Guild of Thieves (Book 1) ✓

𝓒𝓱.5 ~ 𝓤𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓾𝓲𝓽

Arianna woke early the next morning making sure no one followed her as she made her way to the old mill factory outside of the kingdom. She took a deep breath in before she knocked on the door, greeted by a familiar, friendly face.

"Arianna what are you doin' here?" Doug asked with a smile and a look of surprise.

"I have changed my mind on your offer...I want to join the Guild." Arianna said the words before she could change her mind.

"Come in! I'll take you to see Caine!" Doug said as he closed the door behind them.

Arianna was surprised to find the place packed with thieves she knew and sometimes seen as patients. They greeted her as she passed, Doug led her up a set of stairs to a smaller room. Inside Caine sat behind a desk doing paperwork, his face lit up at the sight of her.

"Arianna!? What brings you here?"

"You two know each other?" Doug asked, looking down at Caine's bandaged ankle. "Nevermind."

He left them alone in the room together, and Arianna couldn't stop the blush as she remembered their kiss. Caine rose from his seat rounding the table, and bowed before her. She giggled like a young girl, leaning down to curtsy back.

"Can I show you around the Guild?" Caine asked offering his arm.

She linked hers through his, and looked into his grey eyes and said. "That would be nice, because I wanted to join you."

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This news shocked Caine, but he was happy to hear because they could use a healer around the Guild and he would be delighted to spend more time with Arianna. He wanted to see her, but didn't know how to talk to her after making a fool of himself being drunk. If she joined them then he would have every opportunity to talk to her.

During the tour of the factory, Arianna explained that she was indeed a thief but not like the rest of them, including Caine. She explained her passion for healing, wanting to make a difference in the world, and how she gathered medicinal plants from the forest illegally and sometimes stole medicine from the rich. Caine was actually surprised and intrigued by the healer woman., wanting to know everything about her.

"That's why I came here...I was hoping if I joined, I could have some help gathering more supplies to stock at the Apothecary." Arianna admitted as they stopped at the balcony overlooking the lobby and main room.

"Of course! I will ask Digger and a couple of the others to assist you. Anything you need, just ask."

Caine watched the smile grow on her angelic face, making him smile too. She was beautiful and interesting. He wanted to do whatever he could to see her smile like that again.

"I forgot to show you to your chambers!" Caine realised, starting to head to the lower area.

"I won't be staying here...I have my stone cottage in the kingdom." She said, not looking at him and added. "But I will be here whenever I am needed."

"Oh..." Is all he could say, hoping she would live at the factory with him and the others. "Well, there's always a room available here if you ever change your mind."

"Thank you Caine." She said, finally looking him in the eyes.

He couldn't help himself, kissing her on the balcony for all the others to see. At first Arianna fought against him but eventually kissed him back as the fight left her body. The thieves below them cheered and wolf whistled, and Arianna's face turned bright red when they pulled apart. He kissed her again.