Dark Dealings by Kim Knox Read Free Book Online Page B

of their victims.”
    Ava held back a wince. It was little wonder that everyone shied away from her. “How many victims?”
    “Four.”
    “And their trades?”
    “A knife-grinder, a pothawker, a dustman and a challoner.”
    Ava frowned. “The unnoticed, people in the shadows, in the crowd.” The faceless people who could slip even into the palace, where their skills were needed. “And there are no others?”
    “Not that the Left Hand can find.” Reist paused. “Not yet anyway.”
    Ava stared at the desk, tracing out the grain of the wood, focusing her thoughts. It hit her that she’d have to report to Heyerdar. Fuck.
    “Ava?”
    She jerked her head up, feeling the heat in her face. “What?”
    “You have a problem?”
    You’re fucking someone who isn’t me. She pulled her thoughts in, glad he couldn’t read them. She tilted her head, trying to see if her illusion or Fallon’s dream had affected him...but nothing was obvious. He was calm, no hint of tiredness around his eyes or pulling at his skin. Though Reist could go days without sleep, so that was no sign. She remembered his question. “No, no problem.” She could test him though. “Who do I report to in the Guard?”
    “This has the highest priority.” Reist looked down at his scroll and Ava resisted the urge to lift her eyebrows. His eyes narrowed, but he wasn’t reading from the thin parchment. Reist had an excellent memory. His action was a delay. “Captain Nahum Heyerdar.”
    His voice took on an odd note with Heyerdar’s last name, something strained. Nothing obvious, but as the elemental had pointed out, the Institute paid for her ears. Had Fallon woken with the captain’s name on her lips? Worse—or better, said it in a moment of passion?
    Ava pressed her lips together to stop the wicked smile. “The elemental.”
    “Yes.” Reist dropped the scroll. Now there was a pinch of unease around his eyes. “Elementals are old magic. They don’t bind themselves to the same rules as high magic users.” His expression changed to something she couldn’t quite read, something that appeared to be caution with a hint of...was that concern? His hand lifted as if to point to her, but he picked up a pen instead. “He has no love for mages.”
    One particular mage, no. Again, more unsaid words. The lack of honesty with Reist was new and she didn’t like it. She winced and let him think it was a reaction to his words. “I’m not a mage.”
    “No.” He was still holding something back. A slight flush colored his cheeks. “You are...untouched.”
    The memory of Heyerdar’s mouth, his body, the hard dig of his fingers into her hips, surged over her. The laugh burst out unexpectedly. “Hardly!”
    Reist sat forward. “Who?”
    She hesitated and tried to tamp down the little excited flutter in her belly. That sharp edge to his voice? Was that a touch of jealousy? “We share most things, but I’m not comfortable...” She twisted in her seat and looked down for a brief second. She caught his expression when she looked up. Shock. Not jealousy, just plain disbelief. Why was this man twisted around her heart? His reaction stung her into speaking. “Am I not allowed to be touched?”
    He blinked. Twice. “Your life is your own...”
    “But?”
    The mask fall over his features, professional and calm. “Heyerdar is dangerous. He likes to manipulate people, use them. Your—” his fingers did wave at her now, “— experience ...will protect you from his worse aspects, but never trust him.”
    “How can I work with him if I can’t trust him?”
    “Professionally, you can. Don’t step beyond that boundary.”
    Had she missed something? Had whatever happened between Reist and Heyerdar escaped even her? Or had Fallon said why she’d run from the elemental? A fist tightened in her gut. Ava had existed in a happy state of ignorance. Now, she had to push...and force herself to say the damn woman’s name. “Does this lack of trust concern you and