Unfortunately for me, the little town of Rodenwhal did not seem to have much in the way of riches. The painted houses were plain and chipped. The people seemed kind and not as well off. I sighed beneath my cowl and reluctantly stole away to the inn’s stable to take Charis out without anyone noticing. I was a shadow, indistinguishable from the trees and buildings beneath the night sky, and the poor stable hand was sure to have a fright if he caught me, but thankfully, he seemed preoccupied with whoever just arrived while I made my way to the horses.

I walked Charis out quietly, smiling beneath the black fabric as my smart horse practically tiptoed her way out of the stable. Then, the moment I knew I was too far to be pursued, I leaped onto her back and released a quiet, excited giggle the moment her hoofs beat ferociously against the ground beneath us. We kept going until the woods that cloaked us gave way to a massive estate with a wrought iron gate.

I tied off Charis and hid her away in the last line of trees while Onyx made herself comfortable on my shoulder. As I crept toward the barrier, I was as silent as the cool wind blowing against the rustling grass, then I cursed under my breath when my stomach grumbled loudly. I forgot to eat before leaving again.

“I’m no thief, but it seems unwise to permit your own stomach to betray you.”

I spun around and whipped out my sword. Anger bubbled within my stomach as my hammering heart betrayed me. “What do you want, Theodore?” I snarled, glaring at him with as much venom and murderous intent as I could muster. “How did you find me again?”

He smirked. His hands were behind his back, and his cool, silver eyes were completely unfazed by the sword still pointing at him. “I don’t intend to fight you, Mouse.”

“Cat.”

His lips quivered as a frown tried to appear, but he forced his smile to remain. “Sorry, Cat. I just couldn’t help but notice someone running off with your horse in the middle of the night.” He tilted his head to the side. “I couldn’t have a thief getting away with one of my patrons' horses, so it was only fitting I pursued.”

I let my sword arm fall and pulled my cowl off my face. “Patrons? Of all the inns we stopped at, you own that one?” Frustration turned to bile, and I was certain if my stomach wasn’t empty, I’d throw up. “Unbelievable,” I groaned, sliding my sword back into my harness.

The moment I did, Theodore took a few more steps toward me. “What are you doing in Opoulsios?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” I scoffed, turning my back on him to continue searching the fence for a weak spot.

“I would. That’s why I asked,” he replied amusedly.

I rolled my eyes. “Why did you follow me, Theodore? Surely, you knew it was me taking my horse out.”

“I had to be sure.”

I shook my head just as my stomach grumbled again. This was pointless. There was no way I could sneak into this estate tonight. I needed to find an easier target and maybe snag a few berries from a farm along the way. “You’ve discovered it’s me. You may leave now.”

“You seem hungry. Do you still barely eat, despite the clear need to do so?”

I groaned and rested my head against the cold, metal bar. “Why are you doing this, Theodore?”

He stopped for a moment. His gaze softened a bit, and his face fell as his guard temporarily slipped. “Because I missed you, Mouse. And it would seem that fate had greater plans for us than a mere chance meeting in Penichros after all these years.”

“‘Fate,’” I scoffed. “Is it fate, or are you following me?”

Theo flashed a cheeky grin, and I kicked myself for allowing my heart to flutter. “I had no intention of finding you again. It truly was a coincidence when I saw you at the inn at Midwaden a few weeks ago. But I must admit, when I heard about a woman with magenta eyes arriving at one of my inns, I had to come see if it was really you. I never expected to find you again, especially here in Opoulsios.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t expect you to, Mouse. I have a hard time believing me, as well.”

My eyes stung with unshed tears. That name. That blasted nickname. It brings me right back and makes me miss him even more than I already do. “You have to stop calling me that.”

He grunted and ran his fingers through his black hair. “I did it again? I didn’t even realize. I’m sorry, truly.”

My stomach growled again.

“Might you do me the honor of permitting me to purchase you a meal?” Theo chuckled.

I crossed my arms. “No. If you hadn’t noticed, though I’m sure you did. I’m busy.”

“Thievery doesn’t seem very taxing, though that stomach may cause you more trouble than you’d prefer.”

“What would you know, Theodore?”

“Enough.” His head tilted to the side, and amusement filled those silver eyes that seemed to search for a way to read my very soul. “What is it you wish to steal?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“I’m not concerned in the slightest. I merely ask because I might happen to know an obnoxiously rich noble who often carries far more money than he needs.”

My eyes lit up with curiosity, and I scolded myself the moment Theo’s smile told me he noticed. I closed my eyes and released a long breath through my nose. “Who might this ‘noble’ be? An enemy of the Council?”

Amusement filled his gaze. “You could say that.”

I bit my lip and looked up at the night sky. Onyx watched me curiously from her place on my shoulder. “What’s in it for you? Are you wanting me to kill this person?”

Theo shook his head. “Though, I don’t think he’d mind if you did. I’m not sending you on a goose chase, Cat, nor do I wish to use your services. I merely wish to help you.”

“Who is it?” I sighed.

“It’s me, Cat.” He grinned. “The rich noble is me.”

I shot him a glare that was only met with more amusement. “I’m not taking your money, Theodore.”

“You can fight me for it if you want.”

I took a step back and just stared at him. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

“Well, I won’t take your money, Theo.”

“Why not? You did in Penichros.”

“I didn’t know it was you!” Onyx flew off my shoulder when I yelled, and I quickly slapped my hands over my mouth. I ran into the shadows of the trees for cover just in case anyone inside the estate heard me. “I’m a thief. I’m not some charity case,” I whispered harshly as he followed me.

“I don’t consider you a charity case, Caterina. I merely wish to help, if not you, the poor people you’re trying to steal from. A thief in the same town as one of my inns is bad for business.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, if you hadn’t noticed, Mr. Innkeeper, we aren’t in Rodenwhal. Those people are—” I shut my mouth. Why in the heavens am I sharing so much?

He raised an eyebrow. “They’re what? Not rich enough for your taste? Not part of the Council?”

I bit my lip. “Who I steal from, or what I choose to steal, is none of your business. And if someone I did choose to steal from was part of the Council, I’d usually just kill them. There’s no point in leaving snakes alive.”

Theodore flinched at the last part, but he didn’t push me further. “Well, whatever the case, I seem to fit the categories of your thieving preferences much more than others. Why not just take me up on my offer?”

“Because an offer implies a debt, and I don’t do debts, especially not to a future Kingmaker.”

“Alright,” Theo sighed and backed away just as my stomach rumbled again. “I do wish you’d realize that I’m not your enemy here, Mouse. But I understand why you have trouble seeing it. Perhaps one day, if our lives continue down this path of entangling themselves as they seem intent to do so now, you may learn to trust me again, just as you did before.”

“I wouldn’t count on it, Theo,” I said, swallowing hard to force the lump in my throat down. I fixed my gaze on the grass, focusing on the sound of the wind rustling against it as Theo continued to move away. His steps grew faint. The crunching leaves grew quieter, and the loud clang of coins dropping just before the hooves padded away told me he was finally gone.

Wait.

Coins?

I snapped my head toward the source of the sound and found the leather pouch that contained far more gold coins than I could have hoped to steal in a week. I looked all around, though I knew that silver-eyed boy was nowhere to be seen. “Unbelievable,” I grumbled as I shoved the gold in my own bag.