Astrid's POV
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Almost two months later...
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"Aitana, you need to pay this month's rent," The landlord's voice cut through the thin walls of my rented room like a dull knife. I kept my back to the door, fingers pausing over the dagger I'd been sharpening.
"Aitana? Girl? You hear me?" His knuckles rapped again, harder this time.
"I heard you," I said flatly.
A pause. Then the floorboards creaked as he shifted his weight. "Well? What are you waiting for? You got the money or not?"
I exhaled through my nose and turned, scooping up the small pouch of money from the rickety table. The door opened just enough for me to slide the payment through the crack—never wide enough to give him a full view inside. Never enough to see the weapons laid out
