“So are you some kind of outlaw?”

Amerie probably shouldn’t ask that to said outlaw, but she’s found that she has less of a filter now that she isn’t in the castle.

Mysty doesn’t appear to take offense and actually has a proud smile on her lips.

“Sure. I would’ve said thief, but outlaw works too,” she answers as she practically skips beside her.

She’s never met someone so happy to be a criminal.

It’s puzzling to Amerie.

“Is there a difference?” Amerie questions, eying her mysterious companion.

Mysty is unlike anyone Amerie has ever met. She’s not a diplomat or a royal. No big dresses or armor. Just a common thief.

That probably shouldn’t appeal to Amerie as much as it does.

“Thief is more specific. Outlaw is a broader term, sort of like criminal. It more so implies loving the chase from the guards,” Mysty explains, joy seeping into her tone. It is like gushing about a crush, but instead she’s talking about definitions of criminal termology.

Raising her eyebrows, she gives a pointed look, “So you’re saying you don’t love the chase?”

With the amount of cheerfulness that she speaks about her illegal profession, Mysty would appear to be someone who potentially loves the game of breaking the law.

“Depends on who’s chasing me,” she says lowly with a wink.

Amerie is stunned and is rendered a bit speechless. This girl is shameless…and Amerie kinda loves that.

———

(These are characters from my More Than Blood series that I posted on here. It’s been a while since I wrote in this world, but I got some inspiration recently, so I wrote this little scene. This is a direct sequel to _Nicknames_.)