By Blood and Magic

by Jamie A. Waters

  Tathaln arched his brow. “The Merfolk attacked your ship without provocation?”

  Sabine hesitated, trying to decide how much truth to share with them. If these people were the key to saving Esmelle, she needed to tell them something. “Not exactly. I believe they objected to some passengers we had on board with us.”

  Zoty nodded and pointed at himself.

  Sabine frowned and asked, “They don’t like your people, Zoty?”

  Zoty’s shoulders slumped, and he shook his head.

  Eruk scowled. “Don’t like mine either. Don’t think they like anyone.”

  Tathaln leaned back and said, “That’s why we travel by land. The Merfolk seem to attack more ships every year, especially those with magic users on board. I’m surprised you managed to make it to shore.”

  “It was a near thing, and the situation in Karga wasn’t much better,” Malek replied, glancing around the camp. “I’m anxious to put some distance between us and that city. What time do you normally head out in the morning?”

  Tathaln rubbed his chin. “Shortly after daylight. Normally, we’d stay a bit longer into the day, but not if they’re starting the burning festival early. There won’t be any profit in the city until they reopen the gates and their need for vengeance is pacified. None of us were happy Ryley wanted to try his luck in Karga again.”

  Zoty made several hand gestures, and Tathaln nodded. “Right. We usually have a few people assigned to keep watch throughout the night for safety. Ryley mentioned you knew your way around weapons?”

  Malek nodded. “I do.”

  “Good,” Tathaln said and stood. “You’ll help with the watch tomorrow night. In the meantime, you two can get some rest in my wagon. We’ll figure out the rest of the sleeping arrangements when Ryley gets up in the morning. Come along, and I’ll show you where you’re bunking.”

  Sabine and Malek picked up their bags and followed Tathaln to a dark-blue wagon painted with a smattering of stars. Images of trees lined the bottom, as though the wagon represented the night’s sky over the Silver Forest. Sabine ran her hand over the painted surface. “Extraordinary. Zoty is incredibly talented.”

  Tathaln nodded and opened the door to the wagon. “He is, and we’re lucky to have him with us. He seems to like you, as does Nallia. Both of them are normally more suspicious of outsiders.”

  Sabine smiled. “Both the kumili and lizardmen are shrewd judges of character. They likely sense we’re not a threat.”

  “Perhaps,” Tathaln said, studying her thoughtfully. “Make yourself at home. We’ll wake you at first light so we can get underway. Breakfast will be served by Eruk, who also doubles as our cook. We’ll need your help to break down the camp.”

  Malek nodded. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

  Sabine walked up the small ramp into the wagon and ducked inside. It was fairly tight quarters with Tathaln’s belongings piled everywhere. With the addition of two people, a pixie, and their three bags, sharing the space with Malek would require a bit of creativity. But at least it was warmer within the confines of the wagon. There were two windows on each side, but they were latched shut to keep out the cold night air.

  After placing her bag on the floor, she scooted to the far side of the wagon and pulled off her sandals. She removed most of her weapons and placed them near the bedding where they were easily accessible.

  Malek did the same and sidled up next to her. “I was starting to wonder if we’d get any sleep tonight.”

  Sabine smiled and took his hand. “Me too. I’m glad you’re here with me.”

  Blossom wriggled out of Sabine’s dress and fluttered her wings. “Oh! I like this.”

  The pixie hopped down and started investigating Tathaln’s belongings. Several chests and musical instruments had been lined against the far wall and reached all the way to the ceiling. Blankets and a stuffed mattress took up the other side of the wagon, forming a makeshift bed with enough room to fit two people. It was cozy and far preferable to staying in Karga, where fear permeated the air like a bitter perfume.

  Sabine retrieved Blossom’s box and opened the lid so the pixie could sleep in comfort, surrounded by flowers. With a yawn, Sabine crawled to the bedding. If they were lucky, they might manage to get a few hours of sleep before they had to be up. Malek joined her and lay beside her.

