He swallowed, trying to focus on her question rather than the way she felt pressed against him. At least he wasn’t in danger of falling asleep. Now a different sort of need was plaguing him. “Only a bit from my dealings in Karga. I’m not sure which group these belong to, but there are dozens of desert tribes. They’re a proud and rugged people, and their culture is heavily steeped in tradition. They’re not bad people, but I’m not sure how we’ll fare if we can’t escape before we arrive in their camp.”
Sabine fell silent for several minutes and then lifted her head to regard him. “How are you feeling?”
Malek gave a half-hearted shrug. He could easily sleep for a full week, but they couldn’t even afford a few hours. “I’ll feel better once we’re safely away. I caught sight of where they put our weapons. If we can get word to him, Bane should be able to melt through his bindings without any trouble.”
Sabine frowned and glanced toward the back of the caravan. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Holding his death magic over the ship took too much from him. The fire he summoned on the beach was likely the last of his magic. He’s as weakened as I am, if not more so.”
“Damn,” Malek muttered, running his hand up and down Sabine’s arm to warm her. He’d been counting on Bane to help with their escape, but that wasn’t going to be an option. Even if they had their weapons, they were too outnumbered to be effective against the desert tribe. If Bane didn’t have access to his power, it explained Sabine’s worry for the demon.
He sighed. “It’ll be several hours before any of us have recovered enough power to be able to escape. We need to find a way to be reunited with Bane before then. The closer we get to their village, the more difficult it will be to leave undetected.”
She laid her head against his chest. “Will they travel throughout the night?”
“It’s doubtful, but I can’t swear to it. From what I’ve heard, the desert clans claim certain territories. They’re forbidden from hunting or even making camp in any areas that aren’t neutral or claimed by their tribe. They’ll likely travel until we reach one of those areas.”
She fell silent again and he settled back, enjoying having her in his arms even if circumstances weren’t ideal. The cart jerked as though it had hit a hole but continued moving steadily onward. He studied the inside of the cart thoughtfully, somewhat surprised it wasn’t having more trouble on these broken roads. Not only was the cart overcrowded with traveling supplies and animals still curing from their recent hunt, but the joints were somewhat corroded. If the rhythmic wobbling was any indication, the wooden wheels were beginning to warp too.
He straightened. “I have an idea how we might be reunited with Bane.”
Sabine sat up to regard him. “How?”
“They put us in here so they didn’t need to watch us every second. They trust us a bit more than they trust Bane.”
Sabine frowned and darted another look out the back of the wagon. “None of them will speak to us. Every time we try, they make a sign of protection and move farther away.” She sighed and leaned against him again. “I think it’s more likely they simply view us as less threatening than a demon. With only one way in or out, it makes sense to conserve their resources. They can have one person keep an eye on the cart instead of having several guards watch over us.”
He grinned. “True. But if something happens to one side of the cart, they’ll have to bring us out while they repair it. They won’t risk damaging their meat or the hides. Once we’re out, I doubt they’ll watch us too closely.”
“You might be right, but they removed any tools or items we could have used to damage it.” Sabine gestured toward the meat, hides, collapsed tents, and bedding around them. The cart jostled them again, knocking a few of the bedding items on their sides.
“Not exactly,” Malek said quietly, keeping an eye on one of the hunters who had moved a bit closer. He waited until the hunter fell back to speak with one of his companions before continuing.
“I told you my power was different from yours. I don’t need magic to change forms, but it helps the process. Even in this form, I can heat the metal bolts securing the wheels to the cart.”
Her eyes widened. She straightened and gave him a brilliant smile, her eyes sparkling with hopeful excitement. Malek froze, unable to tear his gaze away from her. She was attractive in her glamoured form, but her smile made her positively radiant. He’d pay a small fortune to have her smile at him without the illusions she wore like armor to hide herself from the world.
Sabine placed her hand against his arm. “How will this work?”
