Dax narrowed his eyes. “And what makes you think I’ll allow that?”
“The fact I’m paying you.” Malek held Dax’s gaze, refusing to back down. “I’m providing you with a great deal of coin to secure this artifact, and I intend to make sure there are no problems. This is not a request.”
Sabine blinked, regarding him with surprise. “This item is for you?”
Malek nodded at her. “Yes. I’ve hired Dax and his crew to acquire this artifact.”
“Out of the question. This was not our agreement. You’ll receive it as previously discussed,” Dax snapped, crossing his arms over his chest. “I will not take an untested observer along with my crew. Not only that, but I don’t trust you.”
“Name your price,” Malek challenged.
Before Dax could argue further or make another outlandish request, Sabine put her hand on the demon’s arm. “Another weapon on our side may tip the balance in our favor, Dax. If they’re moving the artifact out tomorrow, you know we need to do this tonight. We haven’t had time to properly case the place. Malek knows how to walk in the shadows. I think you should allow it.”
The air shifted around the demon, and Malek had the sudden insight Sabine was sending a small wave of her magic into him. She gave the demon a small cryptic smile and barely discernible nod.
Dax turned back to him with a look of disgust. “Very well. You may accompany us. In return, you will deliver another chest of coin at the same time as the rest of the payment. If you are the reason this endeavor fails and we are unable to secure the item, the full payment is still due.”
Malek inclined his head in agreement. He wasn’t sure why Sabine had helped convince the demon, but he wasn’t going to argue. The sooner he completed his mission and left this city, the better. As Sabine had warned him, Dax was growing more suspicious and less tolerant of Malek’s presence. He just hoped he might be able to convince Sabine to come with him when he left.
Sabine stood in the alley behind Dax with Malek standing beside her. Everyone was in position, waiting for Dax’s signal. He turned to Malek and pulled out a knife, flipping it over and offering it hilt first. “A blood oath is required, or you will wait here in the alley.” His eyes flashed silver. “This is not a request.”
Malek narrowed his eyes but didn’t take the blade. “What oath?”
Sabine tensed, knowing this could get ugly. She had the impression Malek was as much a predator as Dax, and neither one was willing to back down. It was probably foolish of her to intervene in their argument earlier, but Sabine was curious about why Malek wanted to come along. She’d wrongly assumed Dax would have regulated him to accompany Javyn, but Dax had decided to keep Malek with them instead. If she had to guess, she’d say Dax was still trying to manipulate the situation so he could eliminate Malek.
She might understand and respect Dax’s reasonings for the oath, but Malek wouldn’t. Deciding it would be best to intervene again before either one decided to shed blood, she took the knife from Dax. He scowled at her. She ignored him and turned away, taking his silence as reluctant agreement he’d accept her handling of the situation.
Sabine looked up at Malek, whose expression had softened to one of curiosity. The oath she was about to ask him to make was one that had to be adhered by both magic users and mundane humans. It wasn’t something done lightly, and she wouldn’t normally ask such a thing. If Malek refused, Dax would kill him right here and now. And she would have to stand by and let him.
Hoping she wasn’t wrong about Malek, she chose her words carefully. “The night we met, you offered me your word you didn’t intend me any harm. Tonight, I ask you to make it official. By blood and moonlight, I ask for your oath you will not reveal anything you see, hear, or learn tonight.”
Malek straightened, darting a quick glance at Dax before focusing on her again. The ship captain nodded and held out his hand, allowing her to place the hilt of the blade in it. A surge of relief rushed through her at his quick acceptance. Malek flipped the knife around, much in the same manner Dax had done, and sliced open his non-weapon hand.
He curled his injured hand into a fist. “By blood and moonlight, I swear I intend you no harm. I further swear not to reveal any secrets that might be seen, heard, or learned tonight without your leave to do so.”
Sabine held out her hand, and he placed his injured hand over hers. His blood spilled onto her hand. She froze, staggered by the raw power in his blood.
