The Pirate King's Thief (Realm of Dragons and Fae Book 3) by Klapheke Alisha

Author:Klapheke, Alisha
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

21

LINA

The sun rose, and soon I was donning a traditional Deigs corset and gown, thoughts of strategy whirling through my mind. If we failed today, we were as good as dead. It wouldn’t be a quick death either. Rietveld would make us suffer.

Phoenix’s hands were quick with my braid, and I watched as Star helped the children pack stale rolls and dried fruit into the bags they would have on their little backs as they waited for the signal to come aboard or to run. Emerald bounced over the countertop near the sink, nudging a teacup with her snout with seemingly no goal but to make noise.

“Please hush, Emerald. The Watch isn’t gone just because it’s morning. And the city noise will only cover so much.”

The dragon looked up from the overturned porcelain and let out a puff of smoke.

“Don’t give her any lip, beastie,” Star said over her shoulder.

The dragon lowered her head in submission. Star was obviously her mother.

I hated that Zavi wasn’t back yet. He’d returned home to see about his dog. A smile tugged at my lips as I imagined him baby talking the mutt he had spoken so fondly of late last night after everyone else was asleep.

Phoenix tapped my back once. “All done. Everyone ready?”

“As ready as we can be,” Star said, adjusting Sanne’s bag over the girl’s shoulder.

I straightened my back and put on the mask of calm I always wore when setting out on a job. “We are going to fool them all, and before sunset, we’ll be gone from this prison forever.”

Sanne raised her arms and began to cheer, but Bram grabbed her and hugged her, shushing his sister gently.

Star went to the door, peeked out, then turned and nodded.

“If Zavi doesn’t get back in time, we move without him,” I whispered. “Plan two.”

“Got it.” Star pursed her lips like she wanted to say more.

I slipped out, praying to any god who might listen that the Watch’s eyes weren’t on our door. I couldn’t very well climb out a window in all these layers of lemon and cream silk. Walking as quickly as I could without drawing notice—the fine dress and the fact that I was unaccompanied was jarring enough—I aimed for the docks and Rietveld’s ship. He would be there now, checking the boat and discussing the upcoming sail with the crew. I knew shipping schedules like I knew my own menstrual cycle.

If the Watch did nab me, it might all still be okay, but this heist would be far easier without more bodies. My mind whispered, This is impossible. You’re going to get them all killed. I shoved that thought down and stomped on it with a pair of imaginary boots.

The streets were coming alive. A man in a ratty apron pushed a cart of small green apples. A woman leaning on a warehouse wall that had once been blue lifted the hem of her moth-eaten dress to show her ankle to a cluster of sailors, who smelled like a brewery.

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