by Nicole Hall
“I’ve been asking around. I think I found the trail of one of my kin from the old days. He might know something.”
She eyed him as he called a trod and gestured her into the Wood. “Where are we going?”
“Egypt.”
Her eyes went wide. “There’s an elemental forest in Egypt?”
He grunted and brushed past her to take the lead. “You need better teachers. The trods will take us anywhere there’s a nexus. It doesn’t have to be a forest.”
The sprites drifted in tiny golden circles as they walked. Maddie was silent for once, so Aiden listened for the rustle of anything off the path. Usually, the presence of sprites meant they were safe, but he didn’t want to let his guard down.
They walked for hours, but Maddie never complained. After a while, she asked questions and pestered him with guesses about his origin. Aiden answered her to the best of his knowledge. Her attempts to learn meant she’d be better protected. Plus, the more she knew, the less danger she’d put him in. He didn’t acknowledge her guesses about his origin with anything other than a no. She’d never guess, but he enjoyed the pattern of her thoughts.
The sun stayed behind the trees, but the shadows shifted to the other direction at some point. Aiden verged on suggesting they break for a while when the path abruptly ended at a sandstone arch. Through the timeworn structure, a huge pyramid rose in the distance. He stepped out of the trod, but Maddie didn’t follow him.
She stood surrounded by sprites and stared in awe at the sight ahead of them. Aiden remembered the first time he’d seen the pyramids, so he gave her a moment.
“I can’t believe that worked,” she breathed.
“Welcome to Cairo.”
MADDIE
Cairo wasn’t as hot as she’d expected. The trod left them on an open platform at the top of a crumbling spire, surrounded by dirt and debris. More stone spires speared into the air all around them, and the pyramid she’d seen first shimmered in the distance. A balmy January breeze lifted the hair at the nape of Maddie’s neck as her eyes tracked the point where metropolis met ancient desert.
Her gaze dropped as the sounds of voices drifted up to her on the wind. Several stories below them people haggled for goods in a bustling market. The wonder quickly faded as Maddie tried to brush whitish dust off of her black pants, but only succeeded in spreading it around.
“I’m surprised the trod took us here. Isn’t it really open?”
Aiden sent her a dry look. “You mean like a stretch of forest in east Texas?” He tested the metal of the spiral staircase that would take them out of the tower.
“Where are we specifically?”
He glanced around, then started down the stairs. “In an abandoned mosque in Old Cairo. There was a major earthquake here a couple of decades ago that damaged most of these buildings. Before that, this trod wasn’t used much. There’s one closer to Giza, but my cousin is supposed to be somewhere in the market.”
“When you said kin, I didn’t realize it would be direct family.” She followed him down the stairs, ready to move if the steps suddenly became unstable.
He slanted a look at her. “I sometimes wish I could claim we’re only loosely related, but he’s the only link I have left to my father.”
Maddie burned to ask more questions, but Aiden’s shoulders had stiffened as he’d focused back on the stairs. He didn’t want to talk about his family. She wouldn’t push, and one day, maybe he’d want to share himself with her. That tiny flare of hope kept her mouth shut.
They went down several flights of stairs before they reached the ground. The space at the bottom barely qualified as a room; it was more of a large landing. Rubble covered the floor, and a chunk of what used to be wall almost blocked a set of large wooden double doors.
Aiden stopped her when she would have gone through the doors. “This is the biggest market in Egypt, and we’re going to stand out a bit.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How often have you been here?”
“Recently? Twice before. My cousin can be tricky to find.”
“What makes you think we’ll find him this time?”
He moved her aside and drew a sigil on the handle. “This time I’ve got you.”
The doors opened to chaos. People and stalls and goods all crushed together. Sellers yelled over the din of a thousand people shoved into an alley. The smell of sweaty, unwashed masses hit her, and she reminded herself to breathe through her mouth. Aiden shut the doors behind them and redrew the sigil. Nothing obvious happened, but when she leaned back against the wood, the door stayed firmly closed.
