27. Chapter 23
Chapter 2 3
Asher
G uiding Lilly out of the ballroom with an iron grip on her arm, a hot surge of jealousy courses through me. I try to keep my cool, but that proves difficult, and my grip on my drink tightens. I tell myself that I am just keeping up appearances – after all, we are undercover – but the anger swells in my chest, and I can't stand the idea of anyone touching her.
"Really, you could loosen your grip a bit," Lilly chides.
Despite her complaint, she doesn't try to pull away. Instead, she leans into me, as if trying to prove a point.
"Sorry," I mutter, reluctantly releasing her arm, "but you have to admit, that guy was getting a little too friendly."
"I don't know if friendly is a term I would use for the people here. Jealous much?" Lilly teases, a mischievous glint in her eyes .
"Of course not," I retort, trying to brush off the comment. "I'm just... protective, that's all."
"Protective, huh?" Her laughter fills the air like wind chimes. "Well, thank you for coming to my rescue, Prince Charming."
"Hey, I'm no prince here," I remind her, trying to suppress my own grin. "Peter Scarworth, remember?"
"Right, right," she agrees, still smirking. "Well, either way, you're quite the dashing hero."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Lilly," I warn playfully.
We continue down the corridor, the sounds of laughter and music from the ballroom fading behind us. I can't help but feel a little smug at having rescued Lilly from that persistent flirt. Still, we have more important things to focus on—like finding our elusive target.
As we pass by an ornate door slightly ajar, the unmistakable smell of pipe smoke wafts out along with a drunken voice complaining loudly.
I raise a hand, signaling Lilly to pause and listen.
"That coward Lexir Crow! How dare he steal from me!" slurs the voice from within the dimly lit room.
Curiosity piqued, I take a cautious step closer to the door, peering through the haze of smoke to try to see who is speaking. The man’s hunched over in a plush armchair, clutching a glass of something amber and clearly intoxicating. As his face swings into view, I recognize him as Theron, a notorious crime lord whose reputation for ruthlessness is legendary.
"Can you believe it?" Theron rants, seemingly to no one in particular. "After everything I've done for him, the ungrateful snake turns on me! That rotten crow had better watch his back because I'm coming for him. I don't care if he's hiding in the mountains with his friends."
"Lexir Crow, huh?" I murmur under my breath, surprised at the revelation.
If even someone as dangerous as Theron has been betrayed by Lexir, he is likely up to no good.
"Over the years, I've given that man everything! And this is how he repays me?" Theron's voice booms through the smoke-filled room, his face flushed with anger and too much drink. "Ambushing my men and taking the chest of gold I'd plundered!"
Lilly and I exchange a shocked glance. This Lexir has grown bold enough to steal from fellow villains. He is probably the one we are looking for.
Lilly's expression, however, holds a look I can't quite place. It seems as if she is more shocked and worried than I am.
"Can you believe it?" I whisper to her, trying to gauge her reaction.
"Lexir always had a knack for getting in over his head," she murmurs, her amethyst eyes clouded with concern, "but I never thought he'd be this reckless. "
"You sound as if you know him personally."
Eyes wide, she shakes her head, "Nothing like that. Just off of his reputation. I didn't think he would be foolish enough to backstab someone within his inner circle."
"Neither did I," I admit, "but now we know who we're dealing with." I pause, staring at the opulent chandelier above us, its crystals casting a kaleidoscope of light across the room. "We just need to find him before things get worse."
"Agreed," Lilly says, her gaze flitting back to Theron.
Theron continues, his voice rising with each word, "Three days ago, on a mountain pass, Lexir's men ambushed mine! They trapped us with a forest fire and made off with the chest of gold!" He pounds his fist on the table, sloshing his drink. "And every time we tried to retrieve it, the damn fire reappeared!"
Lilly and I exchange another glance, our shock morphing into understanding. Lexir's affinity for fire magic is well-known. He has burned down many villages, and even my own brother has scars from his last encounter with Lexir.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Lilly whispers, her green eyes sparking with determination.
“Head to the forest and take him down there while avoiding any unnecessary casualties?”
"Exactly," she agrees, her grip on my arm tightening slightly .
I can sense the worry that still lingers in her eyes. But there is no turning back now. We have to put an end to his schemes before things get even worse.
I’m about to turn away, intent on quietly leaving and planning our next move when Theron's voice booms through the room again. "Mark my words, I'll see Lexir Crow hang for this!"
His shout draws attention from everyone in the vicinity. Theron's eyes narrow as they land on Lilly and me. Still standing in the doorway, I can practically feel the suspicion radiating off of him.
I barely have a second to think before my arm loops around Lilly's waist, drawing her close as I slosh the drink in my hand for effect. It is an impulsive move, but two can play at the game of deception, and it seems our best chance of escaping Theron's notice without arousing suspicion.
Lilly plays along beautifully. She leans into me with a giggle that is both alluring and slightly tipsy, batting her eyes at Theron as if she, too, is caught up in the moment. "Please forgive us," she chimes in, her voice breathy and flirtatious. "We didn't mean to intrude. We were looking for an empty room. Not that I mind any witnesses..."
Lilly's act catches me off guard, but a spark shoots through me as she leans into my embrace. Despite the danger, having her so close feels right.
I grin roguishly, though my pulse races. "Apologies," I echo smoothly, our eyes locking in understanding.
"Next time, mind where you're going," Theron grumbles, his gaze suspicious but ultimately unfocused. From the glazed look in his eyes, it’s clear the alcohol is getting the better of him. He waves a dismissive hand at us before turning back to his conversation.
"Of course!" I reply, still maintaining my pretense of drunken cheer.
As soon as Theron's attention is elsewhere, I gently urge Lilly away from the door and back into the crowded ballroom. We put some distance between ourselves and the smoking room before we finally dare to relax.
"Nice improvisation," Lilly whispers, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I didn't know you had it in you."
"Neither did I," I admit with a rueful smile, "but desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Indeed," she agrees, her expression growing more serious as she considers what we've learned. "Now we have another clue on where exactly to find Lexir Crow. We need to locate him before getting caught ourselves."
"Or attracting the attention of any more crime lords," I add wryly. "I think we've had enough close calls for one evening, don't you?"
"Definitely," Lilly nods, her laughter bubbling up once more, "but at least now we know we make a convincing pair of drunken lovers when the need arises. "
"True," I concede, feeling an odd mixture of pride and embarrassment at the realization. "I suppose every cloud has its silver lining."
"Indeed it does," she agrees, a mischievous glint in her eye as she pats my arm.