“Your hospitality is generous.” Malek suspected the offer was more of an order than a request. He’d prepared and even hoped for such a thing, but that was before he’d known Dax was a demon. This entire endeavor had just become more challenging, and the chances for success had taken a swift nosedive into murky waters. Unfortunately, failure to acquire the artifacts he was hunting would have much more far-reaching repercussions.
Sabine slipped behind a column, holding the darkness around her like a thick cloak. The wound at her side throbbed; otherwise, she never would have ventured here. The two men’s voices grew louder as they approached the room. The door creaked open, and Sabine held her breath as they moved deeper into the room.
“Enough, Evo. I’m not prepared to consider his request at this time,” Bane said with a trace of irritation in his voice.
“I understand your reservations, sir,” Evo argued, “but we could use the extra manpower. We’re getting more requests from farther away, and it would benefit our cause to have a presence in other cities. Would you at least consider taking on some additional recruits if I personally vetted each one?”
Bane was quiet for a long time, but his footsteps moved toward the desk. “I suppose you already have a list?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. I’ll take a look at your other alternatives in the morning,” Bane agreed and then sighed. “Close the door on your way out, Evo.”
“Of course. Goodnight.”
The floorboard creaked, and Sabine leaned against the column, listening as Evo’s footsteps moved toward the door. The door shut, and Sabine heard the clink of glasses before Bane said, “I just acquired a new case of dwarven ale. You might enjoy this one.”
Despite the pain from her injury, Sabine smiled and moved around the column to face the demon. Bane’s darkened skin shone in the lamplight, and the two jutting horns on his otherwise bald head indicated the expansive power at his fingertips. He could be a formidable opponent against his enemies, but there was no sign of that now. Instead, he stood beside the bar on the opposite end of the room and held out a glass toward her.
“You always know when I’m here,” she complained, walking over to him.
Bane smirked. “You always make it easy for me.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she took the proffered glass. She sniffed at it and then wrinkled her nose in distaste. With the way he drank, one would think Bane was a dwarf. It was a stark reminder of their differences.
“Try it, little one, and stop making that face.” Bane took a drink. “If you visited more often, I might be tempted to acquire a case of your preferred wine.”
“If you get hold of a case of my wine, I might consider it,” she agreed but took a sip. Dear gods. It was as bad as the smell had warned. Placing the horrific brew back on the bar, she turned to him. “I’ll never understand how you can drink that swill. I’ve crafted more palatable poisons.”
“I suppose it’s an acquired taste.” Bane put down his drink and took a step closer to her. “I’m assuming you’re here for another reason. How badly are you hurt?”
Sabine frowned and lifted her shirt. Exhaling slowly, she released the glamour masking the injury. It wasn’t as serious as she’d feared, more of a surface wound than anything but it was still bleeding. If there hadn’t been so many of them, her attacker never would have managed to get a lucky strike with his blade. But she couldn’t risk allowing it to heal naturally. She’d temporarily stopped it from bleeding with her magic, but it was already failing. Magic was in her blood, and hers could be dangerous—especially if the wrong people discovered it.
Bane’s eyes roamed over her. “You could release all of your glamour, Sabine. It’s been a long time since you allowed me to see your truth.”
Sabine turned her head away, her long hair offering a protective curtain to hide the emotion his words evoked. Over the years, she’d only risked lowering her glamour in times of great need. It was painful holding on to it all the time, but she’d grown accustomed to it. When one lived with constant pain for so long, it became part of their psyche. But part of her still yearned for freedom.
“Don’t push, Bane. Not here. It makes it harder to hold on to it when you say such things.”
He fell silent and trailed his fingers over her side. His touch was gentle, but Sabine winced as he brushed against the injury. When he spoke, a sharp edge of fury laced his tone. “Who’s responsible for this?”
She turned back to him. “Fix it and my hand. Then I’ll tell you what I know.”
