- Posts
- 240
Everything bad went away when Nicolette kissed Celeste. The landlord, his guards, the mage underground, the slavers that had set her on this path in the first place, and the fear of being caught, all vanished as she pressed against the captain, stealing as long a kiss as she could before she needed to surface for air. Celeste was breathing hard too, and Nicolette made a softly mournful sound over the bruises on her neck, asking if they needed to get her some salve.
“Brannigan will have one.” The neck was not the only place injured. Celeste lifted her hand, flexing it – it was obviously causing her more pain than the marks on her throat. Nicolette felt another sting of guilt that she had dragged Celeste into this, and if picking up on that Celeste immediately switched the focus to her. “You? Things went sideways pretty fast in there.”
Nicolette let out a long breath. “Possibly I should not have taken the task, although when I heard of what he was up to, there was little chance of my refusing. I could not have left it with a clear conscience. And…I am sorry you got hurt on my behalf.” Nicolette turned her head to brush another kiss to Celeste’s palm, offering a small smile. “I am glad you were there, though. And it was not the worst situation I have been in by a few measures.”
She was not as shaken as she would have expected. Whether it was that she was gaining experience or because of the company, she was not sure, but she was inclined to believe the latter. Celeste had a way of making her feel a little more self-assured that she did not fully understand.
In their flight, the amber pendant that Celeste had given her had come loose from her shirt. She decided not to tuck it back out of sight, and wound her fingers with the other woman’s as Celeste indicated that they should go. They headed away from the house, which was just fine by Nicolette. “Are you supposed to report back to someone, or are they coming to find you?”
“The messenger said that if I were to find anything, I should take it to a dead drop on Armourer’s Row. I think it best if I take it now. I would rather not run the risk that he sends his goons after us after all and they catch up while we are still carrying it.” Nicolette did not untangle her fingers from Celeste’s yet. “Although – would it make more sense to leave a message saying we have it, and keep it on us for the moment? I do not know who would be watching the drop point.”
“Brannigan will have one.” The neck was not the only place injured. Celeste lifted her hand, flexing it – it was obviously causing her more pain than the marks on her throat. Nicolette felt another sting of guilt that she had dragged Celeste into this, and if picking up on that Celeste immediately switched the focus to her. “You? Things went sideways pretty fast in there.”
Nicolette let out a long breath. “Possibly I should not have taken the task, although when I heard of what he was up to, there was little chance of my refusing. I could not have left it with a clear conscience. And…I am sorry you got hurt on my behalf.” Nicolette turned her head to brush another kiss to Celeste’s palm, offering a small smile. “I am glad you were there, though. And it was not the worst situation I have been in by a few measures.”
She was not as shaken as she would have expected. Whether it was that she was gaining experience or because of the company, she was not sure, but she was inclined to believe the latter. Celeste had a way of making her feel a little more self-assured that she did not fully understand.
In their flight, the amber pendant that Celeste had given her had come loose from her shirt. She decided not to tuck it back out of sight, and wound her fingers with the other woman’s as Celeste indicated that they should go. They headed away from the house, which was just fine by Nicolette. “Are you supposed to report back to someone, or are they coming to find you?”
“The messenger said that if I were to find anything, I should take it to a dead drop on Armourer’s Row. I think it best if I take it now. I would rather not run the risk that he sends his goons after us after all and they catch up while we are still carrying it.” Nicolette did not untangle her fingers from Celeste’s yet. “Although – would it make more sense to leave a message saying we have it, and keep it on us for the moment? I do not know who would be watching the drop point.”