Wicked as She Wants by Delilah S. Dawson Page A

disappeared.
    Criminy’s hand swiftly clasped mine, and he wrapped my gloved fingers around something hard before I could pull away.
    “You’re going to need this, Ahnastasia,” he whispered, leaning close. “More than you know. One day, it will be the only thing between you and a world of pain.”
    I looked down and opened my hand. It was a paper packet folded tightly and sealed with a wax stamp bearing a compass and an S . My instinct was to throw it onto the ground, but something stopped me.
    “What is it? Why do I need it?”
    Criminy looked at the Pinky on his arm, fierce warmth and love radiating from his eyes.
    “I can’t tell you, honey,” the woman said. She looked as if she wanted to reach out and pat my arm but knew that I would rip it off if she tried. “Open it when you’re at the final straw. That’s all I can say.”
    Turning the packet over in my hands, I shivered. I hadn’t dealt with magic since Ravenna and then Mr. Sweeting, and I didn’t like the thought of more mystery, much less mysterious gifts from someone who knew who I was. How was I supposed to trust this strange pair?
    “He’s coming,” the Bludman spat, and his Pinky nodded and said, “Tell Casper that Tish said hi.”
    “Good luck, my princess.” Criminy bowed again and gave me a knowing, charming smile. “My lady wife is always right, and I assure you that all will turn out for the best, much as I hate to say it, for that undeserving bugger.” He jerked his head toward the airships, and within seconds, he and his Pinky had disappeared into the crowd.
    “Anne!”
    My head spun in the opposite direction as Casper hurried toward me, worry written all over his face.
    “I couldn’t find you. Who were you talking to? Are you okay?”
    “I don’t know this ‘okay,’ but I am safe.” I sat back down on the trunk, before my legs could collapse. “Tell me, what do you know of Criminy Stain?”
    Casper stilled, eyes going hard as he took a deep breath through his nostrils. “Criminy Stain. Criminy Stain was here?” He searched the crowd, avid as a wolf. “Was he alone? What did he say?”
    “He was here. He knew me. He had a pet Pinky with him, a fortune-teller, but she smelled strange. She said to tell you Tish said hi. And Criminy gave me this.”
    I held out the packet, but Casper didn’t touch it. “If Tish saw something of the future and Criminy gave you that, it’s important.” He looked both furious and lost, and I slipped the folded paper into the top of my corset, next to the necklace from my valise.
    “But who are they? Who is Tish?”
    He shook his head as if trying to dislodge something painful. “Maybe I’ll tell you someday. For now, we have to hurry. It’s almost time to take off.”
    “Then you’ve secured passage?”
    “I have.”
    “You don’t look happy about it,” I murmured. And he didn’t. He looked irritated, and worried, and ever so slightly amused.
    “The passenger ships are full and only take coin, so this is a trade situation. They need a musician, seeing as how the old one’s too drunk to play. But we have to share a room, and you’ll need to stay in it the entire time. Do you understand?”
    “Indubitably. I don’t want to be outside among Pinkies and ruffians.” I salivated a little, thinking about all that blood, but caught myself before I licked my lips. “And it’s only for the crossing. A day at most.”
    “Actually, our ride will take several days, all the way to Muscovy, with brief stops at Paris, Barlin, Warsaw, andMinks. Stops for which you and Keen will remain locked in our room at all times.”
    “I am not accustomed to following orders.” I stood and crossed my arms. Unfortunately, the top of my head barely came up to his broad chest, and with his top hat, he towered over me.
    “If you expect me to get you to Muscovy in one pretty little piece, you’re going to learn,” he snapped. He shrugged his shoulders with a menacing creak of leather, and without