  The silence in the enclosed wagon was heavy, and Sabine knew Malek was as much aware of her presence as she was of his. This setting was even more intimate than their room in the inn, but no less fraught with danger. Sabine bit her lip and stared up at the wooden slats forming the wagon’s ceiling. “I’m not sure why, but I feel as though we can trust these people.”

  Malek put his hands behind his head. “Maybe. More than some people in Karga anyway.”

  “I like them,” Blossom said, peeking inside a carved flute. “I can snoop around the camp tomorrow when it’s warm. What sort of desert bug could I turn into? Do they have butterflies here?”

  Sabine turned and propped herself up on an elbow. “I’m not sure, but be careful. Most of these people have more than a small amount of magical ability. They’ve probably encountered pixies before.”

  Blossom grinned. “I know how to be sneaky.”

  “Yes, you do,” Sabine said in agreement and winked at the pixie.

  Malek reached up and tucked some of Sabine’s hair behind her ear. “If they spot Blossom, will they know who you are?”

  Sabine smiled at his concern and lay back down. “I don’t believe so. Pixies gravitate toward anyone with Fae magic. The stronger the source of magic, the larger the colony they can sustain. Since Blossom’s the only one here, they shouldn’t think too much of it.”

  “At least that’s one less worry,” Malek said quietly, wrapping his arm around her. Sabine lay her head against his chest, enjoying having him this close.

  “I’m sleepy,” Blossom said with a yawn and crawled to her box. She moved around the flowers, patting them affectionately and whispering too quietly for Sabine to hear. She was either trying to communicate with her family or with the essence of the flowers to keep them alive.

  Sabine was exhausted but too worried to sleep. If Zaverza’s vision was wrong, they could be wandering around the desert well past the Merfolk’s deadline. It was too dangerous to ask the goddess to intervene again. Lachlina had proven unreliable and with too little regard for human lives. If Sabine didn’t have to worry about the burning festival, she could have asked around Karga a bit more for any information about Pearl.

  The thought of the burning festival made her more cognizant of her surroundings, as well as the dragon beside her. Without his medallion hiding his identity, she could pick up a trace of the faint smoky scent that belonged to Malek. It was strange knowing she felt safer in here cuddled against a dragon than outside in a city full of humans.

  “Sabine,” Malek said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Will you tell me what you did back in that alley?”

  She hesitated and then sighed. “I suppose I owe you an explanation.”

  He didn’t respond. Instead, he simply waited.

  Sabine sat up again, needing a moment to collect her thoughts. She stared at the grains of wood on the wagon’s walls in front of her and wrapped her arms around her knees. If he’d been Fae, he would have understood immediately what she’d gifted him. This was just another reminder of their differences.

  “I mentioned before about marks having different purposes. The first time I marked you when we met, it was simply to acknowledge a debt. That’s the most common type of mark and can be done by almost anyone with shared Fae heritage.”

  “I was surprised when you suggested it. Was that the only reason you did it?”

  She shook her head. “No. It was also to ensure Dax would hesitate before deciding to harm you. He’s always been fairly unpredictable, and I was… curious about you. I would have been annoyed if he tried to kill you before I got to know you better.”

  “As would I,” he re
plied with a chuckle. “The second change was to deepen our connection so we could share energy without blood?”

  “Yes,” Sabine said quietly and then paused. “There are other types of bonds too, but they’re less common. Most of them can only be forged by a member of the royal family or by members of specific bloodlines.”

  He frowned. “You mentioned other marks earlier. What do they do?”

  She shrugged. “It depends on the need. Sometimes they can be used to indicate fealty. Other times, they can be used between bonded mates to share power or even communicate telepathically. Both Balkin and Bane have marks indicating a deeper connection or blood debt to me, but the purpose of their marks is different from yours.”

  “I feel more connected to you than I did earlier,” Malek said, studying her thoughtfully. “It’s an awareness of sorts. I believe I could pick you out of a room even if I were deaf and blind.”