Three wrinkled men sitting on stools next to the stairs raised their hookahs at her when she made eye contact. Aiden took her hand, and she smiled at the men before he dragged her into the throng.
“Do we need to worry about pickpockets?”
Aiden glanced down at her. “Do you have anything to steal?”
She clutched her pack tighter and squeezed closer to him as they wound their way down the row. “What does your cousin look like?”
“I don’t know.” He scanned the area around them. “I haven’t seen him for a long time.”
“How long?”
“About a hundred and twenty-five years, give or take.”
Maddie’s mouth dropped open. “You weren’t kidding when you said you were older than I thought you were.” She did some quick math and frowned. “That was before Torix was trapped.”
He didn’t respond, but his hand tightened on hers. She’d assumed he’d been caught at the same time as her, but now she wondered how long he’d been a slave. Maddie wanted to know more, but she understood his reticence. She didn’t want to talk about that time either.
A sharp whistle drew their attention to a man in an alcove to their right. “I’ll give you two thousand camels for that one.” He crooked his finger at Maddie, and Aiden jerked her away.
“I wonder how much it is per camel,” she mused.
“What?” Aiden glowered at her over his shoulder.
“Just trying to figure out what I’m worth.”
Before he could answer, an orange cat dashed between his legs and ran down a side alley. Aiden nearly pulled her off her feet when he sped after it. The alley was darker and emptier than the main thoroughfare. Tall intricate buildings rose on either side of them, blocking the sun. It looked like they’d turned onto a residential street. The road didn’t provide enough room for stalls, and the doorways were all draped with thick carpets.
The cat easily outpaced them, but it kept turning around and waiting until they caught up before taking off again. After a few minutes of following it through a maze of side streets, Maddie was hopelessly lost. She stopped trying to memorize where they’d been and instead focused on holding onto Aiden’s hand. He wouldn’t leave her behind, but it would be embarrassing if he was forced to drag her down the backstreets of Cairo.
They stopped at a squat building surrounded by larger structures. Maddie struggled to calm her breathing, but Aiden’s chest rose and fell in an even rhythm. The cat sat on the stoop, licking one extended leg.
“Is this the place?” Aiden asked.
How should she know? She opened her mouth to give him a sarcastic answer, then realized he was staring at the cat. Her mouth snapped shut.
The cat paused and looked up at him, then turned and walked past the door rug with its tail high. Maddie tugged on Aiden’s hand when he would have followed it.
“Shouldn’t we knock or something? It might be hard to explain that a cat told us it was okay to invade someone’s home.”
“The cat lives here.”
“That doesn’t mean it can give permission to enter.”
He chuckled. “In this case it does.”
She let him pull her through the entrance. The musty rug fell into place behind her, shutting out the natural light. The clean interior consisted of a single room lit by an oil lamp with a bed, a small table, and a wooden chair. There were no other doorways or wind
ows, and the air was stale with the scent of candle wax. The cat sat on the bed with its tail wrapped neatly around its legs.
“It’s been a long time,” Aiden said.
I hear you’ve freed yourself from your troubles, cousin.
The quiet voice had a teasing tone in her mind, and she didn’t think it was referring to her. Maddie peeked at Aiden. Could he hear it too?
“For now.”
That’s good to know. I see you’ve found someone new. Why come to my part of the world with her?
Maddie looked around the room, but there wasn’t anywhere for someone to hide. The cat stared at them with unblinking eyes. No, not them, her.
“We need information.”
Information comes at a price.
“Even for kin?”
The cat’s eyes narrowed, and Maddie accepted that it was the cat talking to them. In her mind. Through her shields. Or maybe around them. She couldn’t be sure.
Especially for kin. Clan practices no longer apply to me.
Aiden sighed. “What’s your price?”
I want the girl.
Maddie straightened her shoulders. Two offers in one day. Three if you counted Torix in the middle of the night. She was certainly popular.
