Such merciful people stood no chance in Kosín. The thought made her want to protect him. Yet he knew her name, her profession, and the details of her crimes. Especially now, without Kohl’s protection, Ryuu could easily have her arrested. She still had to kill him and his brother to protect herself.

Aina didn’t like to use guns. Aside from how they reminded her of her parents, they were too cowardly, too impersonal, too distanced from the one you were murdering. But to kill Ryuu, she might need a gun.

20

They soon reached the southernmost edge of the Stacks. A strong stench of refuse carried toward them from the old ports and crumbling ferry buildings lining the edge of the river. The docks here weren’t used for trading anymore, as that had moved farther north along the western riverfront, but the barges carrying bodies to be buried south in mass graves near old diamond mines still docked here at night. Some of the scent still clung to the air in the daytime.

Aina’s nerves settled, and her fear of Tannis coming after her slowly turned to anger at herself. Maybe it had been smart to let her go and avoid Kohl’s wrath, or maybe it had been stupid. She’d hesitated once when she’d failed to kill Ryuu at his mansion, and now again with failing to kill Tannis. Tannis would only come after her again, and more confidently now that she knew Aina would hesitate before killing her—something Kohl had taught her to never do.

While they walked, Ryuu asked, “I know you had to defend yourself back there, but did you really think she would kill you? I mean, you used to work together, right?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Considering she tried to slice through my neck, I think it’s safe to say she wanted to kill me. Now that I think about it, maybe I want to kill her too. She never once called me by my name, always ‘street child’ or something. And she always took the poisons I brewed without even asking. I should have tried to get rid of her earlier.”

The words felt traitorous even as she spoke them, traitorous to the only home and family she’d really known. Besides, she’d liked Tannis and had considered her a friend even if they didn’t always get along. But now Tannis was the one trying to take her job from her and kill her in the process.

Ryuu’s previous look of concern turned to mild disgust. “You’re a very brutal person, did you know that?”

“To you, maybe. I think I’m rather calm and gentle.” Teo laughed aloud at that. “Shut up, Teo, you’re not in this conversation.”

As they walked the muddy streets, Aina had to give Ryuu some credit. He didn’t glance around with wide eyes like yesterday, and he kept his gaze forward. But he still had that strolling gait rich people used to show they could buy the entire street they walked upon. Nascent confidence was in every casual footstep, every movement that showed how pitifully unaware he was of his surroundings.