14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
C olette experienced a hundred different emotions as she stood outside the doors to the throne room of the palace. Apprehension and anxiety were chief among them.
It had taken Mav the better part of a month to convince Colette that this plan would work.
Colette had promised to pause her thieving long enough for them to work things out without getting Mav into even more trouble.
During that time, the two had fallen into each other in the best possible way.
They were both obsessed with each other.
Colette very quickly realized that she would give up her thieving even if this plan didn’t work; she could find some other way to help the people of Zhava City with Mav by her side.
She had taken Mav home to meet her grandmother, who had immediately loved the fearsome manticore.
She hadn’t seemed surprised that Colette had brought home perhaps the only non-human resident of Zhava City and introduced her as her mate, no less.
Mav had fit into her life like she was meant to be there.
They had just had one problem; Colette was still the most wanted thief in Sartya.
She desperately hoped their king was as good-natured and fair as Mav had said he was, but Colette had worked at the palace in Ichorna.
If their king was anything like Queen Aldith…
well, Colette didn’t want to think about it.
The guards eyed her warily as they pulled the doors open, and she took a deep breath, striding into the room. She made her way down the long aisle, only letting herself glance at where Mav stood by the dais for a moment before shifting her gaze back to the ground in front of her.
When she finally arrived before the dais, she dropped to a kneel and bowed her head.
“So, this is our famed jewel thief.” The king’s voice was rich, and not as harsh as Colette had expected. “A daughter of Sartya, raised in Ichorna, and back now stealing from our nobles. Fascinating. I have heard your story from my Captain of the Guard, but I’d like to hear it from you, Colette.”
Colette kept her head lowered and began.
She told the king of her experience as a guard in Ichorna, of her parents who had kept a love of Sartya’s culture alive in her, of her grandmother who needed help that Colette felt responsible and honored to give.
She told him of the difficulties she had faced finding work, and the circumstances that led to her first robbery.
She shared the stories of the people she had helped with the spoils of her crimes.
The king listened to it all without interrupting.
When she finally stopped, silence fell across the hall, and she dared a glance up to take in her surroundings.
The king was considering her, leaning forward with his elbows resting casually on his knees. Their eyes connected for a moment, and Colette knew she should lower her gaze; but she didn’t.
“Colette Tazar, you have committed many crimes in Zhava City.” Colette braced herself for the worst. He would sentence her to life in prison. Her grandmother would be alone in her old age. She wouldn’t ever see Mav again.
“But, it seems you have set about fixing my city in a way that I did not. Despite your time away from us, you are a true daughter of Sartya, with a giving heart and cunning determination. My Captain tells me I should bring you into the fold. In exchange for your solemn vow to stop your thieving, you will be offered a position here at the palace. You will work with our Master of Coin to ensure the interests of all residents of Zhava City are represented. Do you accept?”
Colette could not believe what she was hearing. Not only would she be pardoned, but she would be given the opportunity to truly help people. She glanced over to Mav, who was trying to look stoic; she nodded at Colette, eyes sparkling.
“Yes, my king, I accept your generous terms. It will be my honor to serve Sartya in this way. I will see it done.”
“Very good, Colette Tazar of Sartya. Rise now, and strive every day to do right by the people of Zhava City. I will endeavor to do the same.”
*
“I told you it would work out,” Mav said with a laugh as she pulled Colette into her arms that evening.
“You did, but you know I have to worry about everything secretly.” Colette laughed, burying her face into the fur of Mav’s chest.
“My lovely thief, a thief no more. I am glad the king gave you a job right away; you would have gotten into trouble otherwise, I have no doubt.”
“Hey! That’s no way to speak to your mate, Captain, ” Colette said with a laugh.
“She’s right, you definitely would have gotten into some nonsense, Coco,” Colette’s grandmother said from across the room. Mav tried to hold back her laugh as Colette gave her a good-natured glare.
“I’ll gladly swear off nonsense forever if it means I get to be with you, my beautiful, courageous, brilliant mate.” Colette went up on her toes to pull Mav into a kiss.
“I love you,” Mav said quietly.
“I love you, too. So much that I promise never to hold a dagger to your throat again,” Colette said with a smirk.
“What if I ask you to?” Mav answered, her voice barely a whisper in Colette’s ear.
“Only if you ask very nicely.”