“I was hoping you might be able to help me,” he admitted, the beginning of a plan forming in his mind. “I know you don’t have much magic to spare, but you can read the memories of the wood in this cart, right? Similar to what you did on the ship?”
Sabine’s smile faded, and she pulled her hand away. Her expression became guarded as she asked, “What do you wish of me, Malek Rish’dan?”
He paused, searching her expression for a long time. The warmth and familiarity she’d exhibited a few moments ago had disappeared. In its place was a woman who was now regarding him with a great deal of suspicion and even wariness. The use of his full name warned him that she was treating his request with more formality than he’d intended.
The Fae were fierce when it came to favors and debts, and he suspected she was waiting for him to press his advantage. He didn’t fully understand their culture, but he knew enough to understand he needed to handle the next few minutes carefully or risk losing any ground he’d established with her.
It reminded him of their first meeting when he’d killed one of the men attacking her. Then later, he’d negotiated with her again when she’d snuck into his room at the inn. Only this time, she wasn’t flirting with him to set him off-balance and gain an advantage. The realization shocked him. The woman in his arms just a few minutes ago had been the true Sabine, one who had relaxed enough to curl up against a dragon.
More determined than ever to win her affections, he smiled as though unconcerned with her tone. He tucked a braid behind her ear and then trailed his thumb across her cheek. Her shoulders tensed and her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t pull away.
Elation rushed through him. Sabine might be wary, but she was also beginning to trust him. It was enough to give him hope. Perhaps Blossom had been right when she’d suggested Sabine cared about him too.
Malek nodded toward the opposite wall of the cart, which appeared to be formed by wooden planks. “I can’t see the metal from here to breathe dragonfire directly on them, but if you can read the wood enough to help direct my dragonfire to the metal, we can loosen the bolts.”
She blinked up at him, and her shoulders relaxed. “Not a favor then.”
He shook his head. “No favors. A cooperative effort between allies to rescue our companions.”
Her gaze softened, and she murmured, “It would seem I owe you an apology.”
He pressed his finger against her lips to eliminate any need to repay a perceived slight. “Trust takes time, Sabine. We may have been through a great deal together since we met, but we haven’t known each other for long. You haven’t stayed alive this long by trusting easily. No apologies. Not from you.”
Sabine’s mouth curved in a hint of a smile, and she nodded. She leaned forward to cup his face and brush a featherlight kiss against his mouth.
When she pulled away, Malek said, “If kissing you is my reward for not asking any favors, I’ll never ask for anything again.”
Sabine laughed, her eyes dancing with amusement. “I’ll see what I can do.” She paused, tilting her head to regard him. “Back on your ship, you said I keep surprising you. The truth is you keep surprising me too, Malek.”
He took her hand and squeezed it gently. “At least our travels together won’t ever be boring.”
“There is that,” she said in agreement and then fell silent, staring at their clasped hands. “Reading dead wood requires far more
magic than living wood. It’s possible to do, but I’ll need to remove my glamour to access my full strength. Unfortunately, I’ll be more of a liability for a time afterward until my power is replenished. We also run the risk of alerting my family to my presence since Bane isn’t close enough to shield me. I don’t believe they’ll be able to summon the Wild Hunt again so soon, but I can’t swear to it.”
He frowned. “Damn. I didn’t think about that. I suppose I can try heating up one side of the cart and hope it helps loosen the bolts. You may want to stay on this side and close to the exit while I try it. You should probably hold on too. Since it’s wood, there’s a chance it’ll catch fire.”
He started to move away, but she grabbed his arm. “Wait, Malek. There is… another possibility.”
“Oh?”
Sabine reached over to touch the mark she’d placed on his wrist the night they met. It was a temporary marker acknowledging a minor debt or, rather, an intent to share a private dinner together. It hadn’t happened yet, so the marker hadn’t disappeared. “With your agreement, I can change the mark to signify a different sort of arrangement between us. Changing it won’t require much magic, since the mark already exists. It should give me enough power to read the wood without making me a liability.”
