A/N: Well, I'm back! There is no excuse for why this has taken me so long to post except that 'The Real World' sure does take up a lot of precious writing time unfortunately :( This is the third and last installment in my Rogue series, so if you haven't, I would highly recommend reading the first two fics before starting this one. :) Enjoy!

Chapter One: Bound for Discovery

Hurried footsteps slapped against the wet cobblestones. Heavy clouds covered the night sky, sending even Corus's busiest streets into shadows. It was late, the time of night when Evening Watch has long since gone home, yet still too early for merchants to be up and preparing for the market day. It was the time of night when thieves plagued the streets and those of honest repute and intelligence were in their homes behind secured doors and windows. Those too naïve or too foolish to be out at this time often learned their lesson quickly, if they were fortunate enough to escape the swift lesson of a thief's blade.

Two figures hurried down a dark alley. A giggle escaped the gixie's lips as the young cove she was with pulled her along the dark alleyway. She knew naught of where they were going, but didn't mind. From what she had seen already, he was handsome in both face and coin.

She stumbled in their rushing and laughed with a slight hiccup as she pulled her skirts out from under her feet. They both glanced behind them as she righted herself and grinned at the dark, empty alley.

She hiccupped again as she turned to the cove. "I think we outrun 'im."

"You doubted my abilities?" teased the cove.

She coyly batted her eyes. "Not me, 'specially after ye stole me away from tha' ol' tosspot."

"I may not be a thief like him, but when I see something pretty I have the mind to take it." He grinned as she gave another hiccup-giggle.

"Do ye think he's still followin' us?"

"Not if he knows what's best for him. I'm the best in my year," he boasted.

The young doxie moved closer with a smile, her hand playing with a button on his tunic. "Let's see if ye can live up t' yer reputation then."

The cove's grin sharpened as he pulled her into a tight embrace. The last sound before he covered her mouth roughly with his own was the sound of her delighted giggle.

Too involved with their ministrations, the young couple failed to realize that they were no longer alone in the dark alleyway. The clouds parted enough so that moonlight filtered through, illuminating a dark figure lurking in the shadows. Even more menacing was the reflection off the sharp, steel tip of an expertly gripped blade…

A high-pitched squeal pierced the air.

Some people glanced over at the noise, only to return to their own business with knowing smiles. The Rogue was a fine-looking cove and even better with a blade, and he deserved his spoils. What a lucky doxie, indeed.

Rosto leaned close to say something in the doxie's ear, causing her to emit another shrill giggle accompanied by his deep laugh. Mayhap the high color in her cheeks was evidence that she had been in her cups- or was she blushing? Was a doxie still capable of such a thing?

Whatever the reason, she apparently was a mot that had the brain of a midden hen. Otherwise, she would not be leaning so enticingly close to Corus's handsome Rogue. Not that he seemed to be bothered by it. No, the scut seemed to be enjoying himself quite thoroughly. Best to take advantage of his current happiness, for his future was looking grim, if the pair of blue-gray eyes trained on him were any indication.

Standing with her back to a wall to observe the room's occupants, her gaze did not waver from the direction of the modest dais. The tosspot. He was doing it a purpose, and Beka well knew it. Though he had yet to acknowledge her, Rosto never let anything go unnoticed- especially her presence, which had always succeeded in annoying her, and apparently still did if watching his flirtatious ministrations were any clue.

Beka restrained the urge to roll her eyes as the doxie burst into another round of giggles. No doubt the empty-headed mot thought her laughter endearing. Beka thought it likened her to a squealing piglet.

"Sure glad you're not a hedgewitch, Cooper. Otherwise the poor girl would go up in flames."

Mayhap that would finally give her the idea to move her bum, Beka thought darkly. To Tunstall, she said, "If that was the case, I'd grace our dear Rogue with a hot seat so he'd finally agree to see us."

Tunstall was fairly certain of the relationship between Rosto and his partner, but that didn't mean Beka was going to confirm his speculations. He shrugged as his eyes slid over to a gambling game going on nearby. "You know how these Rogues are. They enjoy keepin' us Dogs waitin'."

Waiting was one thing. Teasing was a whole other, the sarden spintry.

Beka watched as one of his guards stepped up to his chair. After listening to what the cove told him, Beka was watching so closely that she was able to make out what Rosto said to the guard. "Send them up." It was their cue to finally approach the Rogue.

As they approached the dais, Beka trained herself not to look at the doxie precariously perched on the arm of Rosto's chair. A slight breeze and she would end up in his lap.

