Malek glanced at Sabine. She'd been leaning on him heavily for the past ten minutes, but her usual grace was absent as her steps became even more sluggish. He bent down and scooped her into his arms. She didn't object. Instead, she trailed her fingertips over his chest.

"There's an old temple east of here. We need to get to the burial stones."

He frowned. "What's there?"

Her eyes fluttered shut as she murmured, "A crypt. Tell Edvar to call Bane. He can lead you through the tunnels under the city, but you have to show him..."

Alarm flooded through him as her voice trailed off. He squeezed her gently. "Keep talking to me, Sabine. What do you want me to show him?"

She blinked open her eyes, but they were unfocused. Whatever she had done inside the councilman's home had stolen all her strength. She swallowed. "I won't be able to stay awake much longer. By blood and magic, I release you from the confines of your oath to share your knowledge of what happened tonight with Bane and Edvar."

His brow furrowed. "You want me to tell them everything?"

"They're both sworn to keep my secrets. Show Bane your mark. He won't kill you."

Malek fell silent as her remaining magic settled over him, shifting the confines of his oath so he could reveal her secrets to this other demon. Malek frowned, debating whether to abandon this entire charade. Sabine was exhausted, and he needed to get her to safety. It was tempting to steal her away from the city until she recovered, but she trusted these people. If he had any hope of convincing her to trust him too, he needed to play by her rules for now.

Keeping his voice gentle, he urged, "I'll take care of everything. Just rest."

She nodded and leaned her head against his chest again. He felt her relax in his arms a few minutes later, and he knew she slept. He paused in the alleyway, breathing in her intoxicating scent, and battled his instincts. It was getting more difficult to stay in character the longer he remained in her presence. Now that he'd had a glimpse of the real Sabine, the one hidden underneath layers of intricate glamour, he needed to be even more careful. In his wildest dreams, he'd never expected to find a full-blooded Fae hiding within the city, much less one with her level of power.

Malek continued walking, staying in the shadows and off the streets as much as possible. Except for the maps he'd studied in preparation for his arrival, he didn't know the city very well. The temple she spoke of was deep within the oldest area of the city.

People hadn't worshiped the old gods for centuries. As a testament to their abandonment, the surrounding area was mostly deserted. Moss and vines covered the cobblestone streets, reclaiming the territory. An uneasy chill went through him, and he walked silently, feeling eyes tracking his progress.

The gate surrounding the temple was falling in some areas and completely collapsed in others. A strange stillness filled the night as though even the spirits haunting this place held their breath. He paused and swept his gaze over the area. Someone was definitely watching, but he didn't see any sign of them.

Malek pushed open the gate and headed inside, toward the back of the temple where the burial stones should be located. The giant stone obelisks were scattered throughout the grounds, each one dedicated to a different god. At the rear of the crumbling temple stood two stone figures, a god and goddess, pressing their frozen hands together in a show of solidarity. Magic hung heavy in the air, and Malek ignored the oiliness that coated his skin as the ward around his neck tried to fend it off.

He took a few steps toward the statues and called out, "I know you're there. I have a message for Edvar."

After almost a full minute, a young boy, no more than seven or eight years in age, stepped out from behind a burial stone. In a wavering voice, he whispered, "She's not dead, is she? Did... did you hurt her?"

"No." Malek studied the child a little closer. He was even younger than the boy Sabine had spoken with in the alley when they first met. "She's alive, but she needs help. Are you Edvar?"

The boy shook his head and motioned for him to follow. "No, but I'll take you to him."

He scampered behind the burial stone again and moved aside some bushes. A tunnel descended into darkness.

"Stay close. Walk in my steps. Light doesn't work here, but I know the path."

Malek arched a brow but followed the boy's instructions. The moment he entered the tunnel, the strong chill of magic crossed over his skin. It was different from the source of power he felt from Sabine, but it was similar. Someone with Fae blood had placed wards here—powerful ones. Sabine's warning about needing an escort suddenly made sense. If a Fae had set traps here, no one would be able to pass without severe consequences. He doubted even the warding around his neck could protect him.

The boy stepped forward, and a trail of green illuminated his footsteps. Malek's eyes widened in surprise. It was some sort of moss generating its own light. Someone, most likely Sabine, had shown the child where he needed to walk. He had the suspicion anyone else who tried to infiltrate the crypt would find themselves hopelessly lost or trapped.

"What's your name?" Malek asked, making sure his footsteps followed the exact same path of the boy.

