To Kill a Fae

by Jamie A. Waters

  “You lost that chance when you drugged me.”

  “I could convince you to forgive me.”

  “Not tonight you won’t,” she said, meaning every word.

  If Javyn hadn’t interrupted them and mentioned Terrance, she likely would have allowed it. Dax could be charming when it suited him, but he often couldn’t be bothered. She always demanded more than his usual conquests, but he’d never complained. Sometimes she thought the demon in him relished the challenge she offered. Few could match a demon’s strength, either physically or with magic. He exceeded her in the former, but she held the advantage over him with the latter.

  “We’ll see about that.” He released her.

  She held out her hand for the key, and he withdrew it from his pocket. After handing it to her, he headed toward the door.

  Sabine bent down to unlock the chest. Javyn and Malek entered the room, and Malek swept his gaze over her, sending a rush of warmth through her at his perusal. She felt more vulnerable without her weapons than if she’d been standing naked in the room. But despite that, she felt a surge of gratitude toward Malek with the way he’d tried to intervene between her and Dax before she’d passed out. She tilted her head and gave him a small smile in appreciation for his efforts. His eyes warmed, and he gave her a barely discernible nod.

  “Where’s Terrance?” Dax demanded, crossing his arms over his chest while she pulled out her weapons. If his irritation was any indication, Dax hadn’t missed the way Malek had been looking at her or their exchange.

  Javyn winced. “I’m sorry, Dax. He’s missing.”

  Dax’s eyes narrowed. “Explain.”

  “We went down to his gambling hall, but his assistant hasn’t seen him for two days. No one knows where he’s gone.”

  Sabine started equipping her weapons, trying to suppress her frustration. If Dax would stop trying to control every situation involving her, she could have accompanied them. Javyn was skilled, but he could have missed something. Her ability to read a place’s energy far surpassed everyone in Dax’s employ. “Where is his gambling hall located?”

  “Past Elm in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of Dax’s territory,” Javyn admitted with a frown. “We searched his office, but we didn’t see any clue about where he’d gone.”

  “I want you to stay away from Terrance’s establishment until we get to the bottom of this, Sabine,” Dax said sharply.

  She arched an eyebrow and secured her throwing knives on her thigh. Straightening, she put her hands on her hips. “Are you dictating to me, Dax?”

  “Don’t fight me on this, Sabine,” he said, his voice tinged with a hint of a growl. “If Terrance has hired someone to kill you, I want you as far away from him as possible.”

  She tilted her head and walked toward Dax, putting the slightest bit of a swing in her steps. His gaze immediately became suspicious, but he stood his ground. Trailing her finger down his chest and over his wound with a trace of her magic, she reminded him, “I can take care of myself.”

  His nostrils flared, and he grabbed her wrist. “And you were at my mercy less than an hour ago. I want your word you’ll stay away from his gambling hall.”

  She jerked her chin up to meet Dax’s gaze. From the stubborn set to his jaw, she guessed he’d do anything within his power to stop her—including trying to keep her here. Recognizing the need to retreat before the situation became such that neither one of them would walk away unscathed, she pulled away from him.

  “I’ll agree to stay away from the gambling hall… for twenty-four hours.”

  His scowl deepened, but he didn’t argue. She’d have to figure out a way to find out more about Terrance without breaking her word or involving Dax. Picking up her hairpins, she placed them in the sheath with one of her daggers. It would take more time than she could spare to braid her hair.

  “We also went to his home,” Javyn continued with a frown. His hand rested on the hilt of the sword as though uncertain who he should try to protect if things continued to devolve between her and Dax. “There were signs of a struggle, and it appeared to have been searched, but he wasn’t there. I’m going to post a few men near both establishments to keep watch. If he shows up, we’ll know about it.”

  Dax started pacing the room, reminding her of a caged beast. “Reach out to our contacts within the city guards. I want a city-wide search conducted immediately.”

