me?

Haven’t

I

suffered