Bounty Hunter (The Black Tulip Chronicles #1)

Vera

I ’ve heard Moneyre is a beautiful city—too bad it’s the home of the High King and I’ll be stuck there for the next two days.

I’ll admit it. I messed up.

I cringe thinking about attempting to explain my recent choices to Tatania, the leader of the Black Tulips, also known as the Queens of the Night. But if things go well from here on out I won’t have to. I still won’t need the dratted bracelet that costs an exorbitant amount of money to keep me anonymous, and no one will know that I took a very lucrative contract offered by a man that I was eighty-five percent sure wasn’t a criminal before I found out that he’s actually a high-ranking officer of the High King. While that would make most women feel safe, for me, I would have preferred he admitted he actually was the Class A criminal I believed he was.

And see, this is where it gets tricky. I’ve been told, and I’ve spoken oaths with the Black Tulips, to never work for the High King, his officers, or anyone close to him because of the danger it presents to the Black Tulips who are still in hiding after being hunted down and killed by the High King and his Originators over two hundred years ago. Now, we’re mostly forgotten, and we’d like to keep it that way. I’ve never heard anyone mention our name aside from stories people tell children to scare them. That is, until a little over a week ago when Ikar handed me a list of the Black Tulips with seven of our names on it, including mine. I promptly doused it in hot tea, and I hope it’s gone forever. He asked me about it once, but I expertly dodged his questions. I can only hope he doesn’t bring it up again.

We left Mama Tina’s two days ago and should reach Moneyre late tonight or early tomorrow. The shock of Ikar’s revelation has worn off a bit—numbed would be a better description. I was angry with him at first, but it only makes me look more suspicious, and I’ve already signed the contract. I decided two hours into my anger that it would be better for me to focus on being as normal as possible rather than throwing a fit about his status.

So, here we are. Friends again. Friends that shared a spectacular kiss the night before leaving Mama Tina’s and haven’t spoken of it once. I won’t be the one to bring it up now that I know for sure we can’t ever be together like that. The thought saddens me more than I care to admit. I’ve grown so fond of Ikar these past days that I can say for certain I’ve never felt anything stronger for another man, but I refuse to look closer on those feelings when they are forbidden. I must not be the only one who knows distance between us is necessary… Ikar has kept a polite and gentlemanly distance since that night. My cheeks flush at the thought, I hope he’s not regretful, at least.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when Ikar tugs the hood of his cloak over his head, draping his handsome features in shadows. Rupi peeks from within, huddled near his neck, and I purse my lips as she turns her head and one sassy black eye meets mine. She still favors him even after he admitted that he’s a high officer, and I can’t quite forgive her for that yet.

I watch him with a raised brow. “What are you doing?” We’re still at least three hours from the city, and we’ve passed maybe two other travelers.

“Attempting to enter the city without recognition,” he says as we begin walking again and he makes further, careful adjustments to his hood.

“For a supposed law-abiding citizen you’re acting blazing suspicious.” I lift a brow.

“I’d prefer to reach the castle without being stopped. I’m well known in this city, and the charm I used to hide my identity has likely worn off.”

Well known for magic-siphoning and other under-handed deals with the fae like he pretended at Mama Tina’s? Or a high officer like he said he was?

“You really are a criminal aren’t you?” Better that than an officer for the High King. A girl can hope.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but for the thousandth time, no . I am not a criminal.” He says it in that matter-of-fact deep voice of his, and I have to believe he’s being truthful. He continues to adjust the hood until it shadows his face to his liking.

When he’s finished, all I can see is his strong jaw covered in a day’s growth of beard. But I think that even if I saw him covered in his cloak, I’d recognize his confident stride, broad shoulders, and height. He’s not one to be easily disguised, the way his confident presence nearly radiates off him, but I don’t share my thoughts.

“So you admit to using a charm all this time.”

His hood shifts and I know he looks my way, likely gauging if I’m upset with him again .

“They don’t work on me, you know.” I divulge the secret. I’d bet all the money I make on this contract that no one knows that small, almost useless, detail about the Black Tulips.

I sense his surprise. “…and you didn’t recognize me?” His tone is very careful.

“Should I?” I laugh. “You’re just a high officer, not the king . Even then, I’ve never seen him, so I guess I wouldn’t know.” I shrug with a laugh.

I can’t see much of anything beneath his cloak, but I can definitely see the muscles of his jaw clench—a sign I’ve hit a nerve. Does he really think he’s so important that commoners such as myself would recognize one of the High King’s glorified soldiers? He needs to leave Moneyre more.

The closer we get to the High Kingdom, the busier the road becomes, and few words are exchanged between Ikar and I. Then, the well-traveled path becomes neatly laid cobblestones and is teeming with people. My nerves begin to tingle with anxiety the closer we get, knowing Tatania would choke if she could see me now. It feels so rebellious.

Then the forbidden city is before us, and I see tall, gilded iron gates that stand open with guards in pristine uniforms watching carefully as crowds of people come and go in a constant rush. Ikar leans close to me, and his hand suddenly finds mine. I feel him press a folded parchment in my palm. “Go there and give them this. I’ll send word.”

I look down, still getting jostled by the movement around me and open it. All that’s written is, “The Dapper Canary” in fine penmanship, with “on the royal tab” written beneath, followed by Ikar’s signature. And since we don’t have access to parchment or quill and ink, I assume this was written while we were still at Mama Tina’s. When I look up to ask what this is about Ikar is gone. With my only weapon. Well, besides Rupi and her quill feathers, which are currently stabbing into the tender skin of my neck. I’ll admit I feel a little prickly myself at his behavior.

