Page 143 of Reaper's Quest

“Yes, well…” The queen brushed the skirt of her dress as if needing a moment to contemplate or compose herself. “I believe that if we work together, we may find a way for both of us to get what we want.”

“Which is?” I prompted.

“For you to collect the many overdue souls, of course,”she said. “While also protecting the rest of my citizens from the curse.”

Okay.This was finally a turn in the right direction.

I chewed on the edge of my lip and nodded. I would listen to more.

“It will not be easy.” The queen dipped her head to the side. “Many tasks will be required. Several of which will be far more dangerous than anything you have likely experienced so far. Still…it is a chance at progress and finally collecting all our overdue souls. What do you say, Miss Gunn? Are you willing to combine our efforts despite the possible dangers?”

As if danger had ever stopped me before.My entire body hummed with wicked joy.

Bring it on. I’ll reap it to pieces.

35

Iwas hobbling by the time the pub came into view.

My travel had been slow—a result of my injuries and the need to stay hidden from certain search parties. Even with the invisibility gift of the Killian’s cloak, I took no chances.

Twice, commotions shoved me deeper into the shadows. Both times due to the passing of a large, ornate and gilded carriage with accompanying entourage…or garrison. The traveling party appeared official—royal even—and drew many onlookers.

More than likely, the gathering masses had something to do with the afflicted prince I had heard mentioned. And that afflicted royal was a possible reason for the murder of crows that appeared to follow the carriage’s travels.

I rubbed my temples. Too many moving bodies with muted auras assaulted my vision, and I eagerly sought theescape of the quiet pub. Maybe a large ale to help muffle my senses.

I pushed open the pub door just enough to slip inside, and a boisterous clamor attacked my mental and physical faculties. A group of vociferous men collected at one of the tables. They recounted a story about the prince, while Earl refilled their large mugs with ale.

Their presence filled the corner of the room with their yellowish and orangish hues. In fact, everyone glowed in a variation of yellow and orange—everyone except for Earl, who held a yellowed-brown aura.

Gods. The sight of the added colors sent a sharp spike through my skull.

Quietly closing the door and keeping my head down, I limped through the pub and up the stairs, anxious to attend to my wounds, clean up, and maybe locate my pills to get rid of the damn colors currently plaguing me. After I mastered the visual irritation, I’d stay hidden in my room, where I could think and formulate a plan.

One that didn’t include my scythe since that tool now rested in the hands of my sadistic captor.

Aldine was dead, and Raven was… I didn’t know where to find her.

I rubbed the spot above my heart where my ribs had begun to ache.

Anything and everything about the citadel’s enormous reap now rested on my shoulders.

My chest cracked under the weight of such circumstances, but I thrust a wall around any emotions, leaving them unexplored until much, much later.

At the top of the stairs, as I crossed the hallway, I brushedback the cloak’s hood. The cover of invisibility vanished, and I sucked in a deep, unfettered breath.

I hadn’t felt suffocated because of the cloak’s material covering my face, yet breathing without the hood in place felt freer, clearer. The sensation was probably a manifestation of my overall situation. Still, I savored that breath and the air racing into my lungs.

I stopped at the door to my room. In addition to my scythe, I had lost the key to the room, which meant I probably shouldn’t continue to stay in the same place, in case the horror of a sadistic prick came looking for me.

I pulled the Killian’s skeleton key from my thigh pocket. At least I had a way to get into my locked room. Any locked room.

“Thank the gods you’re back.”

I spun toward the sound of Aoes’s voice. The pub manager held a bundle of sheets and stood next to a room I didn’t recall anyone occupying.

Aoes’s eyes widened, his scrutiny of me blatant. “You look like utter dung.”