A low, miserable groan escaped Gus, because of course Derek McKinnon was a sadist disguised as a healer. “Well, if you’ve ever tasted pond water steeped in burnt nettles, you’ll know exactly what you’ve just put me through.” He narrowed his eyes to glare at the man before swallowing hard as though it might banish the lingering aftertaste. It didn’t, of course, much to Gus’s dismay.

Gus pressed his elbows into his tights. “Only looked at it, I swear!” He repeated quickly, although the narrowing of McKinnon’s eyes made him grimace. “And then I decided to maybe, kind of prod… once. Very, very… very lightly.” His gaze slid to the floor, studying the lines in it. “It’s not like you can put something like that in front of me and not expect me to touch it. What if it held the most sought after treasure in the world, like the Heirloom Seal of the Realm?”

Did Gus want to be rich and famous? Absolutely. Yes, yes he did.

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