I look all around, turning in a full circle and bumping into other travelers, stumbling when a man with a cart loaded with summer vegetables pushes past, as I try to find him. No way could he have disappeared so quickly, and not only that, why would he? I don’t know what I thought, but I certainly didn’t plan on being separated at the beginning of this contract.

I quickly find my confused behavior has drawn the attention of a few of the guards, so I stuff the paper in my pocket and quickly continue through the gates and into the city. Don’t need trouble with the High King’s law enforcement today.

I still feel miffed that Ikar deserted me, but I’m distracted soon enough. I try to keep my mouth from hanging open in awe as I walk through the large city. Shops of various heights line the winding streets in an orderly fashion. Flowers and vines fill flower boxes and large, decorative pots outside shop doors. Ladies in elegant dresses perch on fancy benches, talking and eating pastries purchased from a nearby bakery that emits smells so delectable my mouth waters. I pass a shop with a swinging wooden sign that has a spool of thread pictured, and two dresses hanging in the large window. Another shop catches my eye, this one with a sword on its sign and its front window featuring an impressive assortment of enchanted weapons. Out of habit, I wonder if their weapon enchanter is in need of an Originator, but within moments I catch myself. I don’t need to keep searching out contracts any longer, this is my last job as an Originator. I mean it this time. Besides, no one will find me working in Moneyre.

I see a group of Originators coming my way on the already crowded sidewalk and instinctively pull my jacket a little tighter around me, protecting the secrecy of the mark at the base of my neck. Rupi offers a disgruntled hum and a slight poke in the neck with her quill feathers before she settles again on my shoulder beside my braid. The Originators pass, one of their stark white skirts brushing against my tall leather boots. While I hire myself out as an Originator, no one would know it since I dress in mostly dark greens, browns, and black. Working under the facade of being an Originator has been necessary for me to survive, but while the lie has helped me find work, the Originators are the ones who started the rumors about Black Tulips years ago that got them hunted down and killed. I’ve never loved what I’ve had to do to survive.

I may not be planning to pay the Black Tulips any longer, but I still need money, and Ikar offered a contract so enticing I couldn’t resist taking him up on the offer.

And that brings me to why I’m poor as dirt and in this city that is somewhat dangerous for me to linger in. My best friend and fellow Black Tulip, Renna, ran into money trouble and couldn’t pay the dues required by the Black Tulips to keep her bracelet active. I ended up taking a risky, dangerous job, which I didn’t end up getting paid for since I didn’t deliver the criminal. Instead, I’m working for the man I arrested, Ikar, who I was told was a Class A criminal, but be assured, he’s not. Instead, he insists he’s a high-ranking officer in the High King’s army. Which, in my opinion, is infinitely worse. But my traitorous heart likes him, enough to wish that the incredible kiss we shared wouldn’t be the last. But people like him don’t court people like me. Apparently, though, I enjoy torturing myself because I went ahead and signed a contract to work for him.

I gave Renna my savings to offer her the protection of the Black Tulips that means so much to her… and decided I don’t need the bracelet or anonymity it offers any longer for myself. Es pecially while I’m on a remote mission in the dangerous and gloam-infested Lucent Mountains. What are the chances I’ll meet the High King? I nearly snort right there on the street. It’s ridiculous the way Tatania and the other Black Tulips have scared us all these years, and I’m over it. The money was due by today, so I expect something to happen to my bracelet soon. Maybe it’ll break, or maybe it’ll just stop working. Maybe it’ll rust and fall off my wrist in dry, brown ashes. I have yet to find out, since not one of the current Tulips has dared allow their bracelets to lapse.

My contract with Ikar will bring in more money than I’ve made in the last two years combined. Our job, to find a simple magical flower for the High King. The drawback… it’s in the Lucent Mountains, a place overrun and occupied by gloam. Not gonna lie, I’m a little nervous. But if I survive, I don’t have to pretend to be an Originator anymore. I’d say that’s a pretty good deal.

Instinct urges me to hurry and find The Dapper Canary, which I assume is an inn or tavern. But another window full of an assortment of items catches my eye, and I backstep until it’s in full view. I hurry and enter the shop, gazing all around. This. This is what I want . I’ve just entered the shop of my dreams. I walk down one of five rows of tall, wooden shelves. I stop part way down and, with an eye of appreciation, pick up a finely engraved compass, turning and opening it before placing it back gently. Then I find a set of dice encased in glass, and gasp when I see they’re made of dragon horn and priced to match. I pass a multitude of other items before I come upon a dainty solid-wood box with the most detailed, tiny bird perched on the edge of its lid. I pick it up and open it, the small hinges moving effortlessly. I don’t think, I simply take it to the counter where a kind young woman wraps it in several layers of paper and ties it up while I count out the last of my money to pay for it. Should I be purchasing things for my future shop? No. Do I have room in my pack? No. Am I still buying the box? I slap the money on the counter. This will be perfect to add to the other things I’ve collected over the years and extra motivation to keep my head on straight during this contract so I can toss off the mask of Originator and open the shop I’ve always dreamed of. And best of all, be free .

The Black Tulip Chronicles Book Two:

Queen of the Night

…Coming in 2025