Chapter 13
She was staying. Inej couldn’t believe her luck. All because she had refused to allow someone else to take Manu’s life.
“You won’t,” she promised, speaking the lie easily.
Was it really a falsehood when he would be dead and unable to regret anything?
His black eyes searched hers for a long minute. “I hope not.”
She wondered what he saw when he looked at her.
She wasn’t sure she had hidden her apprehension earlier when she woke to find him there.
For a heartbeat, she had been sure he was there to arrest her—or worse.
She hadn’t dared to ask if he or someone else had questioned the assassin.
If he was allowing her to remain, that meant either the elf hadn’t told them anything, or they hadn’t been able to question him.
“I ask that you remain in this house until I return. I’ll take you for a tour of the city then,” Manu told her.
“Of course.”
He stood there for a moment before turning on his heel and leaving out the front door. Inej leaned forward to watch him. A smile pulled at her lips as she walked into the kitchen. She had found another obstacle in her way and triumphed over it.
“You would be wise not to get any designs on him,” Chanda said.
Inej hadn’t formally met the elf, but Chanda made no attempt to hide her disdain for Inej. “I have no such intentions.”
“Sure.”
Inej frowned at the elf, not liking the curt tone or the flippant response. “I’m serious.”
“Look,” Chanda said, turning to face Inej, her dark brown eyes flashing with anger. “Manu isn’t just our ruler, he’s handsome, strong, kind, and unattached. There are few who wouldn’t wish to be with him.”
“Are you one of them?”
Chanda rolled her eyes. “I am not. I’ve known Manu and Jalall my entire life. They’re like my brothers.”
“But there is someone you know who does want Manu.”
The elf’s lips parted, but she must have thought better about replying because she turned away instead.
Inej decided it would be best to let the topic drop as she searched for food.
She was prepared to get close to Manu however she needed to.
If that meant sleeping with him, then she would do it.
If she were into elves—which she never had been—and she went on looks alone—which she usually did—she would’ve already called him to her bed.
But this wasn’t a quick night of fun. It was about life and death. Freedom and ending evil.
Inej sat in Jalall’s library, staring at the books for the last several minutes.
She had been drawn to the room the moment she saw it.
Two walls of stone cut into symmetrical shelves lined with books.
The smooth, stone floor was covered with rugs layered over each other in different styles, colors, and sizes.
Then there were chunky, plush cushions spread along the floor of the far wall with pillows scattered on them.
Her eyes had lifted to the ceiling, where hundreds of tiny lights hugged the stone, giving the area a soft ambiance.
She chose a book and settled onto the cushions. After what she had been through, she deserved a day off. But she couldn’t concentrate on the story. Her gaze drifted across the rugs, and in a heartbeat, she was back in Gita’s home.
“You might find yourself falling for his lies.”
Inej laughed as she shifted in the chair. “I’m not that susceptible.”
“He’s a powerful elf.”
“I’ve never needed a man—or elf—before. I’m not going to start now.”
Gita smirked. “I take it you’ve never been in love.”
“Love is merely a label others wish to place on emotions that rise and fade as often as the sun to make themselves feel better.”
“You really are the perfect one to send after him,” Gita replied smugly. “If you complete this, there just might be a job for you at the DIA.”
Excitement bloomed in her chest, but Inej was quick to tamp it down. “Since when does the DIA hire humans?”
“You’re going undercover. Do you think you’re the first human covert agent we’ve had?”
She hadn’t considered it at all, actually. This was something she was most certainly interested in, but she didn’t want to show too much enthusiasm. That kind of job could change her entire life. “Good point. What do I do when I complete the mission?”
“Get yourself back here.”
Her gut clenched nervously. “You make it sound easy.”
“It won’t be.” Gita laughed and poured herself some wine.
“You’ll have to find a way out of the city.
I’ve heard the Mountain Elves live inside a mountain.
I’m sure it’ll be guarded. My advice is to get out before anyone finds Manu.
” She turned and walked back to the sofa.
“Then you need to run as fast as you can.”
“And if I can’t get out or run fast enough? I take it that I’m on my own.”
“I’m afraid so. That’s one of the drawbacks of being undercover. You get a lot of intel upfront, then you’re thrown into a mission and have to get yourself out.”
Inej looked at the wineglass, wishing for some of the liquor herself. “How will you know if I succeed if I don’t make it out?”
“Trust me, word will spread quickly enough. He’s the one leading all the kidnappings. Take him out, and they’ll stop.”
“Just one elf? Are you sure?”
Gita waved a dismissive hand toward the box of vials. “If there are others, use the other poisons. I leave it up to your discretion. So? What do you say? Do you still want to do this?”
“Without a doubt.”
The slam of a door jerked Inej out of her memories.
