Free Lost in You by Alix Rickloff

she would put back with Conor none the wiser. She tugged at it, but if it had been difficult getting on, it was impossible to remove. Perhaps some lard or grease would loosen it. The tavern’s kitchen could provide that easily enough.
    “Ysbel?” Conor mumbled. His dull gaze swept the room.
    “Ellery?”
    She closed her hand over the pearl, hiding her arm behind her back. She had hoped he’d stay asleep until she had spoken with Mr. Kay. “Feeling better? I’ve ordered some broth. I’m just going downstairs to see about it.”
    He wiped a hand down his face, grimacing as he tried to sit up. “Not going out like that, are you?”
    “Unless you want to lend me your breeches and boots. It’s fine. I’ve done it once already. Your coat hides everything.”
    He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “You obviously haven’t seen yourself if you’ve come to that conclusion.”
    “You mustn’t be that sick. You’re still as nasty as ever,” she snapped.
    He fought to rise, but just rolling onto his side sent him groaning for the pail. Ellery winced at the retching that went on and on, long after Conor fell back exhausted into bed.
    “Mage…mage sickness…never like this…never so much.” His words faded out as he closed his eyes.
    “I’m sending Mr. Kay for a doctor.”
    But he was already asleep. And she hadn’t even thought to ask him if he had any money.
    She opened her hand, staring down at the stone in her palm. She would explain once they were back on the road. He would laugh and praise her resourcefulness, and all would be forgiven.
    At least that’s what she told herself over and over as she sought out Mr. Kay.
    Ellery assessed the situation from the bottom step. The innkeeper stood behind a counter, wiping down glasses while he watched a darts game. The man who’d interceded for them earlier sat at a corner table, an untouched pint in front of him.
    Mr. Kay glanced up. Catching sight of her, he stiffened, his face falling into long lines of displeasure. But when she gestured him over, he came.
    “I need you to go for the doctor.” Sudden inspiration struck.
    “Lord Bligh is ill.”
    The title didn’t lessen the belligerence in Mr. Kay’s face. “His lordship got the money?”
    “Something better.” She opened her fist, showing off the pearl.
    “What’ll I do with something like that?”
    “Sell it. Trade it. I don’t know. Whatever you like, I expect.”
    “They’ll think I stole it. They’ll be questions.”
    “I can’t help your neighbors’ distrustful natures. It’s all I have.”
    “I knew it,” he answered as if she’d just confirmed his worst ideas about her. “What’s that? On your finger there.”
    “This? A ring. It’s a bit stuck. I’ll need some grease.”
    “I’ll take that for your doctor call.” She caught her hand to her chest. “You can’t have it. It’s not mine to give you.”
    “Not yours? Stole it, did you? I knew it,” he repeated.
    “It’s been in Lord Bligh’s family for generations. It’s quite dear.”
    He grabbed her wrist, studying the ring. “A mite small, but my daughter’s wanting a bit of sparkle.”
    She snatched her hand away. “I said it’s not part of the deal.”
    He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression hardening. “No ring, no doctor.”
    Ellery thought of Conor upstairs. She thought of the battle at the cottage. The claws, the teeth, the weapons. And even if she didn’t carry the scars, she remembered the pain.
    She fingered the hidden dagger. Who was she fooling? It would be like trying to fight a tiger with a table fork. Ellery made up her mind. It was the ring or her, and it wasn’t as if Conor’s sister was going to ask for it back.
    She held out her hand to shake on it. “Very well. I’ll need some—”
    Mr. Kay grabbed her by the wrist and with one painful wrench tore the ring from her.
    “Grease,” she finished, rubbing her injured finger. “You could have given me a bit of warning. I use that