She usually ignored Bacchus’s jabs, but this time something snapped. Maybe because it was the first time Bacchus had physically touched her, or perhaps Kyra had just kept things bottled up for too long. She earned her keep in the Guild just as Bacchus did. If she ever left, it would be on her terms. She strode toward the group, furious, but stopped when she saw Bacchus’s face. He looked smug, delighted even, that she was reacting. She stopped. What was she going to do, yell at him? Attack him with James watching? She couldn’t fall into his trap. But she also couldn’t let this continue, not if she was going to stay in the Guild. She took a shaky breath, glanced once more at Bacchus, then spun around, heading straight back to James.

“Take me tonight.”

James stopped midsentence and stared at her.

“Take me with you tonight, on the job.”

She expected him to be angry at her interruption, but he gave her his full attention.

“Why?”

“If you’re cracking an armory, you can use me. I’m a thief, remember?”

“You’re supposed to be mapping.”

“I’ll make it up later this week.”

“I won’t pay you extra for this.”

Kyra fought to keep her voice steady. “That in’t a problem.”

James studied her face, then gave a curt nod. She might have imagined it, but he even looked slightly pleased. “Fine. You can come, but don’t get in the way.”

Kyra merged with the rest of the group as they followed James out the door. They moved as a silent unit through the chilly streets, and Kyra focused on the sound of their boots against the gravel. As the cold night air worked itself into her tunic, she found herself wondering what exactly she had volunteered for.

A tall stone building became visible in the distance, and they stopped. A nervous man waited at a street corner. His eyes flitted briefly over the group of assassins as James approached him.

“I tried the key,” said the man. “It didn’t work; they must have changed the locks.”

There was a tense moment of silence. James’s mouth tightened. “The key doesn’t work?”

The man reached into his pocket and took one out. “I tried it last week, and it was fine. I’m sure it was fine.” His voice was shaking. “There were rumors…a raid at the Palace…the new Minister of Defense cracking down….”

Ignoring the man’s ramblings, James handed the key to Bacchus, who took it and disappeared down the street. A few minutes later, he came back, spat on the ground, and shook his head.

“Tell me again,” James asked the man. “The key worked last week, but somehow it doesn’t work now?”

“I swear I tried it,” said the man. “I can get the new one. It should only take a fortnight.”