Bane scowled and continued to trail his fingers over her skin. When nothing happened, she narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re as stubborn as Dax. Heal it or back the hell off.”
“Don’t compare me to him,” he growled, threading his power through his fingertips and into her skin.
Despite what many people believed, healing wasn’t a pleasant experience. The body would repair itself naturally over time, but a forced healing made the recipient relive the original injury—only worse. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Magic was the same. Every small bit required a type of sacrifice. Her own brand of magic was no different.
When she’d killed those men, she’s stolen part of their life’s energy and had been holding it in reserve. Through touch, she now gifted some of it to Bane in exchange for his healing. He eagerly accepted the offering, easing the balance of debt between them and erasing the burden from her soul. His fingertips became more heated as they trailed over her skin, healing her injuries. He leaned toward her, putting both his hands on her waist and pulled her closer. With a growl, he lowered his head and kissed her.
Sabine immediately stiffened, surprised at his lapse in control. But this was Bane. He never would have kissed her unless he needed her and what she could offer. Relaxing her body against him, she sent more of her magic toward him in a gentle wave. He deepened his kiss, and his touch became more demanding. She placed her hands against his chest, and he broke the kiss.
Breathing heavily, he gazed at her with a wild, heated look in his eyes. It was both unnerving and thrilling. Instead of backing away, she lifted her chin to meet his eyes. Any sign of weakness could be used against her. Bane was dangerous on the best of occasions, but he always pushed himself too far, especially with her.
“What do you need from me, Bane?”
He gripped her tighter before releasing her suddenly. Turning away, he started to pace the room. He ran a hand over his head in agitation, and Sabine glared at him. She was tired of these games.
Sabine took a step toward him. “You don’t want to be compared to Dax, but you’re both equally stubborn. Why can’t you tell me what you need? It’s not a weakness. I’ve never refused you when you’ve asked for my magic or needed an outlet for yours. That was our agreement all those years ago.”
Bane whirled around and punched the wall. Plaster broke free as he removed his fist. If he were more frustrated, he’d end up taking out the entire wall. She’d seen it happen before. Sabine watched for a moment and then turned to pick up the glass of dwarven ale she’d barely touched. She wouldn’t drink it, but Bane likely needed it. She held it out, and he snatched it from her.
Taking a healthy swallow, he muttered, “You shouldn’t provoke either of us.”
Sabine’s eyes narrowed, and she jabbed her finger against his chest. “You kissed me. I’m not going to pretend it didn’t happen. Now, do you want to have this discussion, or would you rather learn what happened tonight?”
Bane scowled, placing the glass on the desk hard enough that she was surprised it didn’t break. “Who went after you?”
It figured. Neither Bane nor Dax were willing to resolve the myriad of issues between them. Fine. She sighed and leaned against the wall, trying to resist the urge to bang her head against it. May the gods spare her from stubborn demons and foolish pride. “Four men. They herded me to the border of Dax’s territory. One of them wore your mark.”
“The fuck did you s
ay?” he snarled, taking a step toward her.
Sabine grabbed his wrist and held it out to prominently display the dagger tattoo on his forearm. It had been crafted with blood and magic, among other things. All of Bane’s men carried the mark. “It was one of your men, Bane. An assassin. Someone is setting you up.”
“Don’t move,” he ordered and stormed toward the door. He flung it open and bellowed, “Evo, get your ass in here now.”
Footsteps pounded on the stairway, and Sabine sighed. She sat on the edge of the desk and glanced over at the bar, debating whether to try Bane’s new ale again. The taste wouldn’t have improved, but it might make the next few minutes more tolerable.
“What’s going on?” Evo’s footsteps faltered as he entered. “Sabine? I wasn’t aware you were here.”
Sabine gave Evo a curt nod in greeting. She didn’t care much for him, and Evo wasn’t overly fond of her either. But Bane trusted him, even if she’d rather drink a case of that ale in lieu of spending another moment with Evo. If she were being fair, it wasn’t exactly Evo’s fault. He was loyal to Bane, and Evo believed her presence caused problems for his boss. As long as Dax considered Sabine under his protection, he would continue trying to meddle in Bane’s affairs, especially when she was around.
