In the Shadow of the Goddess (Book 1 of The Fallen Gods Trilogy)

CHAPTER TWENTY

Jill scrambled for a weapon—a lamp, a baseball bat, a can of mace—and hit her thigh on the bedside table. Swearing, she rubbed at the spot and lurched to the right, hitting a chair next. The room was too dark. Who was there with her? The shadow man? What, and he'd jumped out of her dream? Impossible.

"Who's here?" Jill shrieked. "Tell me who the hell you are right now!"

"My lady, please calm down. You've nothing to worry about," came the voice. A woman's: deep, raspy with age, and the tone absolutely no-nonsense.

A lantern flared to life. Jill blinked, momentarily blinded, before she was able to put a face to the voice.

Plump and elderly, the woman wore her graying brown hair pulled back in a severe bun. Her maroon dress was of a plain, scratchy looking material, and buttoned to her throat. The white apron over it was bleached and starched within an inch of its life. She sniffed regally and regarded Jill as a general might survey her troops.

"I am Clarine and have served the Duchess for well over ten years. She's sent me to attend you while you're a guest in her home. She asked that I wake you and see to your needs."

"My needs? Her guest? I just lay down a second ago."

"You've slept the day away. It's evening. My lady was concerned as to how long you've been abed."

"Evening? That's crazy." Jill hobbled to the drapes and threw them open. A pitch-black sky dotted with starlight greeted her. Below, she could make out the street lamps shining brightly on the street. "I need to go! Rafe's going to be pissed for making Brexten wait for me—"

"The Prince is gone. He left hours ago."

"What?" Jill whirled to stare at her. "What do you mean gone? Gone where?"

"Forgive me for saying so, but if he wanted you to know, I suspect he wouldn't have left you here."

Jill sat with a hard thud on the window seat. Would Brexten really abandon her? No, he must have gone to the safe house. And left her with Geniece? Why? Or, had he left her to sleep and she was supposed to make her way back on her own? Or...God, I can't think. What am I supposed to do now?

"Did he say anything? I can't imagine he'd just leave me here."

Clarine gave her a narrow-eyed, suspicious look. "There's no need for schoolgirl melodrama. No woman should dither so helplessly over any man, Prince or no."

The words were as good as a slap and Jill fought to pull herself together.

"Is anyone else here then?" she asked, prodding herself to think beyond Brexten. Or, am I completely on my own?

"The Sahen'chi remained behind. He claimed it his duty to stay with you, though I'm not certain as to the wisdom that idea."

Thank God! Perren! "I want to see him. I need to make sure—"

"If my lady will forgive me for saying so, I would suggest bathing first. The bathing room is through that door there." She gestured at some point behind Jill.

Jill barely spared a glance. "No, I want to see him first. I have to make sure he's all right, or if he knows where Brexten went. I—"

"I've been assured the lad isn't going anywhere. In fact, he's tucked in rather nicely in a room down the hall, seeing to his own comforts."