When they stopped in front of the Rogue, Beka heard him tell the doxie, "Why don't you be a good mot and get your Rogue some ale? Dealing with Dogs requires a good drink." The doxie laughed yet again, smirking at the Dogs in question. Rosto, the tarse, had yet to even look at them. Instead, he kept his gaze trained lazily on the doxie, who still lingered by his side. With a wicked grin, he reached out and gave her an encouraging pat on the bum, sending her off to get his ale with a delighted squeal.

Beka tried not to sear him with a glare when he finally turned his attention to them. Acting as if he had all the time in the Realm, he drawled, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this evening? Have you finally come to your senses and decided to join my side?"

"Y' know why we've come, Piper. We're inquirin' about the haMinch lad," replied Tunstall. That morning, Day Watch had discovered the boy, knifed in a dark alley of the Cesspool. Everyone from here to Barsun had heard of the murder.

"I've heard naught about it that hasn't already been passed on by your Birdies," answered Rosto, idly.

"Mayhap y' might be willin' to indulge us with somethin' the Birdies failed t' tell us?"

Rosto met Tunstall's gaze. "It's to my understanding that the boy finally got too big for his britches and stuck his nob in the wrong place. Strutting through dark Corus streets is a way to get anyone killed, nobleman or filcher."

"'Specially with a pretty doxie and a purse jinglin' with plenty of coin at his side," agreed Tunstall.

Rosto dipped his head in acknowledgement.

"Has the lad ever visited your Court afore?"

Taking the ale the doxie had returned with, Rosto gave Tunstall a look. "Squires and heirs of wealthy families are hardly common visitors in my courts, and from what I've heard, the boy liked to think he owned the streets. From my experience, braggarts don't prefer to yield to common-born Rogues like myself." He paused, his fingers reaching up to toy with the doxie's. "As for my whereabouts last night, it seems the heir of haMinch was not the only one enjoying female company."

Beka thanked the gods that Rosto kept his eyes on Tunstall, as her body threatened to shift uncomfortably.

"Very well," Tunstall said, feeling the inquiry was over. "Fortune was on your side, your night endin' on a better note than the lad's it seems."

A glint returned to the Rogue's eye, a smile playing at his lips. "Yes, but I like to think I played more of a part in it its success than fortune."

The doxie giggled as Rosto ran his knuckles softly against the palm of her hand. The player.

Rosto's gaze shifted for the first time to Beka. Their eyes met, and Beka narrowed her eyes a fraction, enough to cause Rosto's eyes to glitter with thinly concealed amusement. "And what of you, Guardswoman Cooper? Nothing to accuse your Rogue of today? My name usually comes so easily to your lips when wickedness comes into play." Most would have missed it, but Beka was keenly aware of the twitch of his lips at his words. Almost as aware of it as she was of his strong jaw, which she desperately wished to connect with her fist. The arrogant spintry.

Gazing unaffectedly into Rosto's clearly dancing eyes, Beka replied in a bored voice, "My hobbles would already be on your wrists if I suspected your involvement, I assure you that."

"Pity. That prospect almost makes me regret my lack of involvement in the whole affair, for I'm certain that taking down yet another Rogue would bring you great pleasure." Some of the Court gathered close by laughed, recalling the Bloodhound's renowned capture of Pearl Skinner in Port Caynn. Rosto openly grinned, his insinuations effectively concealed in his words. Beka's baton hand itched to wipe the smug look from his face.

He would pay for this later.

Rosto sighed dramatically as he relaxed back in his chair. "Alas, you will not find yourself binding my hands tonight, Cooper."

Two could play his game. "Mayhap not, but the night is still young," she informed him, "Who knows what mischief you'll be up to later that might require it." With that, Beka turned on her heel to leave, noting with immense satisfaction the way Rosto's eyes had darkened with her promise-laced parting words.

Thoroughly unarmed by her announcement, its full implication only made aware to him, Rosto failed to notice the doxie running the back of her fingers down his cheek. He was too busy watching the retreating black-clad form making her way through the crowd, hard-pressed to stop himself from trailing after her like a besotted puppy.

Oh, she would pay for that last comment later, of that Rosto was convinced.

A/N: The murder of the haMinch heir, Beka and Rosto's innuendo-laced banter…makes for a good start! :) Don't worry, the next chapter will be much longer and we'll get some much needed Beka/Rosto time! It'll probably be about a week until I post the next chapter, as I will be busy reading Mastiff in the meantime! :) (And for those of you that have started "When Paths Cross" I have put that on hiatus until after reading Mastiff and probably finishing this fic. Since it's been so long, I've decided to hopefully work in the Mastiff plot into the fic. We'll see after I finish the new book!) Anyway, hope you like the beginning of the fic! Rosto had it coming for teasing Beka like that! :P