She listened to see if it was Manu’s or even Jalall’s arrival, but she didn’t hear boots heading toward her.
In fact, she didn’t hear anything. Perhaps Chanda had left to return home.
After their encounter in the kitchen, the two had given each other a wide berth.
Inej eventually returned her attention to the book, but this time, it wasn’t Gita who invaded her thoughts.
It was the assassin and the knife he’d plunged into the middle of her chest.
She snapped the book closed and gave up on trying to read.
“Not a good story?”
Her head turned toward the door, where Manu stood.
Several strands of his deep brown hair had fallen over his forehead.
He shoved them back with his fingers and leaned a shoulder against the jamb.
The elf filled up any room he entered with his size, but also with his authority.
There was a stillness about him that took her aback.
As if he were weighing the room, her, and their conversation.
“I can’t concentrate,” she admitted and rose from the cushions.
“It’s late, but I can still take you for the tour if you’d like.”
She had lost all context of time being inside the mountain. “I didn’t realize. I can ask Jalall.”
“He’s gone at the moment. Taking the prisoner back to his tribe.”
And just like that, her anxiety returned. How many others knew about her? Gita hadn’t said she had other agents about, and she should have at least warned Inej that someone else might be coming. How had he even known she was here? What had he said?
“You did your job. It’s my turn.”
He made it sound like all Inej had been needed for was to get into the city. And, gods, what if that was exactly what Gita had used her for?
“Inej?” Manu called.
She put the book back in its slot, refusing to think about how sexy her name sounded in that deep voice of his. “I was just thinking about the wolvites,” she said to cover her silence.
“They won’t bother Jalall’s group. Too many individuals. The wolvites like to get their targets on their own.”
She shivered as she remembered the rumbling growls. “If you say so.”
“This might be a good time for the tour. There won’t be that many about, which means you’ll get to see more of Navara.”
They walked from the library together. She waited as he used magic to lock the front door behind them. Then, he turned to the right.
“As captain, Jalall lives close to the city entrance, as well as the guardhouse.”
“You have an army?”
He cut her a look as they began walking.
“We do, indeed. So do the other tribes. Don’t forget that Rannora and Belanore each have soldiers.
And then there are the Asavori Rangers.” Manu nodded toward where they were headed.
“There are residential sections in both Rannora and Belanore, but here, it’s mostly mixed together. You’ll find shops next to homes.”
“Navara is much bigger than I expected,” she mused.
“We’re one of the larger mountain tribes. Smaller tribes merged with us a few times in the past. We’ve had to build up,” he said, pointing to the homes above them. “We have everything we need here.”
She shot him a look. “Everything?”
“Water,” he said, pointing to the gentle waterfall and the river. Then he pointed to the mirrors. “Lights.” They walked past a building to an open area with large, raised plant beds. “We also grow our own food.”
“You hunt?”
“Of course. Each household has its own larder. There is also one for the city as a whole.”
They continued on the path as she looked at the different homes. All were as similar as they were different. Each individual family put their own touches on the stone edifices with colorful fabrics and lighting.
“Some homes are carved with pretty designs, and others aren’t. Is that a choice?” she asked.
“All of them began without any embellishments. Those who have the skill to etch designs can be hired to adorn a home.”
Inej knew the moment she spotted the enormous manor to the left across the river that it was Manu’s. It sat near the waterfall, and she imagined there were breathtaking views. She listened as Manu pointed out different shops and told her what was sold where.
Finally, they reached the end, but they didn’t cross the bridge. Instead, he took her up a flight of stairs to the next level. She paused near one of the thick-leaved plants that grew among the rocks. Some were small, others huge.
“That’s called a thrie,” he told her.
“How do you get it to grow?”
He pointed to one of the mirrors that directed light toward them. “The mirrors do most of the work, but we use a bit of magic learned from a Wood Elf many generations ago.”
They continued walking. Inej noticed that the light in the mirrors began to fade, causing windows to illuminate in homes. Night gave the city a different look.
He pivoted to walk across a bridge. She started after him until she realized there were no handrails.
One wrong step, and she could plunge to her death.
Manu stopped and looked at her over his shoulder, waiting for her.
There was no telling how long she had to remain in Navara, which meant she needed to learn to adapt to her new surroundings like she had so many times before.
Inej squared her shoulders and followed Manu. The bridge was actually wider than she initially thought. They could walk side by side, and there was room enough for two more people. That didn’t mean she had any intention of getting near the edge, however.
“This level, as well as the two above us, are more homes, but you’ll still find a few shops among them,” he said.
“Are any hiring?”
He shrugged. “I’m sure they are. That isn’t why I brought you up here.”
“Oh?”
“Come,” he urged and took her to yet another staircase.