He arched his brow, more curious than suspicious. From what he’d seen, Sabine was both cautious and fiercely loyal. He doubted she’d make a suggestion that would endanger either of them or be anything other than fair. “What sort of arrangement are you suggesting?”
She ran her fingertips over the mark. “One that may be mutually beneficial, but it’s something we both need to consider carefully. If I alter the mark and its intent, it will allow us to share power between us without the need to exchange blood. We can do far more together and with less magic than if we remain separate.”
He leaned back in surprise. To his knowledge, he hadn’t thought such a thing was possible. He’d assumed his dragon grandfather and Fae step-grandmother had needed to share blood to exchange power.
Intrigued by what this could mean as far as his relationship with Sabine, he asked, “I had no idea you could do that. Is this a Fae ability or just yours?”
She hesitated and lowered her gaze. “Any Fae can create a debt marker, but only some of us can alter an existing mark in such fashion. It’s an ability which has been granted to certain bloodlines.” She paused and then lifted her head to meet his eyes. “This type of arrangement isn’t entered into lightly, but I believe I can trust you, Malek.”
Taken aback, he glanced down at the triangular pattern on his skin. Bane had a similar design on his wrist, but there were some slight variations and richer colors in the demon’s marker. “This change you’re suggesting, is it similar to the one you’ve given Bane?”
“Not quite,” she said with a small frown and glanced toward the rear of the caravan where Bane had been taken. “What’s between Bane and myself is a different sort of arrangement. He swore an oath to protect and serve me in exchange for certain… concessions.”
Malek would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious about those concessions. He didn’t think she’d be willing to discuss it with him, and he wasn’t about to pry now that she’d warmed up to him again. “I see. How will this new arrangement work then?”
She paused, scanning the contents of the cart. She reached over to pick up an empty bucket that had been tossed in the corner. “I suppose we can compare this new arrangement to a bucket.”
His brow furrowed. “I think you’re going to have to explain.”
Sabine smiled. “I know it sounds strange, but let’s assume this bucket belongs to both of us. It’s a shared possession. It can be used for different purposes, but it falls to the person holding it to determine how they intend to use it.”
When he nodded, Sabine gestured toward the bucket and said, “If you agree to allow me to use the bucket, I might decide to carry some items in it.” She offered it to him. “If I agree to allow you to use it, you might decide to bail out water from your ship.” She took the bucket away again. “But if I refuse to allow you to use the bucket, you won’t be able to bail water. We both must agree how it shall be used and who will be directing it.”
“Ah,” Malek murmured as understanding filled him. “The intent must be there on both our parts for the magic to work.”
The wagon hit another hole, jostling it hard enough to make a few more items topple over. Sabine tossed the bucket back in the corner and said, “Exactly, and we won’t need to make a sacrifice when we share power. This arrangement is a type of sacrifice—the death of autonomy and the birth of trust. As such, it will be more difficult to dissolve than our current one.”
He moved his wrist closer to her. “Go ahead and change the mark.”
She lifted her gaze and frowned. “You don’t want to know how to dissolve it first?”
Malek chuckled. “Sabine, I’m not in a hurry to be rid of you. I’ve been wanting a deeper connection with you, and I’m not foolish enough to believe I’m the only one accepting this risk.” He leaned forward and added, “I trust you.”
Her mouth formed a thin line. “It’s dangerous to trust any Fae.”
“I’m not trusting any Fae,” he said gently and squeezed her hand. “I’m trusting you.”
Sabine searched his expression. After a long moment, she nodded. “Then allow me to tell you the rest before we do this.”
He waited, and she sighed. “This next part isn’t shared openly with outsiders, but marks of this nature often take on a life of their own. It’s wild magic, the same type that originally created the Wild Hunt and changed the Huntsman from his original form. It’s why only a few royal bloodlines have this power, those families who first combined their magic to breathe life into the Hunt. It’s also why the Wild Hunt still affirms the line of succession. That was once part of the Hunt’s original purpose, before it forged its own path.”