Her gaze flew up to meet his, but he kept his expression neutral. Only the slight tension in his shoulders belied his nonchalance. She swallowed her unease and blew softly over his hand, infusing her breath with the magic of her ancestors to seal their bargain and heal his wound. She wasn’t a healer by any means, except for this one ability granted by a promise and gift of blood.
Still somewhat shaken by the unexpected rush of power in Malek’s blood, she managed to complete the ritualistic words. “By blood and moonlight, I accept and bind your oath.”
Sabine started to pull away, but Malek captured her hand. He held her gaze, lifted her hand, and placed a gentle kiss on it. Charmed by the romantic gesture, she gazed up at him and gave him a shy smile. It might be a small thing to others, but no one had ever treated her like this before.
Dax scowled, snatched his knife back, and re-sheathed it. “Sabine, it’s time.”
Reluctantly, she pulled her hand away from Malek and nodded. It was time to honor her part of the debt they’d forged years earlier. One caveat to their original agreement was if Dax’s coffers dropped below a certain amount, he had the right to call upon her for assistance. He’d been spending quite a bit of coin lately trying to get information about the city council and paying off guards, but part of that was because he was trying to expand his territory. She knew Dax sometimes manipulated the situation as it pleased him, particularly when he was in a mood and she wasn’t feeling accommodating. But they always adhered to their agreement.
Sabine removed her cloak, needing more freedom of movement. Dax took it from her, tossing it out of the way and deeper into the alley. They’d retrieve it later, or one of his men would. Dax’s hand wrapped around her neck, the skin-to-skin contact necessary for what they were about to attempt. It was only when he was hiding her presence in this manner that she could safely tap into the full scope of her magic. Otherwise, those who hunted her would be drawn to her power like a beacon.
She paused for a moment, wondering if the magical burst she’d exhibited during the ambush had drawn attention to herself. Perhaps that was the reason Balkin was returning to Akros. He’d told her he would come for her when it was time to bring her home, but it was still too soon. The timing wasn’t right yet.
Dax stroked her neck in a warning, and she pushed aside the errant thoughts to focus on the task at hand. Dax had never been overly patient, and they had a job to do. Although major magic could be worked without blood, a few drops helped make it easier and allowed her to keep excess power in reserve. It was also risky because blood contained power, especially hers.
Sabine pulled out her dagger, pricked her finger, and allowed two drops of blood to fall to the cobblestones. In the language of her birth, she whispered, “By blood, by magic, by rights of both, I call upon the memory of the gods who have abandoned this world. May the darkness fall and shadows dance freely within the night.”
Clouds, dark and ominous, streaked across the sky, stealing the light of the moon. Sabine pricked another finger and allowed two more drops to fall to the stones below. She knew without looking the first ones had dissipated the moment the magic consumed her blood. “By blood, by magic, by rights of both, I call upon the memory of the gods who have abandoned this world. May the light shine brightly within those who embrace the darkness.”
A sharp and biting wind blew through the streets, causing fallen leaves and debris to scatter. As the magical wind caressed Dax’s men, it would infuse them with power, giving them enhanced speed and luck for the duration of the magic.<
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She cut a third finger and held it up. Dax leaned forward, catching her blood on his tongue before the drops could fall to the ground. He closed his eyes for a moment, and she could feel her magic rushing through him and filling him with purpose. Until the moon returned and the magic exhausted itself, his power would be magnified far beyond his normal abilities. His ties to this world were once again cemented, and he was now as powerful here as he would be trapped in the underworld. Stolen blood could never be used for this purpose, even though many had tried over the centuries. The magic flared bright and true only when offered as a gift or a bargain was struck.
Dax stroked her neck again, indicating it was done. He released her and moved forward to the end of the alley, waiting for Javyn to initiate the distraction. The moon’s disappearance was the prearranged signal for Dax’s men to move into position.