"Toby," he said without looking back over his shoulder. He stopped at a small alcove and traced a pattern over it with his finger.

The wall shimmered briefly and disappeared. Malek inhaled sharply at the realization it was simply an illusion. He'd swear Toby was human, but the child had manipulated the magical protection with no small measure of competence. Someone had spent a great deal of time teaching him. From the heavy scent of magic coating the air like a blanket, the entire area could be an illusion. He'd seen enough magic over the years to know one misstep or incorrect rune would likely mean the death of anyone who attempted to navigate this place without an escort.

Malek followed the boy down the corridor, stepping on the same moss-covered stones that continued through here. They turned down different paths enough times to convince Malek they were traveling in circles. But such was the nature of Fae magic. It wasn't a coincidence people could go missing for years after falling afoul of them.

He glanced down at Sabine still in his arms. With the strange green glow offering a bit of illumination, Sabine appeared even more Fae-like. He didn't think he'd ever forget the memory of her true appearance. She was exquisite, and he understood why she'd hidden her appearance underneath layers of glamour. No one who ever saw her true appearance could ever mistake her as anything other than Fae.

Malek couldn't help but wonder how she'd learned about these tunnels and whether she'd been the one to teach Toby how to navigate them. It would explain the worry he'd seen in the child's eyes that something might be wrong with her. Sabine was shrouded in secrets and mystery as thick as the glamour that protected her.

Toby paused at a third wall and traced another symbol. It flared briefly, and Sabine murmured something unintelligible in her sleep. Malek frowned and focused on a narrow stairway leading upward. Toby started climbing and stopped right outside a door. Without bothering to knock, Toby pushed on the silver handle and the heavy wooden door swung open without making a sound.

They entered a small chamber-type room, and the boy whistled loudly. A teenage girl wearing a simple but clean dress in the style of a maid or servant entered the room. Her eyes widened at the sight of Sabine in his arms. She took a step forward and urged, "Toby, run and get Edvar. He's in the training room. Hurry."

"Don't worry, Talia. He says Sabine ain't dead." Toby darted down the hallway without waiting for a response.

Talia swallowed and gave Malek a questioning look. "Was he telling the truth? Will she be okay?"

"She's sleeping, but I must speak with Edvar right away."

Talia nodded, her shoulders slumping in relief. "Thank the gods. There's a room Sabine stays in sometimes. I'll show you."

He followed Talia down another hallway. She turned down an adjacent corridor and unlocked a heavy wooden door. Pushing it open, Talia gestured for him to place Sabine on the bed. Malek's gaze swept the small room. It was bare but functional, consisting of only a small bed and chest. If Sabine spent any time here at all, there was no trace of her to be seen.

He carefully laid her down, brushing his fingers against her cheek. Her skin was cool and paler than he'd like, but she didn't seem to be in any discomfort. She just seemed weak and tired. He didn't know what exactly she'd done power-wise, but it had cost her greatly.

Talia took a step toward him. "I've only seen her like this once before. It scared me then too."

Malek frowned. "What happened?"

Talia hesitated, tugging on the edge of her smock. "It was when she brought Toby to us. He almost died, but she saved him somehow. She collapsed afterward, and it took Toby a long time to recover too. D-did she save you tonight? Or someone else?"

"I'm sorry, but I swore an oath not to discuss what happened," he admitted, wishing he knew exactly what she'd done. Dax had been out of control, trapped in some sort of magical enchantment tied to the chalice. Malek was going to intervene, but then she'd done something by cutting her hand to bring him back from the brink. "Sabine asked me to bring her here before she passed out. She knew she'd be safe here. She must trust you a great deal."

Talia smiled and tucked her braided hair behind her ear, the mannerism reminding him of Sabine. "None of us will ever betray her. Most of us owe our lives to her in some way."

Malek sat on the edge of the bed, trying to appear less formidable. "Does Sabine live here with you?"

Talia shook her head. "No. I think we all wish she'd stay here, but she worries about drawing too much attention to us. I try to change the linens in here every so often, but she won't let me do more than that."

Footsteps sounded outside in the hallway, and a young man rushed into the room with Toby right behind him. At the sight of Malek, his hand immediately went to the weapon at his side. "Get away from her," he snapped.

Malek arched a brow and stood, but he didn't move away from the bed. "Are you Edvar?"

He inclined his head but didn't release his weapon. "Yes. Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Malek. Sabine's unconscious but otherwise unhurt. Before she passed out, she asked me to bring her here—to you. She wants you to call Bane."

