Page 32 of A Thief to Die For

This man. I offer her a quick grin. ‘I don’t have much free time, but aside from my job, I enjoy … fishing. Archery. A good competition or game with my friends. The occasional book.’

Agatha laughs, delighted. ‘What do you like to read? Are you interested in any academic studies?’ Her hand taps my forearm. ‘I’ve been fascinated with the study of elements as of late. Alchemy.’

‘And trading my coal so she can fund her obsession with it,’ the Commander grumbles. ‘She gets these jugs and bags of powders –’

‘I’ve studied all the sciences,’ I interrupt. ‘But what’s interested me most lately …’ My gaze wanders back to Marian, ‘is grappling. It’s fascinating when it’s done well.’

Her eyes flick away, almost in alarm. Too late, I realise my poor attempt at complimenting her skills as a soldier was taken as a threat to reveal her secret.

‘Oh,’ Agatha says. ‘That’s –’

‘Marian’s excellent at grappling,’ the Commander blurts, then glares as he looks at his daughter. ‘But what she’s not very excellent at is talking.’

Marian shifts. Her teeth bite into her full bottom lip, like she’s fighting to keep her mouth shut. But then she pierces me with the full force of her big, brown eyes. Something wild takes flight in my chest. ‘Okay, I have a question for you. Where did those water purification pills come from?’

‘We … have a supplier who specialises in these things.’

She hums her interest. ‘A supplier. That’s rather vague.’

My eyes narrow.

She leans forward, elbows landing on the table. ‘How do we know they’re not poison?’

‘Because they’re not,’ I say with disbelief. ‘Why would I kill the very workers who will supply us with coal?’

She stares, defiant. ‘I can’t answer that. I don’t know what you want.’

And that is the problem, isn’t it? I’ve left her fearing me. Questioning my every move. Then let me clear it up for her. I lean forward, matching her posture. ‘I’m here for coal. Only coal. We have no interest in your land. No ulterior motives.’

She exhales harshly, falling back in her chair. ‘Right. There’s nothing to worry about. Let’s just overlook the fact that you could wipe out half or more of our population with these supposed purification pills.’

‘Would you like to watch me use one on myself?’

A challenge enters her eyes. ‘Yes, I would.’

‘Perfect. Let’s do that after dinner.’

The air grows thick in the silence.

‘I’m sorry about my sister,’ Agatha says, frowning. ‘Sometimes she doesn’t know when to relax.’

Hurt flashes on Marian’s face.

Agatha ignores it. ‘Have you seen our little lake? There’s a nice waterfall flowing into it. Even a cave and tunnel that stretches into the rock behind. It’s not far from the mine.’

‘I’ve been to the pond,’ I say. ‘But haven’t checked out the waterfall.’

‘I could … take you some time.’ Her voice is soft. Nervous. ‘We could go swimming.’

‘He can’t,’ Marian mutters, between sips from her cup. ‘He doesn’t have a swimsuit.’

My gaze snaps to her, her words landing like the crack of her whip. There’s only one way she’d know that – she saw me at the pond with Levi.

So Marian has been keeping an eye on me.

A smile pulls on my lips – okay, little spy. No need to be so sneaky. She won’t look at me, but she feels me staring. I see it in the way she’s barely breathing.

‘We’ll decide it with a competition,’ the Commander declares.