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Chapter 1 An Unfortunate Meeting

Avae dropped the washcloth back into the basin and pulled her tunic on. She glanced in the mirror and saw that she wasn’t wearing a worn gray tunic. Instead, it was a gorgeous blue embroidered one. The deolisun changed the look of her clothing and made her appear more mature. No one at The Pining Maiden knew who she was, anyway. Aside from Miss Saria, Avae had to show her birth papers to get the job and had always had her disguise on. Miss Saria never questioned it. She assumed Avae was using a glamour to look older. The work wasn’t terrible and could even be enjoyable with the right client. This job was the closest thing she would ever find to be true love. If anyone found out the truth…

Her work for the day was done, and she had already bathed in the small adjoining room. The room was in disarray, and as per Avae’s daily contract, she was required to clean it before leaving. She wasn’t a regular brothel worker, so she had to rent a room when she wanted to work. Avae dumped the wine glasses and moved them to the box outside the door before collecting clean linens from the dresser and remaking the bed.

Her last customer made a mess of the bed. He liked to be rough. Avae grinned at the memory and walked toward the door with the linens when it swung open. Miss Saria smiled as she took in the room. “Miss Avaelynn? Oh good, I’m just in time. I have one more client for you today. This customer has been here a few times and is acquainted with Mr. Forester, who recommends you highly. He asked for you specifically.”

Avae thought about it. She planned to do some shopping before meeting up with Kaze, but a little more money to help them through the winter wouldn’t hurt. “Of course.”

“I’ll go get him,” Miss Saria beamed as she took the linens from Avae. “I‘ll take care of these.”

A few moments later, she entered the room with the client, and Avae froze in shock. “Miss Avaelynn, this is Mr. Kaze.”

This was it. Her worst nightmare made reality. Miss Saria brought her twin brother to…

Kaze had no clue how bad the money situation had become since their parents died. Avae would work at The Pining Maiden whenever she came to the mainland to make up the difference. She seethed inwardly for a minute as she realized he was wasting their hard-earned cash on this.

Avae watched as Miss Saria glided out of the room, and panic set in. “Hey, beautiful, you look like you’re worried about something. Why don’t you let me take all your worries away? Besides, most of the girls are happy to see me once they get to know me.”

“I’m usually happy to see you too,” Avae muttered absentmindedly as her brain worked overtime to find a way out of this. Kaze gave her a curious glance.

She couldn’t go through with this. As she opened her mouth to speak, Kaze covered it with his. Avae’s stomach churned as she tried to push him off of her. Her legs hit the side of the bed, and they tumbled onto it—his larger frame pressing into hers.

Finally, Kaze relented, pulling away from her. “Oeus’ ass, you taste good.” He sat up. “I like a little struggle as much as any other guy, but I can tell you aren’t into it.”

Avae could not put her thoughts into words, so she reached over, tapping her bracelet. The facade fell, and Avae watched as Kaze paled in shock. There it was, he knew. He gave her a look of disbelief and ran out the door. She quickly tapped the bracelet again, restoring the image everyone was used to.