Talia's face paled. Toby backed away a few steps, his eyes wide in fear.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Edvar muttered a curse. "Talia, go clear the lower levels of everyone except Raf and Shari. Toby, lock down the crypts."

Without a word, Toby disappeared. Talia hesitated. "She can't mean for you to bring him here, can she?"

"Go now, Talia," Edvar ordered. "Sabine wouldn't have used those words unless that was what she needed. She trusts him, so we need to do the same."

Talia swallowed and ran from the room.

Edvar walked over to the chest and opened it. He withdrew something that appeared to be a small wooden disk and drew his knife from its sheath. He took a step toward the bed, but Malek moved in front of him.

"I think you need to tell me what you plan to do with that first."

Edvar narrowed his eyes. He might be on the cusp of manhood, but there was a depth to his gaze as though he'd lived a lifetime already. "I don't know you or owe you any explanations. Sabine wanted you to bring her here for a reason. Now, move aside and let me do what I must."

Malek held his gaze for a long time. He was tempted to push the issue, but Sabine likely wouldn't appreciate him bullying someone she wanted to protect. If his suspicions were correct, Sabine was protecting all the children within these walls.

Malek stepped aside, and Edvar dropped to his knees beside the bed. His hand trembled slightly as he lifted Sabine's uninjured hand. Malek had stopped to bind the wound on her other hand once they were away from the councilman's home. Sabine had been frantic about stopping her bleeding, which made sense given her true identity.

Edvar used the knife to prick her fingertip. Blood welled to the surface, along with the heady scent of the forest and wild magic. Malek froze as Edvar coated the wooden disk with Sabine's blood. It soaked the surface almost immediately.

"Saivere," Edvar whispered, and the disk began to glow. He pressed it again to Sabine's finger and more blood soaked through. The disk became even brighter, almost humming as power in the room began to build. It was threatening and furious all at once, but it was gone a moment later.

With shaking hands, Edvar placed the disk in Sabine's open hand. Malek leaned down to see the wound on her fingertip had disappeared. The strange light had done something to heal the injury. Unfortunately, Sabine didn't look any better. If anything, her skin was even paler. Panic rushed through him as he reached downward to check for a pulse. Her heart was beating, but it was slow. Something wasn't right.

"What did you do?" Malek demanded, glaring at Edvar. "She's weaker."

Edvar shook his head, his expression alarmed. "That can't be. She told me what to do, and I did it exactly as she said. It's supposed to summon Bane."

"Who is Bane to her?"

Edvar stared at him. "He's an assassin. The assassin. He runs the assassins' guild here in Akros."

"Are you mad?" he roared, bending over to lift Sabine back into his arms. Edvar flashed his knife, and Malek spun around, slamming him against the wall. He disarmed the young man and tossed his knife aside. With a scowl, Malek said, "An assassin? You called an assassin here when she's this weak?"

"Bane won't kill her," Edvar argued, jerking away from him.

"No, I won't," a man said from the doorway.

Malek narrowed his eyes at the newcomer. It figured. Another demon, and this was the same one who had been on the street waiting for her the night they searched Terrance's home. This must be Dax's brother. Rumors about demon siblings claimed they frequently competed and even killed each other when they reached maturity. Apparently, that hadn't happened yet.

Bane swept his gaze over Malek, and his mouth twisted in a smirk. "The ship captain, I presume?"

Malek inclined his head a fraction. "You'd be correct."

Bane grunted and walked over to the bed. Malek moved forward to block his progress. "Hurt her and you die."

Bane chuckled. "Move aside, ship captain. She Called me here. You may carry her temporary mark out of obligation, but I was gifted with her mark as a sign of trust." He flashed his wrist, the complete pattern more intricate and vibrant than the one on Malek's skin. It reminded him of the tattoos he'd seen on her arms when her glamour had fallen. "Now, move aside so I can help her."

It pained him to do it, but Malek allowed Bane to pass. Sabine trusted him, just like she seemed to trust Dax.

The demon sat on the edge of the bed and frowned. "How long has she been like this?"

"Almost two hours," Malek admitted, trying to bury his unease. He should have ignored the consequences and gotten her safely away before now. "She wasn't this bad until Edvar called you here."

Bane muttered a curse and picked up the wooden disk. He wrapped his hand around it and when it opened, the disk crumbled to dust. "She was too weak to risk a Calling."

Edvar swallowed. "Can you help her?"

Bane didn't reply right away. Instead, his gaze roamed over Sabine and his frown deepened. He unbound her cut hand, but it was already healed. "I don't see any other injuries. Activating the disk would have healed most of her wounds. What exactly happened?"

