Page 53 of The Thief's Mark

fourteen

Cal

Itwasafterdarkby the time Cal finally followed Griff out of the gala. They’d remained late, well past when the other guests had begun to depart. But Griff had wanted as much time as possible to mingle with the members of the Pentarchy, as well as to observe them from afar, taking notes on everything from their demeanors to who they spoke with throughout the event.

Cal had met them all before, at least in passing, and tonight had done little to change his initial disdain. The High Chancellor might be the worst of the lot, but even those like the High Scholar or High Judge who professed to serve the public good above all else reeked of selfish arrogance behind their self-righteous veneers.

If they were so desperate to do good, why did they turn a blind eye to orphans like him growing up abandoned on the streets while they hosted lavish parties for the Sanjarkan elite? Sanjarka might pretend to be a free republic, and it certainly had its benefits over places like Nalax or Khordan. But true equalityremained a distant dream. Hence why he rarely felt a lick of guilt robbing people like those in attendance tonight for all they were worth.

As they threaded their way out of the crowd, Cal glimpsed something from the corner of his eye that tickled the back of his mind. But when he turned for a closer look, whoever it was had vanished. He frowned to himself. What was it that had drawn his attention? Something about how they’d carried themself?

His first thought was that it was Kelsith spying on him. The thief had made no secret of tailing Cal around the city. But would he really be so bold as to infiltrate a private gala hosted by the Pentarchy? Unlike Cal, he couldn’t alter his appearance at will.

He shook his head as they exited into the night air, blessedly cool compared to the warmth from so many bodies packed inside the ballroom. More likely, it was just a trick of his imagination. After a night full of schmoozing and careful observation, his brain was ready for a break.

Griff was a solid, comforting presence beside him. Some crazy part of him longed to reach out and snag the inspector’s arm, though of course that would be ridiculous. And not just because he still wore his Lord Heneford disguise.

Last night had been a mistake. It was one thing to flirt with the inspector and admire him from afar. But now Cal couldn’t get him off his mind. Despite his best efforts to act normal, all he’d been able to think about all day was how much he wanted to do it again.

Leaning in a bit closer to Griff than strictly necessary, he said in a low voice, “So, any guesses who our culprit might be?”

Griff stiffened. “Not here. Wait until we’re home.” He cast a furtive gaze about them, even though Cal had already checked to make sure no one was within earshot.

Annoyance flared in Cal. Griff had been irritable and jumpy all night—all day, really. When he’d come upon Cal speaking with the High Scholar, he’d looked about ready to tear Cal a new one.

At first, Cal had assumed Griff was just nervous about confronting the Pentarchy. Now, though? He was beginning to suspect the problem might run deeper.

Maybe I’m not the only one who regrets last night…

“What is with you?” Cal asked. “You’ve been acting weird all night.”

“It’s nothing,” Griff said. “I’m just tired.”

Cal narrowed his eyes. “I may not be able to read auras, but I can tell when I’m being lied to. Something’s wrong. Just tell me.”

Griff sighed, his jaw tightening. “I told you at the start of the night to stick close. You shouldn’t have gone to speak with the High Scholar without telling me.”

“Why not?Youran off after the High Merchant and High Commander! Shadow and shade, don’t you trust me not to mess anything up for five minutes on my own?”

When Griff hesitated a beat too long, realization struck. Cal shuffled a few paces from Griff and slowed, staring at the inspector. Hurt squeezed his chest. “That’s it, isn’t it? You don’t trust me.”

“What?” Griff slowed as well, turning to him with what looked like genuine surprise. “Of course I trust you. That wasn’t the problem.”

“Oh?” Cal cocked a brow. “Then what was? Because right now, it feels like you wanted to keep me on a tight leash. Regretting taking that cuff of me,Inspector?”

Griff winced at that, but Cal was too angry to feel guilty. He’d thought they were past this by now. Cal could’ve walked away at any time. If Griff didn’t want him here, he’d gladly do so.

Surprise gripped him when Griff shook his head. “It’s precisely the opposite. I was worried something might’ve happened toyou. This is a dangerous case, and after last night, I…I realized how much I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

The raw confession in Griff’s voice hit Cal like a blow to the chest. Neither of them spoke as they resumed walking back toward Griff’s apartment.

Cal’s thoughts returned to the previous night, and for a single fleeting moment, he allowed himself to imagine more. More shared nights, more heated kisses. A life full ofmorethan the empty challenge that had been his sole purpose for far too long.

But of course, it was only a dream.

Last night might’ve been incredible, but they didn’t belong together—they couldn’t. Griff was an inspector, dedicated to helping others. And Cal was a thief who stole things.

There would never be anymore.