Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
JAX
How long have I spent locked in that cell under the Ezkai Castle?
Can’t be more than a month. Maybe two?
Happy folk don’t bother counting time, Mother used to say.
Not sure I’m disoriented in time because I’m happy.
I think it has more to do with being underground, and not being able to lay my eyes on the sun.
The noise of Kozem’s streets envelops me like a warm, familiar blanket as I simply stand beside a run-down pub with my eyes closed, the last rays of sunshine kissing my face.
It’s sort of…comforting.
A familiar voice disturbs my rare moment of peace. “Ey, Hound!”
Frowning, I blink, and against my deepest wishes, open my eyes to find Kugi leaving the pub.
A wide grin grows on my face at the sight of the familiar fae with the eyepatch. “Good to see you, old man.”
“Bah! Who are you calling old man?” Kugi waves me off as he approaches. My smile only widens. “Where have you been, huh? I haven’t seen you around the block for quite some time now.”
“I’ve been around,” I say and wink. “Super secret business can’t tell you about.”
Kugi levels a serious gaze at me. It’s not as intimidating as he imagines it is, considering he only has one eye. “I’ve heard rumors. Nothing good, kid.”
My stomach churns.
I swallow but manage to keep the nonchalant smile on my face. “You know what they say. The only thing worse than being talked about is being forgotten.”
Kugi snorts. “They say you meddle with Caligos. Is that right?”
It’s a tricky question, isn’t it?
I shrug and pout. “Here and there. Nothing serious. You know me, old friend. Commitment is not my strong suit.”
Kugi grunts. “Ain’t that the truth.” He pats my shoulder with his hard hand. “Well, don’t forget your friends, eh? Come visit us sometime for a drink at Dae’s, will ya?”
“Will do,” I promise, knowing damn well I won’t.
Too many things have happened.
Too many things have changed.
Kugi nods and limps away down the busy street.
I glance around the street full of vendors, thugs, and other lowlifes. This used to be a place as close to home as I ever had.
Not anymore, it appears.
I feel just as distant standing here, surrounded by the past, as ever.
I put a pause on this law only until I’m back, Noire. Nix’s voice floats through my mind.
Even across a distance, I feel her just as deeply as if I were right next to her.
She’s trying hard to shield her thoughts from me, but some still slip through. I’m keenly aware of her heartbeat, her feelings, and her being.
It’s as if we’re one.
It’s odd and uncomfortable. But also…there’s some appeal in it.
Before my thoughts spiral dangerously, I roll my shoulders and head for the entrance to the nearby run-down building. The heavy wood door barely holds on the hinges as I push it open.
My senses are assaulted by the most foul of scents. Bare earthen walls are covered in dried blood, fresh piss, and other…types of bodily liquids.
Avoiding sticky puddles on the wooden stairs, I make my way to the second floor where I rent a small room for fifty frade a month.
Thank the spirits of the gods I paid for a year in advance before I went missing.
The scent of opioids is thick in the air on this floor. Nothing new.
I approach the door down the narrow corridor and reach for the wooden sign next to it with my name on it.
After removing it from the wall, I find the copper key right where I left it—pushed between two crumbling bricks.
So, neither Daegel nor his Caligos bastards came looking for me here.
The door unlocks after some fumbling with the lock, and the familiar view emerges in front of me.
The walls are bare, wearing the marks of long years of nasty tenants who lived here before me. A thin single mattress is shoved in the corner against the wall, with a ragged wool blanket on top of it and a pillow.
Most nights I spent here were with someone else.
Sometimes just because I was haunted by the need to satisfy my urges.
But more often than not, it was because I couldn’t bear the thought of spending the night alone.
Sleeping alone meant getting lost in my own head, with nothing but my thoughts.
It’s never something I enjoy.
If you hear anything new about what the Caligos are planning or Vera’s whereabouts, send the messenger hawk. Nix’s voice in my mind snaps me out of the daze.
From now on, I’ll never have to be alone in my head with my thoughts.
I shake my head and approach the chest of drawers that’s the only piece of furniture in this room and open the first drawer.
It’s broken, and I’ve forgotten that…
So, the moment I pull on the handle, I pull out not the drawer but rather the front of it.
“Well, isn’t that wonderful,” I mutter and toss the plank of old wood aside.
The good news is I have so few things it all fits into one modest backpack. A couple of changes of clothes, an old Emerian fairy-tale book, my favorite deck of cards with a pair of red iron dice, and a couple of blades.
One last thing…
Once the chest of drawers is empty, I kneel next to it and wedge my shoulder against it. A tiny shove is all it takes.
Carefully, I push the corner of a wooden plank in the floor and it pops open on the other side.
For a split second before I lift it, my heart stumbles. What if someone was here and discovered my hiding place?
Relief floods me when I push the wooden plank aside and find the leather bags of frade right where I left them.
“Thank the spirits of the gods,” I mutter under my breath.
Quickly, I pack the money into my backpack and put everything back in place.
After I’m done, I give one last glance around the humble room.
I definitely won’t miss it.
I’m out the door without hesitation. Before heading back to the castle, I need to bathe.
Thankfully the bathhouse I always go to in Kozem is open twenty-four seven, and when I arrive it’s almost empty.
It’s always quiet here at this hour of the night. Most criminals bathe in early mornings or gather here during the day for meetings and networking.
The old fae woman who runs this place stands behind the counter. Once she sees me, she smiles. No questions about my ragged appearance or fresh bruises.
We exchange a couple of pleasantries and I pay for the entrance.
She always loved me.
Once she even told me I’m her favorite.
I head for the changing rooms where I stuff my backpack into a locker and lock it. Wrapped only in a towel, I head for the bathroom.
It’s humid and steamy inside. Only a couple of lone fae linger in the large round stone baths carved into the earthen floors.
I find the one empty bath in the corner, toss my towel aside, and climb in.
“Ahhh, fuck me,” I groan, my body tingling with pleasure.
I can’t help myself.
The feeling of warm water on my naked, aching skin is just too good.
Slowly, I settle in one of the seats and stretch my arms over the edge.
Do you mind?! Nix snaps at me.
Oh, hi, darling, I purr at her. Am I interrupting something?
No fucking shit. I’m trying to sleep before tomorrow’s early trip, she grumbles.
Immediately, my mind conjures the image of Nix alone, in her massive Ezkai General bed…
Snap out of it, I scold myself.
Nix snorts inside my mind. Yeah.
The very tips of my ears burn. I’m glad she can’t see my face now. But let’s see if she can see something else…
I know what could help you sleep, I say to her in my mind.
A beat of silence.
Really? she deadpans.
I chuckle.
I look down at my naked chest, the spread-eagle tattoo and tops of my abs showing above the water. How does this mind connection work exactly? Can I send her, like…visuals?
I focus my attention on trying to push the image through our connection to Nix.
At first, I don’t think it’s working. But then…
Nix gasps inside my mind.
Hah, got it!
JAX! Nix snaps at me.
Of course she snaps instead of appreciating the visual.
I asked you not to fuck around tonight, she says, her voice wavering. Is that too fucking much?!
Aww, she’s just jealous.
She thinks I’m about to sleep with someone.
Darling, I’m in a bathhouse, I say, smug as a cat who just got into a barrel of cream.
Nix falls dead silent. Then: Oh.
I snicker to myself.
Shut up! she snaps. Enjoy your fucking bath, and for future reference, don’t send me images of—of naked bodies. Bye!
I sense the connection between our minds shut closed. It’s still there, but it’s as if she slammed the door on me.
No more nudes.
Noted. Very noted.