“Sabine, describe the man.” Bane shut the door a bit more forcefully than necessary.
She shrugged. “Human. A bit taller than me, short brown hair, scar on his chin, smelled like leather and oil.”
Evo darted a quick glance at Bane. “Who is she describing?”
Bane didn’t stop his pacing. “A man wearing our emblem attacked her tonight.”
Evo’s frown deepened. “I’m assuming the man is dead?”
Sabine arched her brow, trying to bury her irritation. “I think my presence is answer enough.”
Evo blew out a breath. “It sounds like Naphor, one of our newer men.”
Bane pointed a finger at Evo. “This is why we’re not opening our doors to more recruits. I want a list drafted of all his closest associates immediately. Bring me everyone who was recruited shortly before or after him. I want everyone questioned. Tonight.”
Sabine slid off the desk and stretched. Thanks to Bane’s healing abilities, her side felt remarkably better. Now that she’d given Bane sufficient warning, she needed to figure out how her attackers knew where to find her. Only a couple of people had known her plans to speak with the clerk working in the city council’s office, and she needed to question each of them.
She headed toward the window. “Do what you must. I have other things requiring my attention.”
“Sabine,” Bane called out, and she turned toward him.
He held her gaze for a long time, indecision warring on his face. She waited expectantly, but he didn’t say anything else. It wasn’t surprising. Bane might want to keep her safe, but he wouldn’t dare try to keep her here against her will. He knew she’d never volunteer to remain if she had a choice.
Instead, she gave him a small smile. “Goodnight, Bane. If you need me, you know how to find me. Otherwise, I’ll see you soon.”
Without waiting for a response, she climbed back out the window and headed toward the commercial district. It was time for the hunted to become the hunter.
Chapter Three
The following evening, Sabine pushed open the door and stormed into the dimly lit tavern.
“Dammit. Get Dax. Now,” One of Dax’s guards ordered.
A man hastened toward the back rooms, but she ignored him as she scanned the seating areas. Her target was in here somewhere. Dax would take a few minutes to arrive, and it might be enough time to get the information she needed without his interference.
“Sabine? Can I get you a drink?”
She didn’t respond to the bartender’s attempt at distracting her. Instead, she hung up her cloak to allow more freedom of movement. Taking a step down into the main seating area, another one of Dax’s men stepped in front of her.
“Sabine, always good to see you. Are you looking for someone?”
She spared the briefest glance at Javyn. “Which one is Riven?”
Javyn frowned and didn’t reply right away. Sabine narrowed her eyes on him, dropping her hand to the hilt of her knife. Javyn was the only one of Dax’s men who would dare consider challenging her presence, but only up to a point.
Lowering her voice to barely above a whisper, she threatened, “Do not push me on this, Javyn. Point out Riven, and your task is done.”
Javyn nodded toward the southernmost table. It was enough for her to pick out a man fitting the description she’d been given. Riven, the man who had sold information about her whereabouts, was drinking with several others at the table. Judging by his animated gestures and loud voice, he was more than a little intoxicated.
She moved quickly to the table and kicked out Riven’s chair from underneath him. He fell over backward. Everyone else at the table jumped up, but they immediately backpedaled when they sobered with recognition. None of them made any effort to help their drinking buddy.
Pressing her boot against Riven’s throat, she withdrew one of her knives. “I got a message you were looking for me.”
His eyes widened in fear. She pressed down a little harder. “Who paid you, Riven?”
He opened his mouth as though trying to speak. Sabine eased up her foot, and he managed, “I-I-I don’t know what you’re—”
She cut him off by pressing down again with the heel of her boot. Turning the blade in her hand so the light caught the metal, she leaned forward. “Shall I start removing your body parts until your memory returns? We can start with your pretty blue eyes.”