Malek sat back, thoroughly stunned. Blossom had shared some of what had transpired back in Akros while he’d been in dragon form, but now he was questioning everything he’d ever learned about the Fae. “Is that why the Huntsman was willing to exploit a loophole for you? Because the Wild Hunt has acknowledged your right to rule?”
Sabine nodded and stared out the back of the cart. “In part. After the death of my mother, they declared I was the rightful leader of the Unseelie. I believe the Huntsman also views me with some… affection. Like them, I’m neither fully Seelie nor Unseelie. Although they are closer to the Unseelie, they’re more independent than most Fae are willing to admit.”
Malek arched his brow. “If these marks are wild magic, are you suggesting this change might turn one or both of us into something similar to the Huntsman? And create a new Wild Hunt?”
Sabine smiled and shook her head. “No. The original intent has to be similar for such a thing to occur. I’m simply saying the closer we become, the more the lines may blur. It may come to pass that one day we’re able to borrow the bucket without asking the other for permission. It may not be our intent for things to develop that way, but it could happen.”
Malek chuckled. “Sabine, from what you’re saying, I think this is more of a risk for you than it is for me. No matter what magic we share, you won’t be able to transform into a dragon. Are you sure you want to do this?”
Sabine was quiet for so long, he thought she might be reconsidering her suggestion to change their connection. Unwilling to push her, he opened his mouth to suggest they try his original idea when she lifted her head.
“I want a deeper connection with you too, Malek,” she admitted in a soft voice. “But what’s already developing between us worries me.”
The vulnerability in her eyes surprised him. There were facets to her nature he hadn’t even begun to discover. He squeezed her hand and said, “Talk to me, Sabine. I won’t push you to do this, but I’d like to know your concerns.”
She lowered her gaze to their clasped hands. “When I fled Faerie,
I never imagined I’d encounter a dragon. I know very little about your ways, except what I learned in stories designed to frighten Fae children.”
Malek frowned. “Are you worried I might take advantage of our connection?”
She gave him a small smile and shook her head. “No. You’ve already shown me you’re not what I once believed, but we still don’t know each other very well. It took me years of knowing Bane before I even considered our current arrangement.” Sabine paused and stared out the back of the cart. “My ignorance is a liability we can’t afford, Malek. That much was proven earlier today when we were attacked. I wasn’t aware the Merfolk hated demons. That lack on my part was what led to Esme and your crew being taken from us. Now we’re in a similar situation. I don’t—”
Another hunter approached on his mount, and Sabine fell silent. Malek tensed and inwardly kicked himself. He’d been so focused on Sabine, he hadn’t been paying much attention to their surroundings. The hunter peered into the cart, gave them both a curt nod, and moved aside.
Once he was out of earshot, Malek relaxed slightly and said, “Go on.”
Sabine frowned. “I know virtually nothing about these desert people, except they view us as enemies. I was the one who insisted Bane deplete his magic back on the ship. Now he’s facing the possibility of being banished back to the underworld or even killed. I swore to him I would never allow that to happen.”
She lifted her gaze, and the despair in her eyes wounded him. Malek frowned, feeling sorely ill-equipped to alleviate her guilt. If Bane were with them, he might be able to convince Sabine she was wrong, but Malek couldn’t allow Sabine to keep punishing herself over circumstances that were beyond her control. He just hoped he didn’t make things worse.
Malek sighed and said, “I think you’re being a little hard on yourself. You lived most of your life in Faerie. No one expects you to know everything about foreign cultures, especially with how isolated your people have been. I’ve been studying for years, and I’ve only scratched the surface.”
She frowned, her lips turning to an adorable pout. “That’s not an acceptable excuse. I should have known better than to allow Bane to travel on your ship without a way to mask his identity. Now Esme, Bane, Levin, and the others are all in danger because of my poor decisions.”
By Blood and Magic Page 7