“She’s not for trade.”
If you didn’t bring her to trade, why is she here?
“She’s under my protection.”
The cat’s mouth twitched and a laugh filled her mind. Then you’ve brought her to the wrong place.
A chill went down her back as her mind filled with all the terrible stories she’d heard of creatures out in the magical world. She trusted Aiden not to hurt her, but just because he was gentle didn’t make all of his kind gentle.
Another laugh. Calm down, human. I’m no threat to you at the moment.
Aiden squeezed the hand he was still holding, and she looked up to meet his eyes. “He won’t hurt you.”
You always ruin all my fun. Fine, I ask for an unnamed favor to be determined in the future.
Even Maddie knew what a bad deal that was. If Aiden agreed, he’d be bound to whatever the cat wanted. She opened her mouth to tell the cat to go to hell, but Aiden shook his head.
“Anything except the girl.”
Yes.
“I agree.”
The air whooshed out of her. What was he doing? The cat inclined his head, and she felt the bonds of a spell settle over Aiden, a dusting on his skin.
It is done. His tail twitched, and she sensed a disturbing amount of triumph coming from him. Pardon me for being rude. I’m Seth, Cat-God of Cairo. Welcome to my home.
Aiden nudged her, and she realized the cat was talking to her. “I’m Maddie. Cat-God?”
An epithet that amuses me since I’m neither a cat nor a god. Tell me, Maddie. What’s that interesting power I sense inside you?
She raised a brow. “None of your business.”
He inclined his head again. You’re right. I was just curious. The cat turned his eyes on Aiden. What information do you want?
“Do you remember Torix?”
Yes, he’s hard to forget.
“Do you know where he’s getting his power now?”
No.
Watching his face, Maddie had the distinct feeling that Aiden wanted to roll his eyes. “Do you have a guess where he’s getting his power.”
That’s a better question. I have a guess. There were once clans that had no power of their own, but had the ability to use the magic around them to their own benefit.
“Torix is Fae.”
I’m aware of that. You asked for ideas not logical explanations.
Aiden took a step toward Seth. “And you’re being purposefully cryptic.”
Maddie intervened. “He did a blood ritual to bind someone to him. Is that familiar?”
A blood ritual, eh? He could be using more than one source. Or one very powerful source. Either way, it’ll be hard to find out without confronting him. The cat considered her. You intrigue me. A human with no power, but you reek of Fae magic. And you have such interesting shields.
Maddie raised her chin. She’d talked enough about the magic, and she only trusted Aiden. It seemed like a bad idea to volunteer extra information to a false cat-god. “How is he using other sources?”
My bargain isn’t with you, but I’ll answer your question out of kindness. Aiden snorted, but Seth continued. It’s possible to give another creature a portion of your power. Convince enough magic-users to part with a little bit and you could end up with a lot. I see you’re familiar with the idea.
She ignored the last part. “I thought without magic you couldn’t use magic?”
In most cases, that’s true. For the clan I mentioned earlier, less true. There are other ways to get around that pesky rule, but they’re dangerous and hard to achieve. Rare artifacts that carry strong enchantments come to mind first.
Maddie nodded absently and tried to remember the details of the scene at the bar. She’d been distracted, so she wasn’t sure if Torix had been carrying a magical talisman. Maybe the knife. She shook her head and eyed Seth, then turned to Aiden.
“How accurate is this information?”
Amusement washed over her from the cat, but Aiden only spared her a glance. “He doesn’t lie, and it sounds right. He knows more than anyone else I’ve ever met about the intricacies of magic. That’s why I was looking for him, but I’ve never known him to help out of kindness.”
I’m hurt. I’ve given you an abundance of information for a single measly favor. In honor of friendship and kin, I’ll give you one more tidbit. There’s an artifact that should interest you. A medallion forged by Lugh himself. It protects the wearer from falling under the spell of another. Seth met her eyes, and she felt like he was trying to tell her more than his words. An immunity, of sorts.