  Sabine turned and started to head out of the room. Dax stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  She glared at him. “I don’t answer to you, Dax. You do what you must, and I’ll do the same.”

  “I want you staying here until this threat is resolved.”

  “Be careful making demands of me,” she warned, sending a trace amount of her magic through his hand. It was enough to make her threat clear. He hastily released her arm and scowled. Without waiting for a response, she headed out of the room. It was time to find out who was responsible for orchestrating this attack and stop them.

  Sabine raised the hood of her cloak as she left the tavern. Even with the glamour she wore, her features were too recognizable. Under normal circumstances, she would have shifted her appearance slightly. She’d used too much magic to bring Dax back to himself after she’d stabbed him. Until her magic naturally replenished itself, she needed to conserve her strength. If someone were hunting her, she couldn’t afford to make any more mistakes. Some of the Fae or those who were part of the Wild Hunt had ways of dispelling a secondary glamour. It had taken her years to develop and strengthen her current mask so it wouldn’t fracture using any of their usual tricks.

  The moon shone brightly overhead, illuminating the streets better than the lanterns hanging along the path. Her boots crunched on the cobblestone street until she gradually softened her footfalls as she moved away from the tavern. Once she was far enough away to avoid prying eyes, she gathered the surrounding shadows until she was mostly hidden from sight. It was a minimal display of power, but it had served her well for years.

  Sabine reached into her pocket and withdrew one of the golden coins she habitually carried with her. Infusing it with a trace of her power, she transmuted it into wood and traced the first letter of her name. The heat of her magic formed the mark, settling into the wood as though eager to do her bidding.

  An old, blind woman was hunched over in front of an abandoned building, her empty cup beside her in a silent plea for an offering. Without saying a word, Sabine dropped the wooden coin into the cup with a hollow thud and continued walking. The woman inclined her head as Sabine passed, but neither one needed to exchange words. Bane would receive the message she needed to speak with him, and he’d reach out to her soon enough. Contacting Bane might cause more problems with Dax, but she needed information. Bane would have completed his interrogation of his men by now, and he’d hopefully have some insight to share.

  Sabine reached into her pocket again and withdrew a few more gold coins. This time, she didn’t bother transmuting them. For her next contact, gold carried far more weight than anything else. Turning a corner, she headed toward a more affluent area of the city—one with a heavy human influence.

  Akros was something of a remarkable city, founded more than a millennium ago by worshippers of the gods. It was later taken over by humans who had fled the war between the gods and the dragons. Once the portal collapsed and trapped the humans, they’d attempted to recreate their lost homeworld in this city. Although it was a melting pot of human and magical races, they didn’t always live in harmony. Pockets had emerged over time, with the non-magical humans claiming certain areas of the city while specific species gravitated to different ones. No other city in the world had such a diverse mix, and living in a place with a large population of iron-loving humans was one of the last places the Fae would ever look for her. Or so she hoped.

  Sabine sighed, trying to bury her fatigue and focus on her surroundings. The streets weren’t nearly as congested at this time of night.<
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  Walking in the direction of the local market, she rounded another corner. A young boy leaned against a wall feigning boredom, but the sharp look in his eyes made it apparent he was hunting for his next mark. Like many of the people in this area, Caleb was wholly human without an ounce of magic in his blood. He relied on his skills as a thief to keep coin in his pocket and food in his belly. It broke her heart a little to know how some humans treated their young.

  Children were precious amongst the Fae and many other magical races. Perhaps it was because they were slow to reproduce, though even wild animals typically cared better for their young than some humans. Although, she’d been a child once too—one with a death threat hanging over her head, forcing her to flee her home. Maybe the Fae weren’t as dissimilar to the humans as she’d once thought.

  Pushing aside the memories of a past better left forgotten, Sabine caught Caleb’s eye and nodded toward an alley. He slipped around the corner, and she followed him, halting once they were both out of sight from anyone who might be passing by.

  He offered her a quick grin as she dropped the coins into his outstretched hand. “What do ya need from us, milady?”

