The sheet was over her, but she had seen it at work in the light. Everything would be revealed. She would be revealed.
Get it together, she told herself. Her people were starving. The mark above her heart was only the faintest scar now, but the encounter had left more than torn flesh behind. She had seen the women’s desperation. They looked guilty, but they were hungry. She was their ruler. It was her responsibility to do whatever she could to survive the Centennial and break their curse.
With her people in mind, a stupid dance in front of a thief seemed easy. She had a plan. Seduce him, bring him to a private place, and feed him the bottle of liquor she had also bought off the dancer.
“A drink of this, and any man will be flat on his stomach,” she had said. “Lets us accept payment without doing most of the more unsavory acts.”
Finally, Isla had asked for advice. “Do you know the man with the serpent?”
She had rolled her eyes. “We all do, unfortunately.”
“How do I get him to notice me?”
“Easy,” she said. “He likes attention.”
All she had to do was dance in front of him.
How hard could it be?
She was wearing a mask. Anonymous. No one knew her here—except for the cursed demon, who she doubted would even be watching.
With a burst of confidence, Isla stepped onto the stage, wrapped in the cloth she knew was made completely transparent by the lights behind, casting her body in full shadow.
Gazes were brands searing her skin. At first, she rejected it, felt disgusted, but then . . .
This was a choice. She was not being forced. They were here to watch, and she had agreed to be part of the entertainment.
She positioned herself right in front of the man with the snake, making sure to give a smile just for him, and she began to dance.
The music was a rush of drums and strings so fast and intoxicating that her body moved to its rhythm, matching the routine of the others. Her hips swayed, dipped, her arms reached above her head, she ran her fingers down her stomach, touching her body through the fabric . . .
And met his gaze. Him.
Grim.
He was watching her like she really had power and could seduce a man with one look. He was staring like a man entranced, standing predatorially still. She met his eyes, and he did not look away—no, if anything, he looked more intensely. His eyes swept down her body, and up, and lingered, and she felt it in her blood, in her bones, him—
His gaze broke away, narrowing on something right in front of her, just a half second before she felt a pull on her fabric.
She heard a hiss.
The thief. The snake around his neck flicked its tongue out. The man offered his hand, which was full of coins she had never seen before. “Might I have a private show?” he asked.
Bile worked its way up her throat. She gave her most convincing smile. “Of course.”
The man helped her off the stage, and she led him to the back of the tent, where she had watched other dancers take their clients. Before going into one of the private areas, she scooped up her bottle of liquor.
“For you,” she said reverently, and he smiled. The snake hissed again, and he petted its head. “Apologies—she is a jealous woman,” he said about the serpent.
The curtains made a scratching sound as she opened them. They were in a building now, with stone walls. The sounds of music and yells were muted here. In their room, there was only a chair, some candles, and a table with awaiting goblets.
She uncorked the bottle and poured him a glass.
He took it immediately, and Isla thought he was a fool for not even smelling it before gulping it down. He must not have viewed her as a threat.
Perhaps this was how he’d lost the sword.
“More,” he said, offering his goblet. She happily obliged, and he downed the drink again, before loudly leaving it on the table. “Now,” he said, smiling, teeth shining in the limited light of the few scattered candles. “Dance.”
Isla did. She danced in front of him, smiling coyly when he made to reach for her, turning around strategically, so he didn’t think she was denying him.
When she turned around again, she saw his eyes were drooping. He fought to stay awake, his head lolling, then straightening, again, and again.
This was her chance.
“Come here,” he said, patting his leg. She felt a bout of nausea but complied, sitting on his lap, far from where he wanted her.
The snake lunged for her, and Isla startled, but the man just laughed, head lolling to the side. “Don’t worry, she doesn’t bite,” he said. “I had her fangs removed.” Though she was grateful for it now, Isla thought that was very sad. For a moment, she felt pity for the snake.
“I’m looking for something,” she whispered.
“Are you?” he said, his voice slurring.
“A sword. The one your group stole from the Skyling market and that you stole from them. Where is it?”
He laughed, his eyes rolling back. “That sword ruined my life,” he said. “It’s nearly killed anyone who’s tried to use it. I suppose none of us were powerful enough for it.” He laughed some more.
She leaned closer, clutching both sides of his open shirt in her hands. “Where is it?”
The man smiled. His eyes were nearly closed now. His very pale cheeks were now flushed. Perhaps the drink had worked too well. “A thief stole it from me. Ironic, isn’t it? Some call her the best thief in all the realms.”
“What’s her name?”
“No one knows.”
“Where can I find her?”
He lifted a shoulder.
That wasn’t helpful. She shook him by the sides of his shirt. “Where do you think the sword is now? Would she have traded it? Sold it?”
“Oh, I know where the sword is.”
Isla stopped shaking him. “You do?”
He nodded as much as he could manage. “The thief has a favorite hiding place.”
“Where?”
“Here, on Nightshade.”
Hope bloomed. “Close by?”
He shook his head. “No, no. Far.”
“Where?”
“The Caves of Irida.”
Isla stopped breathing. That was a very specific location. She didn’t know where it was, but Grim would.
Suddenly, her hope began to deflate. “Wait. If you’re so sure you know where it is, why haven’t you stolen it back?”
He laughed, but it sounded faded. He was moments from sleep. “Besides the fact no one will go near it? Because it’s impossible,” he slurred. “The thief has a monster.”
“Monster?”
“It guards her bounty.”
“What kind of monster?” she demanded.
But the thief had succumbed to the liquor. She let him go, and he crumpled against the chair, making a snoring sound. The snake slid across his face, as if trying to wake him.
Isla only realized that in her fervor to get information she had climbed atop the man when Grim opened the curtain to the room. She stood quickly, grinning, mouth opening, ready to tell him everything they now knew, when she abruptly shut it.
Grim looked furious. He looked at the man, sleeping peacefully, then at her.
“Don’t kill him,” she said.
He gave her a look.
“You look like you want to kill him.”