Sabine glanced over at Malek to find a stunned expression on his face. Underneath was a covetous and predatory look, which caused her heart to race. She hesitated for a moment, concerned she’d misread him. But anyone with the strength of magic he possessed shouldn’t have been able to make the oath he did and still intend her harm. She bit her lip, hoping she hadn’t been wrong.
As though sensing her unease, his expression gentled and he reached out, brushing the backs of his fingers against hers. He gave her the slightest hint of a smile as his eyes warmed. It was enough to make her relax. Oh, he might still hurt her. But the intention wouldn’t be there. Besides, the heart was always at risk when emotions became involved. She wanted to trust his intentions were honorable. She just hoped she wasn’t being foolish.
A birdlike whistle pierced the night, the only signal they’d receive to let them know the guards were being lured away. Dax hastened out of the alley and leapt over the wall to the garden, quickly disappearing from sight. She followed, jumping over the wall and trusting Malek was behind her. Landing softly on the ground, she ran toward the building. Like the magic she’d unleashed, those who sought the cover of the shadows tonight would have an easier time moving unseen. They still needed to hurry because the more people who were involved, the faster the magic would dissipate.
Dax bent down, offering her a foothold. She ran, using the momentum to throw herself into the air and over the second-floor balcony. She could have made it without his assistance, but she needed to conserve her remaining magic until after they escaped. Kneeling in front of the double doors, she tested the door to find it locked. Withdrawing her knife, she pricked her finger again and coated the tip of the blade with a drop of blood. At this rate, she was going to run out of fingers. Pressing the point of the dagger into the door lock, she listened for the almost silent snick of the lock disengaging.
Dax climbed over the balcony, dropping down silently. She moved away from the door, allowing him to take point. Malek appeared almost a second later, moving closer to the building and deeper into the shadows to hide from anyone who may have a view of the balcony.
Dax leaned against the wall at the edge of the door and glanced down at her. She gave him a nod, indicating it was unlocked. Dax pressed his hand against the door and closed his eyes, undoubtedly using his abilities to search for any lifeforce present on the other side. After several heartbeats, he opened the door and slipped inside. She motioned for Malek to stay close as they crept behind Dax.
The councilman’s home was more of a mansion than a house, with hand-carved furniture and rich tapestries. The faint scent of a cigar tickled her nose. Sabine rubbed it absently as she gazed longingly at the floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books on almost every subject. It had been a few months since she’d last visited, and it appeared the councilman had obtained a few more tomes.
Pushing aside the temptation to explore these new treasures, she headed directly for the safe embedded in the wall. It was unlikely it contained the item Dax was looking for, but they couldn’t move on until they checked. Sabine moved aside the picture hiding the safe and stepped back, allowing Dax to begin working on the lock.
Malek positioned himself close to the window to watch the streets below for the guards. Sabine didn’t bother. Javyn would keep the guards busy for a while. Instead, she ran her fingers over the books on the shelves and studied some of the newer titles. The councilman had been busy collecting books on magical items. She didn’t remember any of these from her last visit. Curious, she pulled one out and flipped it open to a marked page.
Malek approached her and placed his hand against her back, leaning over to see what had caught her interest. She glanced up at him but didn’t pull away. Malek seemed to take every opportunity to touch her, and she’d found she enjoyed it far more than she expected.
The book she’d picked up appeared to be little more than nonsense. It was a madman’s ramblings, most likely a human who was running tests on items forged with magic. A lot of it was speculation about things he didn’t understand. When the humans had become trapped on their world and the portal closed, they began hunting for ways to adapt to living amongst the magical races. The first witches and warlocks were created using these methods, trying to steal magic from others and forcing it to bend to their will.
Like the offering she’d made to Dax, magic needed to be gifted or part of a bargain for it to remain effective. The humans eventually realized this simple truth, which ended up being part of the reason there were so many mixed heritages. Even Esme was mostly human, but somewhere in her family line was a dryad who had mated with a human.
