A Thief of Nightshade(24)

Lipsey scampered to Aislinn, looking at him strangely, feeling him with hesitant little paws. “You’re ... human?”

“Once. This hardly qualifies as humanity.” His voice grew harsh as he addressed Aubrey. “You accuse me of bitterness, but do you know what it’s like being unable to hold your own children, or even approach them without watching them flee in terror? You’re damn right I held onto the belief that he was safe, wouldn’t you?”

“I still do.”

“So, you’re a prince too?” Lipsey asked.

“Lips, I’m as much a prince as you are an elephant.”

“What’s an elephant?”

Aubrey fixed her hair into a ponytail with a ribbon she’d pulled off the dress. “I was too tired to change out of this last night, so forgive me for bailing on this most useful of conversations while I make myself presentable.”

“You weren’t tired, you were drugged,” Aislinn grumbled.

“Hardly by choice!” she yelled. She went around to the other side of the tree and rummaged around the satchel for her clothes, changing into them quickly once she brushed off as much dirt as she could.

Aislinn was reliving their evening for Lipsey and now that she knew, his voice haunted her. If she closed her eyes and suspended her exhaustion and pain, she could imagine it was Jullian. And then something else struck her, perhaps much like the revelation of where she’d come from had first struck Aislinn; even if she did free Jullian, she was dying. Her mind ran through a multitude of hushed confessions, tender embraces and deep, soul-mending laughs ... and it felt like she was losing him all over again.

She sat down with her back against the tree, remembering the endless nights Jullian had woken screaming from nightmares she had never understood, remembering the days she felt unworthy of life itself and how ironic it was that now ... now that life was being taken from her, she’d give anything in her power to get it back.

Appearances aren’t everything.

She closed her eyes, remaining motionless and silent and prayed for tears that would not come. She didn’t flinch when the cool wet cloth touched her neck, wiping dried blood from where she’d been too drugged to clean herself up the night before. The cold air against her damp skin, despite the pain she was in, told her in some small way that she was still alive.

“I’ve brought food for you.” The voice startled Aubrey as she’d expected Aislinn but instead saw the quiet girl from the Crimson Stair, damp rag in hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overhear you but when your friend scared us last night, I ran into the room where you spoke with Madame Crimson. I thought you might need this.” She held up a satchel, stuffed to the brim with things that smelled so good they reminded Aubrey that it had been a while since she’d eaten anything.

“Thank you. Won’t you get in trouble?” Aubrey took the satchel.

The girl turned her face downward as she answered, “The madame was angry when she found me in her room and turned me out, so I took what I could.” She shivered and Aubrey reached into her own bag to look for extra clothing, something to give the girl, but came up empty-handed.

“Where will you go?” Aubrey asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ll be all right.” She wore a pale green dress, far less provocative than what Aubrey and the other two girls had worn the night before. It was actually quite pretty, but thin and her arms were bare but for a leather bracelet she wore on her left wrist.

Aubrey was cold and was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, pants and the boots that she’d worn to Jullian’s funeral. The girl had to be freezing.

“No, you’ll come with us. We got you into trouble, though I won’t say I regret it. Someone as sweet as you doesn’t belong somewhere like that.” Aubrey stood. “What’s your name?”

“Given.”

Aubrey opened her mouth to speak, but Aislinn, from the other side of the tree, beat her to it. “If you are so intent on this journey of yours, I suggest we get moving.

You can pout on the way.”

Aubrey grabbed Given’s hand and pulled her around the giant tree to where Lipsey and Aislinn waited. “My name is Aubrey, the little one over there is Lipsey and this,” she shoved the bag of food at Aislinn, “ungrateful ass is Aislinn.”

Aislinn looked at them from where he sat with his back against the tree, stunned. “She can’t come with us,” he groaned. “One female is enough. I can’t handle watching over two of you.”

Given bit her lower lip, pulled her hand from Aubrey’s and shrank back from them. “It’s okay. I can take care of myself.

I just wanted to give you this for your journey.”

Aubrey scowled. “Uh-uh, no way! I am to blame for your getting put into the streets. You’re coming with us, or me if Aislinn chooses to walk away.” She turned back to Aislinn. “Which he is welcome to do any time he chooses.”

“Seems she was already in the streets, as I recall.” Aislinn turned away from them and started to rummage in the satchel.

Aubrey wanted to throttle Aislinn.

“He doesn’t mean it.” The poor girl had been tossed out of the only home she had, given them everything she had to her name and this was how her hospitality was repaid. Given’s face had appeared downtrodden the night before, but now she looked drawn-in, as though she’d been so hurt that she couldn’t even register the sting.