Malek rubbed the back of his neck. He'd been replaying everything in his head, but he still didn't understand everything that had occurred. "I've been trying to figure it out. Dax picked up an artifact and had a bad reaction to it. It caused his eyes to silver. Sabine managed to bring him back to himself using her blood, but then she did something to disable the magical protection around the chalice. She was weaker afterward, but not this bad." He stared at the sleeping woman, wondering if the entire thing had been a trap. "We got pinned down and couldn't get out. Dax told me to get her out of there while he created a distraction. Sabine asked me to bring her here."

Edvar nodded. "Sabine was here earlier tonight. She needed floorplans drawn up for the councilman's home. I think they were going after some artifacts that were found in the catacombs."

Bane's shoulders tensed. "Did Sabine touch Dax after she picked up the item?"

Malek frowned. "Yes, when we were trying to escape. She was already weak by that point. Would she have transferred more of her power to him?"

Bane nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. If she thought Dax was in danger, she would have made every effort to prevent him from falling into complete bloodlust. I took a trace amount of energy from her the other day, and I can share some of it with her now. In her current state, it won't be enough. I need to return her to Dax. He can return more of what he's taken from her."

Malek clenched his teeth. For some reason, and even though he didn't have any right to feel that way, he didn't like the idea of her sharing magic with Bane. Such a thing could be extraordinarily intimate. It was also a sign of trust. Most people avoided demons, but Sabine had embraced both of them and shared power with them. That wasn't an act done lightly, especially between Fae and demons.

Bane reached down and took Sabine's hands in his. The air shimmered around them, but it was barely discernible. If Malek hadn't been watching for it, he never would have noticed.

Sabine's eyes fluttered open. "You came," she said softly.

Bane chuckled. "You Called me with blood and magic. Yours is always impossible to resist."

She gave him a weak smile and grasped his hands. "Will you lead Malek back to the tavern through the tunnels? The guards will be looking for us. I don't think ..." She shook her head as though trying to clear it. "I don't think I'll be able to stay awake long enough to show him the way."

He arched a brow. "I'm not in the habit of saving lives other than yours, little one. But for you, I will do as you ask and return you both to the tavern. I'm assuming Dax is waiting there for you?"

Sabine nodded and closed her eyes again, and Bane's shoulders tensed. He shook her awake and demanded, "What have you done, you beautiful little fool? How much power did you share with Dax?"

She blinked several times, but it was apparent she was struggling to stay awake. "Not Dax's fault," she slurred. "It was a lich ward. Embedded over the chalice and activated by touch. I broke the hold over Dax, but not... without consequences."

"Where is this chalice?"

"With Dax, but it's old, Bane. Very old. Both Seelie and Unseelie. Light and dark fused together, like the book said." She gripped his hand tightly and tried to sit up. "My glamour failed. Dax couldn't shield me. He was fighting off the effects and offered himself as a distraction so I could get away."

"My brother was a fool to take you with him," Bane muttered and pulled her off the bed. "I'll take you to Dax, but I will not leave you with him. There will be repercussions from this, Sabine."

"You can't interfere with our agreement," she managed, struggling to stand on her own.

When she faltered and Malek reached for her, Bane hissed at him, his eyes flaring silver. Malek's hands curved into fists, regarding the demon with irritation. If he forced the issue, Sabine might get hurt, but standing down was one of the most difficult things he'd ever done.

"Don't," Sabine whispered, placing her hand against Bane's chest. "Malek helped me. I wouldn't have gotten away if it weren't for him. The magic you gave me is already fading. We need to hurry."

Bane glanced down at her and back at Malek with a look of disgust. He lifted Sabine into his arms. "Follow closely, ship captain. She wants you alive, but her safety is my priority. I won't wait for you if you fall behind."

Malek nodded and followed the demon back down the corridor. Sabine had already slipped back into unconsciousness, and Bane shifted her over his shoulder. Malek suspected he moved her so he could have his weapons hand free. Bane might have agreed to honor Sabine's request, but he'd likely try to wriggle out of it at the first opportunity. Malek wasn't overly concerned, except he'd need to break his own warding if it came down to a fight between them.

The thought of wards brought him back to Sabine's earlier comment. He'd heard of lich wards, but he hadn't known it was possible to escape from one once it had been triggered. "What did she mean about a lich ward?"