The notes scribbled in the margins of the book were a little more interesting. Someone, possibly the councilman, had made several references to the light and the dark. It wasn’t a concept humans typically embraced, preferring a more simplistic view of good and evil. He further went on to write about how the dark could be trapped by the light, and vice versa. Sabine frowned, wondering if the councilman had been experimenting with magic and whether this had anything to do with the strange rumors circulating in Akros. If Baxter had discovered the artifacts were magical items, he might be trying to use them for some unknown purpose. It would explain some of the secrecy.
Dax opened the safe, and Sabine slid the book back onto the shelf. She’d have to come back at a later time and investigate more thoroughly. Leaning over Dax’s shoulder, she watched as he pushed aside some papers to reveal a box tucked into the back of the safe. He pulled it out and flicked it open, studying the sparkling diamond necklace resting inside. It wasn’t dwarven workmanship nor magical in nature, and only somewhat pretty. Dax arched his brow in a silent question. She wrinkled her nose and shook her head.
He nodded, withdrew the necklace, and tossed the empty box back into the safe. If she had indicated she liked it, the jewelry would probably make its way into a gift of some kind for her. Since she was ambivalent about it, Dax would likely sell it and distribute the profits to his crew.
It clearly wasn’t the item they were hunting, so Dax put it in his pocket, closed the safe, and moved the picture covering it back into position. Malek glanced at her with a question in his eyes. She shook her head to indicate they needed to keep looking.
Dax moved to the door leading out into the hall. Pressing his hand on the door, he closed his eyes again and breathed deeply. His shoulders tensed and he jerked his head in her direction. Sabine grabbed Malek’s hand and pulled him into the corner of the room just as Dax moved in front of them. Reaching out, she touched Dax’s hand and focused on gathering the surrounding shadows just as the door swung open.
The light in the room changed slightly, but not enough to alert anyone of the deepening shadows. It wasn’t an invisibility spell. Such things were impossible, but perceptions and lighting could be changed to hide someone from view. It was also possible to plant a suggestion for people not to notice them, encouraging them to slide their gaze past them as though they were a fixture or furnishing. The magic flowed over them, not penetrating Malek’s warding, but it didn’t matter. The type of magic she was using wasn’t designed to affect him d
irectly; it was simply necessary to mask his presence.
Footsteps moved across the floor of the library, most likely from one of the guards patrolling the house. Dax silently slid a knife out of its sheath, but he wouldn’t break her shadow illusion unless the guard got too close. Sabine kept her breathing quiet and glanced over at Malek to see he’d also angled himself protectively in front of her and had drawn a weapon. Despite the danger, she smiled to herself at the gesture. She could handle herself fine, but it only reinforced her earlier decision to trust him.
The moment the guard was gone, Dax slipped his knife back in its sheath and jerked his head toward the door. Sabine released the magic masking their presence and followed him. Some of Dax’s people were probably still searching downstairs. Either Javyn or Verin most likely already had contacts amongst the servants, allowing them to move downstairs a bit easier. The second floor was more dangerous, which was why Dax had wanted to handle this part himself.
Even with her ability to manipulate the shadows, moving around unseen with three people was far more challenging than if she’d been alone. But with the guards or hired mercenaries lurking around, Dax would never have agreed to allow her to break into the councilman’s home without him. Malek carried himself well though. He hadn’t panicked, which was always a concern when someone was new to this type of activity. It made her even more curious about his background and where he’d learned some of his skills.
They moved down the hallway toward the master bedroom—the other location with a hidden safe. Thievery had never been her primary motivation. She’d originally broken into the councilman’s home years earlier because she had been looking for information about the political climate in Akros. When she’d seen his expansive library, she knew she’d never be able to stay away.
Dax opened the door to the bedroom. Sabine slipped inside and immediately felt the unmistakable pulse of magic in the room. She grabbed Dax’s arm and whispered, “Wait.”
To Kill a Fae Page 14