I deserved this fate.
She didn’t.
I shook my head, collecting the basket Eava had prepared before adding another bottle of wine. “Unfortunately, not.”
Her lips tugged down in a heavy frown. “Best be off with ye, then. Send her my regards, won’t ye?”
“I will of course.”
* * *
When I arrived to the inn later that morning, I found the wasp standing next to the carriage, arms crossed over her chest, gray eyes narrowed at me.
It was amazing what a sober night’s sleep could do to restore one’s soul. Only two more days of this shite before we reached the portal. I’d given up hope of seducing her. If she didn’t hand over the ring when we reached the Forest, Rían could take care of it.
I smiled at the wasp, determined to make today pleasant.
“I see you’ve been very busy with yourimportant business,” she said, pointing at my neck where Clara had left a few marks with her rouge this morning.
So much for being feckin’ pleasant.
“You think I like—” The question died on my cursed tongue.
I knew what she thought of me. I knew what everyone thought of me. If she thought I liked living this way, then far be it from me to waste my breath on setting her straight. Her opinion of what I was couldn’t be any lower than my own.
And I was in too good a mood to deal with her shite today.
Nope.
Not a hope.
I wasn’t doing this.
“You know what? This isn’t worth it.” I turned on my heel and went straight back to the bawdy house. Since it was so early, I braved the entrance on my own, finding the place empty except for a couple rutting in the corner. Technically, I still had another hour with Clara, although if the madame caught me, she’d likely try to extort more money.
When I reached the door, I gave a quick rap with my knuckle.
“H-hello?” a weak voice chimed.
“It’s me. I’m back for round seven.”
“Tadhg? G-give me a moment to—” A choked sob cut off the explanation.
I threw the door aside, finding my friend curled into a ball in the corner next to a shattered lamp, right eye bruised and swollen, her lips fat and bloody.
“What the hell happened?” I’d only been gone twenty feckin’ minutes.
Wincing, Clara scrubbed at the tears staining her cheeks black with kohl. “Th-there was another request. I th-thought it was you b-but it wasn’t.”
Heat enveloped my chest as I hurried forward, collecting her onto my lap. “What was his name?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did he look like?”
“He . . . he was a . . . a soldier.”
The Airren soldiers infesting this land carried on like they owned the feckin’ island and everyone in it. They were untouchable, above the law. “If you saw him again, could you identify him?” I’d comb this town for every single one of them if I had to.