Page 54 of The Thief's Mark

By the time they emerged into Griff’s cozy apartment, Cal had resolved to reclaim the easy banter they’d had before. Best if they kept things light moving forward. It was safer that way.

“There, we’re back,” he said, collapsing into a chair at the table with a contented sigh.“Nowcan we talk about the case?”

Griff settled in across from him. “Unfortunately, my aura-sight wasn’t able to offer much insight. Our questions were too indirect. Still, I can’t help but wonder whether the situation with Nalax might be related.”

Cal lightly tapped his fingertips against the thief’s mark on his chest as he considered. “What does any of that have to do with the void orb?”

“I’m not sure. But it seemed to be the subject on everyone’s minds, and the timing seems too coincidental to ignore. Perhaps one of the Pentarchy is collaborating with Nalax to use the void orb in some sort of attack.”

“Or seeking to stoke tensions further,” Cal noted. “The Pentarchy definitely seem the sort to try to twist any situation to their advantage.”

Griff frowned at that, but he offered a reluctant nod. “While we still don’t have a clear motive, if this really is about Nalax, the High Commander and High Merchant seem the most likely suspects. They’ve been at odds on the issue for quite some time and are the most passionate about the outcome.”

Cal grunted his agreement. “Personally, my gallants are on the High Merchant. He stands to profit the most from more open trade with Nalax. If anyone’s a Nalaxian agent, it’s him.”

Griff nodded. “Never trust a man only in it for the coin.”

Cal stiffened, a stab of hurt lancing through him. That one struck a little too close to home. Despite the lump lodged in his throat, he forced a smile. “Right.”

Griff glanced at him, and only then seemed to register what he’d said. His eyes widened. “I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine,” Cal said. He waved his hand with a shrug. “If anyone would know, it’s me.”

Griff’s chair squeaked as he rose and stepped toward Cal. He rested a hand on Cal’s shoulder. “You’re not like that. I know you aren’t.”

The softness in Griff’s voice mixed with his gentle touch was suddenly too much. Cal lurched to his feet, shrugging off Griff’s hand in the process. His chest felt far too tight.

“I need some air,” he said.

Desperately pretending not to notice Griff’s hand reaching for him, he darted outside and away from the apartment, his heart pounding. Only once he’d put a couple blocks between them and flared duskflame to shift into a throwaway disguise did he finally begin to calm.

Eternal Dark, why hadn’t he walked away when he had the chance? No matter what Griff claimed, Cal knew he’d never see him as more than a thief. Not really. And no matter how much Cal acted otherwise, it was too late now to lie and pretend he didn’t care about the inspector.

Even if whatever lay between them was doomed to end in heartbreak.

He knew he should probably suck it up and head back. They had more findings to discuss, along with the next steps of their investigation to plan. But he couldn’t bring himself to return and sit beside Griff, knowing there was a distance between them he could never breach.

So instead, he found himself wandering the nighttime streets. Many people—perhaps most people—would’ve been nervous, darting through darkened alleys and across shadowed rooftops. But this was when Cal had always felt most at peace. Alone and unseen, there was no one to judge him or find him lacking.

Or at least, there shouldn’t be.

“Enjoying your midnight stroll?” Cal’s head jerked up to find Kelsith perched atop a narrow wall running alongside his current street.

“I was,” he said, continuing to walk past. “I find the quiet peaceful.”

Kelsith didn’t take the hint. Jumping nimbly down from the wall, he landed beside Cal and fell into step with him. “You seem tense. Let me guess—trouble with your inspector?”

Kelsith’s voice contained only mild concern without even a hint of smugness. Still, Cal’s muscles tightened. “That’s none of your business.”

Kelsith’s shrug only irritated him more. “It was bound to happen. Like I told you, the two of you are like oil and water. Sooner or later, I knew he’d turn on you.”

“What do you want, Kelsith? Why are you following me?”

Kelsith gave him a lopsided grin. “You looked so sad and pathetic, wandering the streets alone. I couldn’t just leave you like that. So, I figured you might appreciate a job. Something to help you remember your roots.”

Cal wasn’t fooled by Kelsith’s seeming nonchalance. Kelsith had taught him everything he knew…including how to hide his true intentions behind a smile. For Kelsith to have found him while disguised like this meant the thief had been tracking him for some time. Likely, he’d been staking out Griff’s apartment, waiting for a chance to approach.

Still, no matter how suspicious Cal was of Kelsith, he had to admit the prospect of a job right then was Void-cursed appealing. It might be just the thing he needed to take his mind off of Griff.