  “That’s not too far from the truth,” she said and lowered her gaze, somewhat ashamed she’d changed the mark without asking his permission.

  Her people used to do such a thing and far worse to unsuspecting strangers, but Sabine had never counted herself among them until now. She’d always prided herself on maintaining balance and not subjecting her will onto others. It didn’t matter that her reasons for changing Malek’s mark were altruistic. The result was the same. It was a gift, but she’d stolen his choice on whether to accept it.

  With a sigh, she continued, “Our previous mark required both of us to have the same intent to use the connection between us. You weren’t in a position to help me share my strength with you, so I had to change the mark to force you into accepting my magic.”

  Malek’s frown deepened, and he traced the mark on his wrist. “If that’s all it was, that’s not so bad. It’s strange though. I swear I can even feel your heart beating when I touch it.”

  She swallowed and met his gaze. “It’s because I’m tied to you now, Malek. You have the ability to pull power from me as you need it. You could even strip away my glamour and negate my magic if you chose to do so. I won’t be able to pull power from you the same way.”

  His eyes widened, and he sat up. “What? Why would you do this?”

  Sabine turned to face him completely, needing him to understand. She hadn’t made this sacrifice lightly, and she never would have considered it if he were anyone else. “Because I trust you with my life. Back in Akros, you protected me when I was powerless and too weak to even stand. You showed me with your actions who you are, Malek. I wasn’t about to leave you defenseless and surrounded by enemies when I could protect you.”

  “It’s not the same, Sabine,” he replied, his eyes blazing. “You shouldn’t have done this. What happens if I’m not aware of what I’m doing and pull power from you when you need it? What if I accidentally strip your glamour and expose you?”

  Sabine paused, taken aback by his response. Of all the reactions she’d expected, anger wasn’t one of them. “I did what was necessary, Malek, nor do I regret it. What kind of person do you take me for? Do you think I should have allowed you to be harmed after you went to such lengths to protect me back in Akros? You stayed with me then and put yourself in harm’s way to keep me safe.”

  “I was never in danger in Akros,” he said with a low growl. “After you used up your magic to break the chalice’s hold on Dax, I had a choice. I chose to do as you instructed and take you to your friends because you trusted them. At the time, we barely knew each other. You never would have forgiven me if I had taken you away from the city until you’d recovered. I could have shifted and flown away at any time.”

  Sabine arched her brow, not wanting to think about that possibility too closely. Gods. She’d have lost her mind if he’d done such a thing. “That may be, but what about when you decided to lead the Wild Hunt away from me? When you put yourself in harm’s way to protect those children?”

  “Dammit, Sabine,” he muttered, running a hand over his head. “I admit I don’t know nearly enough about the Fae, but I know the value your people place on maintaining balance. That’s why even words of gratitude can be an acknowledgment of a debt. By doing this, you’ve upset the balance between us, haven’t you?”

  Sabine squeezed her eyes shut. She should have known he’d cut to the heart of the matter to expose the true source of her concern. Even now, the imbalance weighed upon her soul. “Yes.”

  Malek reached over and took her hand in his. “Can you change it back?”

  She shook her head. “If there’s a way, I don’t know how. My magic is still evolving, and there are nuances to it I don’t understand.” She paused, frustrated with her limitations and lack of knowledge.

  “What do you mean?”

  Sabine bit her lip, trying to figure out how to explain. “In Faerie, young Fae are trained by tutors and Elders until they reach at least a century in age. Afterward, our magic becomes more specialized. By that point, we’re able to explore the depths of our power and its limitations without guidance.”

  He nodded. “My grandmother told me the same.”

  She looked away, staring at the wall of the wagon without really seeing it. “How old do you think I am, Malek?”

  Malek paused, studying her for a long time. “From what I’ve seen, your power is substantial. I assumed you were close to the century mark. That’s not the case, is it?”

