Smoke billowed up from Steifan’s small wood pile. “And what about everything else we discovered tonight?” Steifan asked. “We must remember we are here to solve Duchess Auclair’s murder.”
I sat in the dirt, extending my cold hands toward the first small flames. “Tomorrow we will go to Duke Auclair and tell him what we know. He can either admit his role in things, or we will take our findings to the Archduke.”
“What about the Montrants?”
I stared down into the flames, wondering if the Potentate had known what he was sending us into. “Let us start with the duke. We don’t actually have any solid evidence, so having his testimony will help. If he is frightened enough, he may tell us if the Montrants are in charge, or simply just involved.”
My shoulders began to relax from the fire’s warmth. I longed for my comfortable bed at Castle Helius, with four safe walls and a locked door.
Asher loomed over the fire, but did not sit. I was pretty sure vampires never got cold. “You should rest,” he said to me. “I will keep watch.”
I gave him an incredulous look. “You expect me to trust you enough to sleep in front of you?”
He stared at me, his face impassive.
I chewed the inside of my cheek. I didn’t need a vampire watching over me. I didn’t want a vampire watching over me. But Steifan and I were alone in this city. The Nattmara was out there, and I couldn’t forget that someone had been hired to kill us. So maybe I just didn’t want a vampire watching over me, but the need would have to outweigh my pride, if only to keep Steifan and the girl safe for the night.
“Fine,” I acquiesced.
Steifan gave me a shooing gesture with his hands across the fire, urging me to say more.
I gritted my teeth. “You have my thanks.”
Asher shrugged and walked toward the opening of the alcove. “Consider it pre-payment for the aid you will give me once we are back in the mires.”
I stared at his back for a moment, then shook my head. Usually, I found men easy to understand, but the vampire perplexed even me.
Steifan had already laid on his back in the dirt and closed his eyes. He didn’t seem perplexed by the vampire.
I tugged my hood up, then curled on my side near the fire, wrapping my cloak around me. I left my sword on, just in case. Maybe I didn’t understand men as well as I thought, though I really hated being wrong.
I closed my eyes, willing myself to rest. While I could have gone another night or two without sleep, there was no saying what morning might bring, and I needed to restore my energy if I was to hunt the Nattmara.
As I fell in and out of wakefulness, I sensed Asher’s eyes on me from time to time, and I noticed when he added a bit more wood to the fire.
Eventually I forced myself to actually sleep. After all, he could only watch us until dawn. For as human as he sometimes seemed, he was still a creature of the night. And that was a fact I would never forget.
Morning came too soon, and my stomach was painfully empty. I sat up to find Steifan already awake, speaking with the girl, who seemed calm.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” I groaned.
Steifan and the girl both looked to me. She seemed older now than I had originally thought, just small-boned.
“Asher woke me when he had to leave,” Steifan explained. “He said you expended too much energy last night . . . dealing with things. He asked that I let you rest.”
I pinched my brow as a dull ache started between my eyes. “I would like to argue, but I cannot. I don’t usually sleep so deeply.”
“Perhaps he knows what’s best for you.” Steifan winked.
I rubbed my sore head as the ache progressed. “I really wish I had something to throw at you right now.” I turned my attention to the girl. “Are you alright?”
She nodded, though her eyes were a touch wary.
“She lives not far from here,” Steifan explained. “She didn’t know the man who took her from the square, nor did she at any time see anyone she recognized.”
Though I felt like a sack of manure, I forced myself to stand. “We will walk you home then,” I said to the girl. “I would ask that you hide away for the next few days until we make sure we find everyone involved in kidnapping you.”
As she stood, I looked her up and down, ending with her bare feet. “What happened to your shoes?” I asked.
“They took them when I tried to run away. They said if I tried again, they would cut off my feet. Steifan says you don’t yet know who took me.”
I sighed. “We have a few ideas. Are you acquainted with any of the nobility?”
Frowning, she shook her head.
I believed her. She had probably just been randomly chosen. Like the Nattmara said, vampires will eat just about anything.
I tugged up my hood, covering my hair, then moved the Seeing Sword back to my belt. “Let’s go, I need something to eat.”
I turned away, heading out of the alcove. Steifan and the girl followed. It was an effort to keep my dizziness at bay. I hadn’t realized how much I had pushed myself to break the Nattmara’s glamour.
While I was reluctant to visit Ryllae again, I might just have to find her after we visited the duke. I needed to be better prepared to break Egar’s glamour, or else next time I faced him—with him ready for my new skills—I would lose.
Chapter Fifteen
Mid-morning found us back at the wrought iron gates leading to the wealthy district, arguing with the two guards, again. At least the