  She paused, studying Caleb in the moonlight. He was possibly a dozen years in age, but he carried the same worldly weight in his eyes as many of the street kids. At least he wasn’t as malnourished as he’d been when she’d first met him more than a year ago. The realization warmed her. She couldn’t save them all, but Caleb would survive and hopefully, even thrive.

  “I’m looking for information about someone named Terrance. He’s been running a gambling hall with Dax’s permission for the past few months.”

  Caleb nodded. “Aye. I know ‘im. There’s some hefty purses to lift near there if you’re quick enough and catch ‘em on the way in to gamble.”

  Her mouth twitched in a smile. “I bet. Do you go there often?”

  He shrugged. “Nah. Better coin here. Whatcha wanna know about ‘im?”

  “He’s disappeared. I need to locate him before Dax finds him,” she said quietly, and Caleb frowned at the mention of Dax. “Talk to Edvar. He’ll know who to speak with to find out what I’m looking for. I’ll stop by the crypt tomorrow evening to get the information from Edvar directly.”

  Caleb dropped the coins into his pocket. “I can ask around for ya, Sabine.”

  She wouldn’t put any of these children in a position to go up against Dax. Edvar was a bit different, but she wouldn’t endanger him either. Pride was a delicate thing to maneuver, especially when Caleb had fought so hard to prove his worth to her. She smiled gently and shook her head. “Only if Edvar agrees. Let him know I don’t want any risks taken and to stay away from Dax’s men.”

  He nodded. “I’ll let ‘im know. We ‘eard some other rumors too.” Caleb glanced around and leaned in closer, the overly ripe stench of unwashed adolescent affronting her sense of smell. “You know the stuff they found in the catacombs?”

  Sabine nodded.

  “They’ve gone an’ split it all up. They’ve been moving the treasures around the city and hired more guards to sit on ‘em. We think they’re expectin’ Dax to hit the places.”

  Her eyebrows rose. Now that was interesting. Dax had been itching to get his hands on whatever they’d found in the catacombs.

  Some of the city builders had been making repairs to the ancient plumbing in one of the oldest parts of the city. They’d broken through a wall and had discovered a treasure trove of valuable artifacts. Ever since then, Dax had been salivating at the thought of stealing whatever they’d found. He’d asked her to make some discreet inquiries while she investigated some of the other strange rumors floating around about the city council. That’s what had prompted her to meet with a prospective informant the night of her ambush.

  “Do you know where they’ve moved the items?”

  “Some are at City Hall, but we think Baxter Rasten took the best treasures to his home. You want me to find out for ya?”

  Sabine frowned. The councilman’s home wasn’t as secure as the vault at City Hall. It didn’t make sense why he would have moved them there. She didn’t have a good feeling about this.

  Not wanting to get Caleb involved in something that might get him hurt or worse, she said, “No. If they’re under heavy guard, it’s better if Dax handles it from here.”

  Caleb nodded. “Is there anything else I can do for ya?”

  Sabine studied Caleb again and his eager yet filthy face. Her mouth twitched in a smile. “What are the chances I can talk you into taking a bath?”

  Caleb wrinkled his nose. “Aww. The smell keeps the guards from chasing too hard.”

  Sabine laughed. “Then go. Good fortune to you, Caleb.”

  He grinned and scampered out of the alley to relay her request for information about Terrance to Edvar. It would take some time before either Edvar or Bane had any information to share with her. She yawned and stared up at the moon overhead. Whatever Dax had used in the wine had left her more than a little tired. Unfortunately, she needed to shake a few more tree limbs before finding a bed for the night.

  Turning back around, she headed out of the alley and toward the tavern again. The best source of information was Dax, but she wasn’t up to going another round with him. However, there was someone else who might be willing to help her.

  She located a well-worn familiar trellis and swiftly climbed until she was able to pull herself up to the roof. The streets were much faster, but they weren’t as safe as the rooftops. They were known as the thieves’ highway for a reason. Keeping her footsteps light to avoid disturbing anyone who slumbered below, she hopped from roof to roof, intent on her destination.

