am I d

, anyhow. She fell into step a few feet behind him, not too close, in case he should get

ted a little and shook her head. But she did not need the fancy

ch he passed to check for any signs of danger. He blundered straight ahead, his

er. This young socialite was sure to have money. Even if not, she could order him to strip to his undergarments. T

receive from making him strip to his skivvies. Vix shook

ix dropped her eyes to the ground. She kept them there for several seconds before she

tered like a pane of thin glass. It was hard not to be taken in by

o an alley before he realized what was going on. Vix let her hand drop in

an alley. It was now or never. She willed h

man walked briskly past the al

ind was refusing to cooperate with her

between the two of them in three step

O

ll, skinning her palm. She threw a quick, wide-e

t. A wave of heat rose in her cheeks as

s strong and clear. Ah, but his eyes! Beautiful, but care-worn, lined with dark shadows beneath. T

older than the res

odd reminiscence, as though

elf. 'Blood and powder, this is go

f sudden annoyance getting the better of her, spoiling

e extended a hand and hauled her quite uncerem

She closed her eyes slowly, raging at her stupidity, bef

He stuck his hands into hi

rself, just like nearly everyone in the slums, but she was sure that this

his head. “

think of anything to say. Sweat began to gather on her arms and the

ift motion as she fell, just as she had practiced a thousand times before.

s of her ragged shirt. But one fal

ay!' she screamed at herself. 'Ge

ound shoulders, “if that’s all.” Th

n disbelief. 'What a rude little rat!' Neve

nce again. Despite her success, she felt unsatisf

stared another second at Caine’s retreating b

Wait, p

lt, looking back at

as no turning back now. She stopped in f

asked, look

was right. His whole body tensed up at once. He looked like a corn

d brusquely, recovering himsel

ad, outside the city. She had barely caught more than a look at h

so. I came into the city only last night.

going toward the city. You

back again. “Yes. I... I had to return for something. I left

tincts told her that he was lying. She narrowed her e

,” Caine s

nything unusual?

ckly. At once, he reddene

tly. “You could see the blaze for miles. How d

er blooming across his face. “I do

, so quiet she might have been speaking to herself. “It was only minutes aft

d. It was outright fear she saw now. They stared silently

ood day,” he threw back over his shoulder. Wi