“Where is it?”
That’s where my knowledge ends. Last I heard, it was stolen from the neck of a selkie by a soon-to-be cursed pirate who bedded her and left her behind. His ear twitched and he leaned down to lick the fur at his shoulder.
“Are there still pirates?” Maddie whispered to Aiden.
“Yes, but I’m pretty sure he’s not referring to a modern pirate.”
Maddie searched her mind for references to selkies, but all she remembered was that they lived near water and they were sometimes seals. She felt like she should be surprised by the number of shifters she was encountering, but Evie had once said that the most-used aspect of magic was in changing something’s form.
You’ll want to seek out Cassie at the Tavern by the Sea. Maybe she’ll tell you more than she told me. He hopped gracefully off the bed and walked between them to the door, but he paused before going through the curtain. Might be best not to mention me at all, now that I think of it. She’s an expert at holding a grudge. There’s a nexus not too far from here. Aiden should be able to find it with no trouble. I’ll be in touch about my favor.
Seth walked into the dim alley, but when Maddie pulled the curtain aside, he was gone. She didn’t sense any magic, so he probably used the cat form to his advantage. It was a hell of an exit either way.
Aiden sighed, and his grip relaxed around her hand. She hadn’t realized how tense he’d gotten during the exchange.
“How did you know he’d be interested in me?”
He looked down at her and linked their fingers together. “I’ve never encountered someone with powers like yours before, and Seth loves a puzzle.”
She wanted to ask what Seth’s real form was, but it felt rude. “Well, I’m glad I could be of service, but next time, I can handle my own negotiations.”
“I refuse to use people to barter.”
“He was baiting you to get the best deal, or he wouldn’t have given in so easily.”
“Seth doesn’t bluff. He wanted you. I’m just not sure what he planned to do with you.”
Maddie frowned, but let Aiden lead her out of the room. Locals lingered on the side street, unlike when they
’d rushed down it earlier chasing the cat. Seth was still nowhere to be seen.
“Where are we going now?”
“To the nexus. I have no idea where the Tavern at the Sea is, but I know someone who might.”
“Another cousin?”
He laughed. “No, and she would be insulted to hear you say that. She’s not fond of my kind.”
“Your kind…pixie?”
He let loose a belly laugh. Maddie smiled, secretly glad he wasn’t a pixie. They had an unnatural affection for spreadsheets. Great accountants though.
Aiden stopped abruptly and spun around. He crowded her against the wall and slid his arms around her, trapping their entwined hands behind her back. Maddie’s breath hitched and then his lips were on hers.
Between the wall behind her and his broad shoulders, she was completely hidden from the rest of the alley. She’d hoped the dream had been a heightened reaction to him, but this kiss rushed through her like wildfire. Her eyes closed as she sank into it. Aiden slid his tongue against hers in a welcome invasion, and a moan escaped her.
She kissed him back, fire for fire, but he pulled back too soon for her liking. Maddie sucked in a ragged breath, and slowly eased her eyes open. When she focused, his golden eyes blazed with intention only inches away.
“What—”
“Shh.” His low whisper dragged roughly along her nerve endings. “Will just walked past us.”
5
MADDIE
Maddie lowered her head. If Will looked their way, her light blonde hair would give them away. A loud screeching yowl echoed off the stone walls of the alley, followed by wings flapping, loud chirping, and a man angrily cursing in English. The other people on the street stopped glaring at them to turn and look toward the noise. Maddie peeked around Aiden’s shoulder and saw an orange tail shoot around the corner.
Aiden grabbed her hand again and pulled her away from the commotion and through two more alleys. He stopped and drew the familiar sigil against another wooden double door. It could have been the first one for all she knew except that they hadn’t circled back to the market. For a moment during the chaos, she’d considered breaking away from Aiden’s hold and following Will. Was he in Egypt because of them, or did Torix have another plan? If it was the first, how did he know they’d be there? She hadn’t even known until they’d left.