"I don't know everything she was talking about, but whatever Dax tried to steal, the ward may have been designed to target him specifically. Dax has been causing trouble for the city leaders, and they've been trying to shut him down for some time. My brother likely wouldn't still be alive if it weren't for Sabine."

Bane placed his hand on the wall and traced a pattern. A symbol flared briefly with a potent red light before the wall disappeared from view. Whatever magic Bane had poured into the mark had shifted the barrier hiding the passage. Malek suspected no one other than a demon could have opened that particular wall. The way into the crypt might normally be closed to Bane, except for this one time when Edvar had summoned him.

Malek walked quickly down into a tunnel that smelled like it was connected to the sewers. His nostrils flared, but he ignored the stench. It was a powerful deterrent for anyone who might want to explore this area, but he was more concerned about Sabine.

"Will she recover?" Malek asked, following Bane across the raised platform. A quick glance over the side confirmed his earlier suspicion. Sewer water flowed below them.

"Eventually," Bane said, shifting Sabine again before he leapt over a narrow break in the platform. "The trap they set burned through a great deal of her power. She poured what she could into Dax, probably to ensure he'd survive once she left him. If he burns through too much of her transferred power, it'll leave her vulnerable for longer than I'd like."

Malek nodded, relieved by the demon's words. Vulnerable wasn't ideal, but he could ensure she remained protected until she fully recovered. That was assuming she allowed him to remain close once she learned the truth about why he was here. He thought back to the book she'd been studying in the library.

"Sabine picked up a book in the councilman's library. It spoke of the light and dark."

Bane snorted. "It's a trademark of humans to want to identify everything into light or dark, good or evil."

Malek made a noise of agreement and ducked under a low-hanging beam. He considered the rest of what Sabine had told Bane, particularly about the Seelie and Unseelie. As Bane had mentioned, good and evil was a human perception. The Seelie and Unseelie were simply different facets to the same people.

During the last war, the Fae who rejected the claims of the gods were labeled as Unseelie and sought refuge with the dwarves and demons underground. The Seelie were the ones who remained in service of the gods and supported their return. If Sabine were an Unseelie Fae, it would explain her willingness to consort with demons.

The realization made him straighten. Sabine might actually be inclined to help him with his mission when she learned the truth. Although, that might be false optimism. The Unseelie were still Fae, and all Fae viewed his kind as their enemies. Malek thought for sure she'd known what he was when he made his oath earlier. She'd been uneasy, but she hadn't said anything. It was possible she'd never met one of his kind before. His people rarely traveled this far south.

Bane stopped at another wall, tracing another rune with his hand. It flared red again, and the wall dissolved. He stepped through, and Malek followed closely, glancing backward to see the wall had already reformed behind him.

The sound of weapons sliding from their sheaths cut through the quiet. Malek's hand immediately went to his sword, drawing it in preparation for an attack. Bane's body remain relaxed, and he didn't bother to draw his weapon.

"Lower your weapons and I'll allow you to live," Bane said in an almost bored tone to the two men blocking their path.

One of the men nodded toward Sabine. "We're under orders. Give her to us and walk away."

Malek moved to stand next to Bane and into a more defensible stance. He didn't recognize either of the men, but that wasn't unexpected. He hadn't gotten to know many of the people here yet, but they were probably Dax's men. They didn't have the look of city guards or even of the mercenaries he'd seen outside the councilman's home.

The second man hesitated, and then slid his blade into its sheath. "Stand down, Aharis. If you try to take her from him, neither of us will survive."

Aharis scowled at his companion. "Dax will kill us if we don't return her to him."

Bane ignored Aharis and regarded the second man. "I recognize you. You're Jacoby, correct?"

Jacoby inclined his head. "Yes, and you're not welcome here, Bane. Dax has ordered a search of the city to locate Sabine. Your efforts in aiding her are appreciated, but Dax won't be pleased if we allow you to trespass. Will you allow us to take her to him?"

"Sabine will not leave my sight," Bane said with a trace of a growl in his voice.

Malek sheathed his weapon but kept his hand on the hilt. Keeping his expression neutral, he said casually, "Perhaps we should take Sabine back to my ship. Dax asked me to return to the tavern with her, but if his people impede our efforts..." He trailed off and shrugged. "I'm not willing to risk Sabine being harmed if it comes to a fight. I doubt Dax will appreciate anyone putting her in harm's way either."

Aharis paled and lowered his weapon while Jacoby frowned and regarded them both warily. Bane snorted in amusement. Malek smirked. At least he'd made his point.

Jacoby sighed. "Very well. We'll take you to him."