  Sabine slipped through the window and into the bedroom. Malek whirled around, a knife in his hand as though prepared to strike. She paused, tilted her head, and gave him a small smile.

  “Expecting trouble?”

  Malek lowered his knife, his expression turning curious. “Always. But I’ll take your brand of trouble instead.”

  She made a noncommittal noise. Malek’s bedroom was an attic room over the main floor of the tavern, but larger than some rooms Dax rented out to guests. Both beds appeared to have been used recently, leading her to believe Levin, Malek’s first mate, shared the same quarters. It made sense, especially if they didn’t trust Dax. And only a fool would trust a demon implicitly.

  Sabine walked over to the bed closest to Malek. “I haven’t been up here in years.”

  Malek put away the weapon and leaned against the wall. He continued to watch her with that unnerving intensity of his. “Is it the same as you remember?”

  “For the most part. Things don’t change around here very often,” Sabine admitted, trailing her fingers along the frayed edge of the blanket. It was well-worn, like so many other things in Akros. Henry, the bartender, and Martha, his wife, had done a remarkable job keeping everything running smoothly for so long. Dax was fortunate to have them.

  Sabine walked over to the desk closer to where Malek stood. A few papers were on top, but they didn’t appear to be anything other than his ship manifest and a few maps. A quick glance at the manifest told her Malek was transporting several profitable items but nothing overly remarkable. Although, if it were her, she’d never keep sensitive information anywhere in plain sight. Any of Malek’s secrets were probably on his ship or hidden elsewhere.

  A small engraved box caught her attention, and she traced the pattern with her fingertips. It was embedded with several colorful stones in a starburst pattern that was both beautiful and deceptively simplistic in its design. Such work was clearly the mark of a master artist.

  “Would you like to see what’s in it?”

  She pulled away her hand and lifted her gaze to regard Malek. He smiled and opened the box to reveal a small metallic tube nestled inside. It looked similar to a spyglass used by ship captains, but it was much smaller than any she’d ever seen. He picked it up and offered it to her. “Take a look.”


  Curious, she took it from him and looked through the end. Colors, vibrant and bold, exploded in her vision. She jerked it away, and Malek chuckled. She frowned and studied the piece of metal, trying to figure out how it worked.

  Malek leaned in closer, and she caught a whiff of incense clinging to his clothing. It was an exotic scent, captivating and alluring, and one more reminder he was completely foreign. Part of her wanted to inhale his scent again, but humans could be strange about that sort of thing.

  Malek gestured toward the tube. “Look again. I’ll show you how to make it work.”

  After the slightest hesitation, she held it up to her eye again and took another peek. He placed his hand over hers, his light touch causing her stomach to flutter with a strange awareness. She swallowed, trying to suppress her instincts and not respond with her magic.

  “What do I do?”

  “You turn the end like this,” he whispered, his voice husky and almost right next to her ear. It was enough to send a small shiver through her. Gods. If he could cause this sort of reaction with nothing more than a slight touch, she was at a disadvantage.

  Keeping his touch light, he turned the end of the tube, and Sabine gasped. Colors shifted and merged in a hypnotizing and silent dance.

  His warm breath tickled her ear as he murmured, “It’s called a kaleidoscope.”

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, unable to tear her gaze away from the swirling colors. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  His fingertips brushed against hers again, and she lifted her head to find him studying her intently. He searched her expression for a long time. “If I offered it to you, would you accept it?”

  Sabine frowned and reluctantly put it back in the box. For him to ask such a question might mean he suspected her origins. It could be innocent, but he’d also caught her using major magic on the night of the attack and then using glamour to cover up the tattoo. One incident might be explained away, but she’d been careless lately. Even using her magic to temper Dax’s rage earlier had been a mistake. Too many coincidences could force her into betraying all her secrets.