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she stared at him, eyes wide. Grabbing his hand, she held it in place. Her green and yellow eyes searched his face, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t dare.
    “What?” Nolan asked. His large palm warmed in hers.
    She shook her head, her emotions radiating too many things to pinpoint just one.
    “Kat?”
    She pressed her lips together in defiance, refusing to answer.
    A throat cleared behind them.
    Nolan turned, yanking his hand from hers. Alec stood a few steps into the room, a package tucked under his arm, and his eyebrows raised as far as they could go.
    “Um … Sorry,” Alec said. “I heard a commotion.” He started backing out of the room. “I would shut the door, but it’s … ”
    Nolan noticed the drunks had seized the opportunity and fled. He blinked as realization swept over him. He’d removed his makeshift garment in bed, and he’d forgotten to put it back on. Ah, crows! Heat rose to his neck and face.
    Kat yanked her own blanket off her bed and handed it to him, her cheeks flushing.
    “So we can talk in the morning, eh?” Alec said, smirking.
    “Wait!” Nolan blurted. “It’s not what you think.”
    Alec snorted and held his palms toward him. “It’s none of my business.”
    Nolan tied the woolen blanket around his waist. “There were some men in here. I had only come to help.”
    “More men?” Alec’s smile widened. “Lieutenant Connelly, I had no idea you were that kind of girl.”
    Kat’s face abruptly went from pink to red. Her anger ignited like a forge coal. She summoned her Speed, and her eyes flared golden yellow.
    “Wait!” Alec said in mock fear. “I saw them leaving when I came in. Greer is talking to them about how stupid they were.”
    “I think they’ve figured that out already.” Nolan scowled. “Wasn’t it your turn to watch the gypsy?”
    The mirth on Alec’s face fell.
    “Alec?” Kat said. “Where is she?”
    “Um. Not sure.”
    “You’re not sure?” Nolan said. “I asked you to watch her for a couple hours. What do you mean you’re not sure?”
    “The noise up here got everyone’s attention. She only just slipped away.”
    Kat cursed and shoved her uniform on over her nightclothes. “She probably hasn’t gone too far.”
    “I’ll take a look outside.” Alec turned to leave then stopped. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He tossed Nolan the bundle he’d been holding. “I bought these off a big guy. They might be a bit short but should work otherwise.”
    Nolan unfolded the bundle: a stained pair of breeches.
    Kat shoved by Alec out the door. “Come on.”
    Nolan didn’t know whether to be grateful for the clothes or annoyed at Alec for not giving them to him when he first came in.
    The golden-yellow light of Speed flared in Alec’s eyes. “Better get going before—”
    “Alec!” Kat scolded from the hall.
    Alec rolled his eyes. “Too late.” Then, saying nothing more, he shot away.
    Nolan breathed a sigh of relief and unfastened the wool blanket.
    Some muttered whispers sounded at the door. A group of people, probably bar-goers, were too curious to restrain themselves any longer and had wandered upstairs, peering through the opening. Horror emanated from them when they saw Nolan. A scurrying sound followed as they disappeared.
    “Oh, for Brim’s sake,” Nolan murmured. He stepped into the hallway in time to see another pair of drunks make their way up the stairs.
    Nolan ignored their panicked faces and turned toward his own room. He entered and closed the door, submerging himself in the semi-darkness, thankful for the solitude once again.
    He let the blanket drop from his waist and stepped into his newly adopted clothes. They didn’t smell so good, but at that moment, he didn’t care. As he pulled them up, a voice joined him in the darkness.
    “No need to put those on for me.” A light flickered to life.
    The gypsy girl held the flame in her hand and brought it to the lamp on the side table. Nolan blinked, adjusting to the