5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
C olette sat at a long table sticky with age and use; the sounds of the merry little crowd were a welcome familiarity.
This tiny tavern was one of the businesses she supported with her thieving every now-and-then.
The owners were good people, and they often struggled to make ends meet because of their generosity.
They never turned away someone who was hungry, coin or no.
It also happened to be the preferred meeting spot for off-duty private guards employed by the noble families.
These men and women were often commoners who took up private guard work because it was the best way to rise in economic status while staying close to their families in Zhava City.
Colette often exploited this particular group; she spent time here to eavesdrop and collect information about possible targets.
Since she lived in the neighborhood, no one questioned her presence.
She had just dropped off a small pouch of gold pieces with the owner, who of course insisted she should stay for a drink. So now she sat in the same spot she had sat in a hundred times, letting the ambience of this happy place pulse through her.
Her last job—when she had left her handsome Captain a note—had been a week ago, but she liked to lay low for a while after each successful theft.
So, she would wait and help the people of the city where she could; and maybe, if she was lucky, she would bring someone home tonight.
She kept a separate apartment nearby to have a bit of privacy from her grandmother when she needed it.
As Colette scanned the room, considering her prospects, a murmur rippled through the crowd gathered near the door.
She turned to see what had caused the disturbance, and her eyes landed on a majestic golden furry face.
Bright amber eyes immediately connected with hers across the crowded space.
Colette felt the eye contact zing through her whole body; excitement and a hint of fear flooded her mind.
The Captain of the Guard only looked away when some inebriated man had the misfortune to accidentally stumble into her.
Colette watched on, aware that she should probably make herself scarce on the off chance the Captain might know who she was. She couldn’t bring herself to move, though, waiting to see what the Captain would do next.
The collision didn’t cause the Captain to move even an inch, her lithe body all honed muscle.
The only sign of her displeasure was the impatient rustle of her leathery wings.
Despite their feline features, manticores stood upright and walked on two legs the majority of the time.
From their knees to their shoulders, they were actually quite similar to a human…
other than the fur, of course. The Captain’s scorpion-like tail curled tighter behind her in agitation at the man’s clumsiness.
Her razor sharp stinger glistened in the tavern light with a tiny drop of venom at the tip.
Colette watched eagerly, hoping to see the Captain put the buffoon in his place.
To Colette’s eternal disappointment, the stoic Captain instead took a deep breath and stepped away from the man.
Colette would do just about anything to see that magnificent female lose control, she realized.
She really should leave, but the fact that she was so close to her hunter, hiding in plain sight, was exhilarating.
Turning back to her sweaty mug of ale, Colette considered going over to the Captain.
She wouldn’t really know who Colette was; that was just Colette’s natural caution causing her anxiety.
If the Captain did know who she was, she would have been in custody the moment the Captain set eyes on her.
Colette’s anonymity made her feel bold; this was the excitement she’d been missing.
She assumed the Captain was out in this part of town to make her own inquiries.
She and the other city guards certainly weren’t regulars here.
She knew it wasn’t wise, that it was playing with fire, but she couldn’t resist this opportunity to get closer.
She took another long drink of her ale and rose from the bench, winding her way through the tavern until she slipped into place right next to the Captain. Her heart raced.
“We don’t often see members of the City Guard here, Captain.
To what do we owe the pleasure?” Colette smiled at the barkeep as he nervously slid the Captain her own crisply-chilled mug.
Private guards who were from this area were one thing, but everyone knew the only manticore in Zhava City was the Captain of the Guard.
There was a beat of silence as the Captain nodded her thanks to the barkeep, but then she turned to look down at Colette.
“What’s your name?” The Captain’s creamy alto voice sent goosebumps racing down Colette’s arms. She found herself desperately wanting to tell the Captain her real name. It was reckless, but it wasn’t as if she had left her signature on her crime scenes.
“I’m Colette. And you are?”
“Mav Azimi, Captain of the Guard. Please, just call me Mav, though.”
“Right. Nice to meet you, Mav. So what brings you to our part of the city?” Colette found herself focused on the place where Mav’s lips connected with the rim of the mug as she took a sip of ale.
“Nothing in particular. I’ve lived in this city for almost ten years now, and I figured it was time I branched out a bit from my usual spot.
” Mav wouldn’t have convinced a single person in the tavern with that lie, but Colette thought it was adorable that Mav had tried.
If she had been anyone other than the exact thief the Captain was looking for, she wouldn’t have thought twice about why she was lying.
“I see. Well, you’ve found my usual spot.
The owners here are good people. I like to support their business however I can.
” Colette noticed Mav’s eyes flick down to her lips as she spoke; it made her bold.
She had thought Mav attractive from afar, but up close, she was breathtaking.
She remembered that she was face-to-face with her adversary and tried to summon some caution, but every moment in Mav’s presence made Colette more reckless.
“I came here tonight to find some company, but there’s only one person here that’s really caught my interest, and I’m afraid they aren’t likely to say ‘yes’ to what I have in mind.
” Colette glanced up at Mav with the slightest smirk on her face—a challenge she was betting Mav wouldn’t be able to resist.
Mav studied Colette’s face for a moment before taking another long sip of ale. “What exactly do you have in mind?”
“I prefer to take a more active—some might even say dominant—role with my partners. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.” Colette watched Mav closely and noticed her pupils dilate ever-so-slightly.
“I see. And who was your intended quarry this evening?”
Colette smiled slowly up at Mav, and said simply, “You.”