5
He asked about my life, and I told him the latest on Selene—he had heard through the grapevine how horribly she’d beaten me and had hated her for that alone. When I told him how she’d hurt my new kitten, he bristled. “I’m d-definitely spreadin’ the news of her stanky puss, then.”
I laughed along with him, until we heard a footfall outside. Max turned the lantern down almost completely and peered out a crack in the wall. He shook his head when I motioned “what?” with my hands. He whispered, “I’m not sure, Vali. I think there’s a man at the end of the alley across the way. A big ‘un. Dressed all in black, cloak and all. Like one of them assassins. You’ve been followed by a dangerous man.”
“Bugger. Yes, from the Frisky Kitten.”
“What was ya doin’ there?” His brow furrowed. “You’re not working the rooms, are ya?” He seemed half-horrified, half-hopeful.
I stuck out my tongue. “No, Max. You know I can’t do that. And I wouldn’t, even if I could.”
Relief flickered in his eyes. “Still no butterflies in yer tummy?”
“Not even a tiny tickle in my knickers.”
He almost choked on his tongue, and I could see him blushing to the roots of his hair, even in the dim light. “Stay here with me, Vali,” he whispered, and the slight growl in his voice made me understand I couldn’t. My little Max wasn’t really safe anymore.
“Can’t. I’ll have to chance it.” Madam was going to whip me for sure if I didn’t get back soon. Selene might need the vinegar and sponges before the night was over for all I knew; maybe she really did have one of the more malodorous infections starting up downstairs. Not even my scented sheets could cover up that sort of thing.
Time to make a plan. If the man was watching, he’d be waiting for me to come out. So I needed to let him see me.
“Turn around, Max.” When he did, I switched out of the fancy dress and back into my old, lumpy gown. Grabbing the sardines, I rubbed them all over myself and tucked a couple of extras into a rag bundle. My skin stank so badly, my eyes watered. I did a little dance in place, the mischief of my plan making me inexplicably happy. “I need you to do me one more favor.”
Max grinned. “Anything, Vali.” But when he heard what I needed, he almost backed out. “Swear never to tell,” he grumbled. “Not a soul.”
“I promise. But I must tell Mischief; now that you’re gone, she’s my best friend.”
“Replaced by a stray cat. I see how it is.” He rolled his eyes and turned around. “Do up my laces.”
A minute later, he burst out the door, shouting in a high falsetto. “I hope all those men are gone! I have to get home.” He ran with odd, mincing steps and I wanted to yell after him that no girl moved like that, the Alpha wouldn’t be fooled. But not ten seconds after Max had rounded the corner, a long shadow moved away from the wall and skated silently down the street after him.
It worked. Max had protected me again. For once, an Alpha had done something kind.
I didn’t know how to feel about that. Didn’t know what to think. What did it mean to be an Alpha? And why were they all so obsessed with me?
In the quiet night, I tore home with my heart pounding, leaving nothing behind but a terrible stench.
* * *
Madam beat me across the back for being late, of course. Selene came howling down the stairs claiming I had sabotaged her best-paying customer. I couldn’t even make out what she was accusing me of, but Tess whispered the story into my ear. Apparently, Harold had gone home with red welts all over his privates, and had demanded his money back, accusing Selene of giving him the pox.
She insisted I tell her where I’d gone to find the vinegar and sponges. “I know you didn’t go to the apothecary,” she hissed, pinching my arm just above the wrist.
“How would you know that?” I asked, a strange unease growing in my gut. Maybe she had told those men I would be there. She was plenty evil enough to do such a thing. Had the whole thing been a trap I’d avoided by going to the Kitten instead?
I could have protested my innocence in Harold’s misfortune, but Madam knew me. She beat me until her arm got sore, but it didn’t matter. I was wearing so many rag bundles at this point that the stick never got close to my skin anyway. I pretended it hurt terribly nonetheless and shouted so loud some of the customers finally came down to see who was being murdered. She stopped and sent me to my cot without dinner.
Mischief was drowsing in her basket, but she perked up when I entered. I checked her tail and then fed her one of the sardines, telling her the story of my evening. “I got vengeance for us both. By the end of the week, all of Turino will have heard that Selene has crotch rot.” I stroked her slowly, listening to her purr. “Maybe Madam will throw her out, or trade her to another brothel.” I sighed, knowing I’d never be that lucky, and pulled back my blanket.
The next morning, I had to be up early to work, as always. I’d clear out the ashes in the main fireplace, then change the linens, and do the dusting. I’d had one night of adventure and excitement, even if it was scary. I’d seen into some very interesting keyholes and caught up with an old friend.
Now I was back home, back to my dishwater dull life, with only a kitten to love me.
What would it be like, to have more than one friend? I drifted into a waking dream where large men in black cloaks and ladies’ frocks danced all around, spinning me in circles. What could it possibly be like, to be loved by more than one little kitten?
“I don’t mind sharing,” one of the dream-Alphas growled into my ear, his eyes darker than the night, his hair long and black. “Purr, little kitten, so I can find you.” His voice sounded so loud, so close, my eyes popped open.
Humph. The night was still, but the shadows were alive, the flickers of Turino’s torchlight making them dance.
It was a night for suspicious men chasing me. A night for strange dreams.
And, apparently, a night for butterflies to swoop around in my stomach, keeping me awake… until Mischief purred softly by my ear, lulling me to deeper sleep at last.