Guild of Thieves (Book 1) ✓

𝓒𝓱.1 ~ 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓮𝓯 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓻

"Thief!"
"Somebody stop him!"
"Don't lose sight of him!"

Caine chuckled to himself as he dodged and weaved through crowds of people. Barging through a group of rich folk, he ignored the disapproving stares and cuss words shouted at him, grinning when they noticed that the elderly woman's golden bracelet was missing. Caine quickly tucked the bracelet into his pocket so he could scale up the side of a nearby building. He continued to run and leap on the rooftops of Arondale to outrun his pursuers. He could hear the Guards as they climbed onto the rooftop after him, their heavy armour slowing them down.

Gaining speed, Caine jumped into an empty alleyway below, running left and right to confuse the Guards who followed him in hot pursuit. He quickly leapt through a small window, hiding out of sight just in time as the men ran past still searching for him.

He laughed to himself, tapping the bags filled with gold concealed in his pockets. Today was a good haul, eager to see what rewards tomorrow would bring. Suddenly Caine felt a sharp point pressing into his lower back.

"What are you doing in my shop?" A young woman asked as she held a blade against his back.

Turning slowly, Caine was greeted by the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. With her dark wavy hair and heart shaped face, she looked like an angel in his eyes.

"You're beautiful..." He said, rendered speechless by the woman's beauty.

"I didn't ask you if I looked beautiful, did I? I asked what you are doing in my shop?" The woman answered not falling for his charms, pushing the blade a little deeper.

"That you did." Caine smiled, raising his hands in the air to show her that he meant no harm. "If you really must know...I am hiding from the King's Guards who are looking for me."

The woman didn't lower her weapon, instead twisted it a little deeper and harder into his back. "Are you planning to steal my medicine supplies because you're a thief?"

She glanced down at his bulging pockets with a raised brow.

"Unless it's gold, shiny, beautiful or of value to me...I don't consider it worth my time." Caine replied.

It was the truth. Medicine was the last thing he would try to steal, unless he was injured, ill or in desperate need of treatment. Gold and jewellery were his main objectives, which made him a lot of wealth when sold to the right buyer.

"So...is this the part where you hand me over to the Guards and earn some easy gold for yourself?" He asked, feeling the sting from the blade digging into his skin.

The woman remained silent for what felt like eternity until she finally answered Caine.

"As tempting as your offer is for easy gold, I'm going to have to decline." She removed the weapon, taking a step backwards. "You are free to go."

"Just like that?" Caine asked, dumbfounded.

If it were anyone else they would have handed him in for the rewards of capturing a thief. So why isn't she?

"Just like that." The young woman replied. "First times free but next time, I won't be so kind. Now leave. I want no trouble with the King's Guards or you."

Caine didn't want to push his luck with the woman, already in debt owing her for her kindness.

"Do I get the pleasure of knowing your name?" He asked, having to put a name to her beautiful heart shaped face.

"Do I get to know yours first? Since you're the one who so rudely climbed in through my shop window!" She smiled at him as she concealed the blade in her dress skirt.