  Sabine lowered her gaze. “No. I’m only twenty-seven.”

  “What?” Malek whispered, his hand tightening over hers. “How could that be? You’re telling me you were only seventeen when you left Faerie? You barely understood your magic. How the hell did you manage to survive without a guide?”

  Sabine lifted her head to meet his gaze. “Dax and Bane. When Balkin left me with them, I resented it—and them. It wasn’t easy for any of us, but we eventually managed to find a way. I owe them a great deal. I wouldn’t have survived without them.”

  Malek rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Demons aren’t altruistic, Sabine. They wouldn’t have helped you if they didn’t get something out of it.”

  “I know,” she replied, staring down at their clasped hands. “I was always stronger with my Unseelie magic, and they helped teach me to temper it. When I couldn’t control my power, they siphoned off the excess to keep me hidden. They may have received some benefits, but I did too. It was Balkin’s hope I’d learn enough out in the world to stand a chance against my father one day.”

  Malek frowned. “So that’s why you’re so close to Dax and Bane? I know you and Dax were lovers, but I also thought you were intimate with Bane. The rumors in Dax’s crew suggested that was the reason for their falling out.”

  Sabine shook her head. “It wasn’t like that. After I left Faerie, I had to relearn new ways of doing things. My first impulse was always to use magic, but I couldn’t do that if I was to stay hidden. Dax and Bane both taught me how to protect myself using non-magical means. Once I became proficient in fighting with mundane weapons, Dax began to challenge me in other ways.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She hesitated. “For a Fae, magic and intimacy go hand in hand. I needed to control my power under any circumstances, not just in matters of life and death. Dax and I became lovers, not because of any real affection we had for each other, but simply as a way for me to gain more control over my magic. I needed to know I could be physically intimate with someone without betraying myself. Later on, it was more about companionship and exchanging power. It was exhausting trying to hide my identity all the time, and I didn’t have to pretend with him.”

  Malek stared at her, his expression one of stunned disbelief. “And Bane?”

  Sabine gave him a small smile. “Never. It wasn’t necessary because of the type of mark we share, and it would have caused problems with Dax. We’ve slept together in the same bed, but it was always done as an exchange of power and magic. It was never anything more, nor will it be. Other than Esme, Dax and Bane were the only two people outside of Faer
ie who knew some of my secrets. That was the basis of our relationship.”

  His brow furrowed. “I had no idea. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. I thought…”

  Sabine shook her head. “No. Don’t get me wrong; I care for both of them a great deal. They helped me through some very difficult times. In their own way, they care for me too.”

  Malek regarded her with skepticism, and she laughed.

  “Really,” she insisted with a smile, darting a glance at Blossom to make sure the pixie was still asleep. “Bane and Dax do care, but it’s different for them. Sometimes, it’s hard for them to understand me or my motivations. Demons are more focused on physical needs and will manipulate any situation to achieve their goals. They don’t always understand the softer emotions and even view such things as a weakness. They wouldn’t have considered protecting the children in Akros like you did by trying to lead the Wild Hunt away.”

  Malek gave her a dry look. “That explains why the children were frightened when you summoned Bane to their hideout.”

  Sabine nodded. “Bane is more even-tempered than his brother, but he’s still a demon. He wouldn’t have harmed them since it would have been a violation of our agreement, but the children didn’t know that. I always warned them to stay away from demons, especially when they weren’t with me.”

  “I’ll have to take your word for it,” Malek said with a sigh and looked down at the mark she’d given him. “Well, I suppose we’re both swimming in uncharted waters. Tell me more about the change you made back in Karga. Maybe we can figure out a possible solution.”

  Sabine frowned, trying to decide on a suitable analogy to help clarify things. “Instead of sharing a bucket, I suppose you could say I forced open a one-way valve. It allows a significant amount of magic to flow from me to you. Once such a valve has been opened, it’s difficult to close it again. Over time and if it’s not used, the bond between us may lessen. I can’t guarantee it though.”