Chapter 71

He had empty cans and water bottles littering the floor; laundry toppled over the top of his hamper, while other clothes were tossed on the floor of his closet. A stack of papers and books were scattered on his mahogany desk. His bed wasn’t made and dust collected on the small table by his bed. The smell of something sweaty stunk up the air, making me want to hold my nose.

Whatever. I wasn’t here to judge Taylor for his cleaning skills. I had stopped by to catch up.

A large tan envelope—with the royal seal, which was the image of a swan—was visible on the desk near his stacked papers and books. Being the nosy person that I was, meant seeing what was in the envelope. I opened it, discovering wads of bills.

Hmmm. Having money around out in the open seemed odd, since he and his mom had been struggling financially ever since his dad had died in the Goblin War.

Something rang, making me jump. I put the envelope back down on the table and answered the phone next to it.