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With her hand pressed to her stinging cheek, Katya sulked. Even in the gloom I could see the tears glimmering in her eyes.

Magda sat back in her seat, but did not remove her gaze from the young blond woman. She did not have to utter words for me to know she disapproved of Katya.

The driver of the carriage barked out an order and the carriage swerved. I grabbed hold of the safety strap to keep myself from falling to the floor as Katya let out a cry. The carriage left the road, wheels clattering onto cobblestones.

Peering out the window, I saw we were pulling up to an inn. The building was several stories tall with a peaked roof and plain walls painted golden yellow. Lights burned in the windows and the front door swung open as the carriage approached. An unusually tall figure stepped out of the doorway and several men followed behind.

“Astir,” I breathed with relief. I had truly thought I had seen the last of him on this journey. If there were unknown enemies pursuing us, I felt safer with the fallen angel at my side. I had seen him impressively wield his powers against a dhamphir.

“Very dangerous roads,” I heard one of the men saying to Astir.

“That is why I rode ahead to make sure I could find a safe haven for my wife,” Astir replied.

The carriage clattered to a stop, and the horses whinnied as it rocked back and forth. Katya peeked out of the window as Magda collected my traveling case.

Two young men hurried to open the carriage door and lower the step. They were clad in simple white shirts and trousers, but their matching waistcoats were ornately embroidered along the hem.

“Come, come,” one of them said.

“Excuse me,” Astir said, reaching past them. “Darling, let us get inside where it is safe. ”

“The gypsies are not to be trusted,” the rotund man at Astir’s side declared. I was inclined to believe he was the innkeeper by the way he motioned for the other two men to gather our bags.

I took hold of Astir’s hand and he helped me down. He wrapped his arm possessively about my shoulders and escorted me quickly across the courtyard to the doorway of the inn.

“I’m so glad you got here safely, darling. The guards did well protecting you,” Astir said, lightly squeezing my shoulder.

“I am so glad you found us shelter. ”

Magda and Katya trailed behind us as the proprietor hurried ahead down a narrow hallway that led past a small parlor and dining room.

“Please come down and eat a good dinner once you have freshened up. My wife is a very good cook,” he said.

“Wadim, my wife is considerably delicate and the journey has tired her,” Astir answered. “Could you send a meal to our room?”

“Yes, of course! I will see to it immediately!” Wadim scampered away as his men brought in our traveling cases.

I played along with Astir, leaning heavily against him as we hurried up the narrow stairway to the floors above. There was an urgency about him that unsettled me. It occurred to me that I had not seen Adem and the guards when we had arrived at the inn.

The room we entered was plain with white walls, a simple bed with a colorfully embroidered coverlet, a dressing table and chair, and small wardrobe.

“Sit,” Astir ordered, hurrying to the window.

“What is wrong?” I demanded as Magda shut the door.

Katya promptly sat on the bed, pouting.

Magda tugged her off and shoved her toward the chair.

“We are being followed,” Astir responded.

“Adem made the same proclamation. Who is following us?” I perched on the edge of the bed and tugged off my gloves.

Astir stood near the window, watching the road. The moonlight played along his curls making them glint like gold. His eyes were once more fires within his lovely face. “There may be more than one band of men following us. The first I suspect is led by Katya’s dear father. ”

“I am not going back with him!” Katya cried out.

“Oh, be quiet, silly girl,” Magda snapped. “The Mistress will do with you as she pleases. ”