His eyes bulged, and he tried to shake his head. She eased up again, and he held up his hands in surrender. “P-please, Sabine. I haven’t done anything. I’d never betray Dax. You have the wrong man.”
“Is there a problem here?”
Sabine bit back the urge to curse. Dax had arrived a little too quickly.
She took a step away from Riven and turned around to face Dax. He was an intimidating figure with a powerful physique. His intense amber eyes were focused on her, and she returned his gaze evenly. Inclining her head, she gestured to the man on the ground. “I’d say so. It seems your man’s been selling information about me, Dax.”
His eyes flashed to silver and narrowed on the man at her feet. “Is that so?”
Riven sat up halfway and rubbed his neck. “I swear I’m loyal to you, Dax. I’d never do anything to betray you.”
Dax scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. “Which is it? Are you calling Sabine a liar? Or have you been selling information?”
Sabine leaned against a column as Javyn and Campho moved forward and hauled Riven to his feet. Riven’s expression was full of panic now, and he searched the room for anyone who might intervene. The fool. No one would challenge Dax, especially when his eyes were silvered.
“I-I… She must be mistaken. I would never—”
Dax took a step toward him. “Who did you sell information to?”
Sabine waited, feigning boredom as Riven sobbed and denied any involvement. Dax tended to draw these things out, but she couldn’t interfere any further with his men watching. It was one thing to handle matters when he wasn’t around but another to interrogate one of his people while he was there.
Javyn withdrew his knife and pressed it under Riven’s right eye. “Which eye did you want keep as a trophy, Sabine?”
She tilted her head and pretended to consider it. “I’m partial to the left.”
Dax nodded. “Take his eye, Javyn.”
“Wait!” Riven shouted, his panicked gaze darting back and forth between them. “It was Terrance. I had no idea he would send someone to ambush Sabine. He said he wanted to talk to her. He swore he wouldn’t raise a hand to her.”
Dax took a step toward Riven, his gaze murderous. “What did Terrance give you in exchange for this information?”
Riven’s chin trembled. “He
paid off my debts. I only told him she’d planned to meet with the city clerk’s assistant around midnight. That’s all. I swear!”
Sabine straightened. Dax wasn’t asking about this person named Terrance, so he had to know him. Judging by the hardened glint in Dax’s eyes, neither Terrance nor his informant would be breathing much longer. Dax would likely execute both men before she had the chance to question them. Dammit. She couldn’t let that happen. She needed to learn more about the man who’d hired Riven.
Putting her hand on Dax’s arm, she infused her touch with a trace of magic to catch his attention. “Don’t kill him yet, Dax. Who’s Terrance?”
Dax narrowed his eyes at her, but she held his gaze, unwilling to back down. Dax would cut her out of this investigation if she let him, and there was too much at stake. Her life was at risk, not his.
“If you won’t tell me, then give me ten minutes with Riven. Call it compensation for your man selling information about me.”
Riven’s eyes widened. She started to move toward Riven to question him, but Dax grabbed her arm. She wasn’t surprised. He’d never let her interrogate one of his men once he was involved. Demons were impossibly controlling, and Dax was no exception.
In one smooth movement, she withdrew her knife and tried to move forward. Dax yanked her backward and she started to spin away, but he wouldn’t relinquish his grip. Stepping hard onto his foot, she tried to sidestep. He pushed her up against the column, using his heavier body mass to trap her. It was nothing more than she’d expected. Dax had been training her in fighting techniques and weapons for the past several years. Fortunately, she’d learned to anticipate some of his moves. They’d done this particular dance many times, and she wasn’t above being sneaky.
Sabine pressed her knife against his abdomen and smiled sweetly. “We can play later, Dax. I need answers first.”
He gave her a wicked grin, his eyes flashing with the thrill of the hunt and the challenge she offered. “Haven’t I told you never to draw your weapon unless you intend to use it? From you, this is the equivalent of foreplay.”
To Kill a Fae Page 4
