Page 100 of Night Fae

They had emerged in a circular chamber—the shadow path nexus beneath the Shadow Palace. The pool of darkness behind them rippled like disturbed water, then settled into ominous stillness.

Zev lay still for a moment, catching his breath, Malik's weight solid against his chest. The stone floor beneath them was cold, but it felt wonderfully real after the nothingness of the paths.

"We made it," he murmured, loosening his grip slightly to check on Malik.

Malik pushed himself up on shaking arms, his face pale but determined. Blood from the creature's attack had soaked through his shirt, leaving dark stains across his chest.

"Are you alright?" Zev asked, reaching to examine the wounds.

"Been better." Malik managed a weak smile. "But I'll live."

Footsteps echoed through the chamber. Zev tensed, automatically positioning himself between Malik and the potential threat. His hand went to his belt, but his weapons were gone—lost somewhere in the Fields or the shadow paths.

"They're back!" Lyrian's voice rang out, followed by the siren himself appearing in the doorway, his aquamarine hair disheveled. Leon was right behind him, his normally composed face showing clear relief.

"By all the gods," Lyrian breathed, rushing toward them. "We thought you were lost to the paths."

Malik sat up fully, wincing at the movement. "I wasn't sure we'd make it either."

Zev rose to his feet, then reached down to help Malik up. The human swayed slightly but remained standing, one hand pressed against his wounded chest.

"He pulled me out of the Fields," Zev said, his voice rough. "The shadow paths were... feeding on me through memories of Rhys."

Leon's expression darkened. "We know. Your connection to Malik was draining him too. We could see it happening."

"Which is why this one," Lyrian gestured at Malik with exasperation, "decided to dive into the most dangerous place in Veridia to find you."

"It worked, didn't it?" Malik countered, though his attempt at defiance was undermined by his obvious exhaustion.

Zev studied Malik's face, noting the shadows under his eyes, the strain still evident in every line of his body. Something twistedin his chest. Not the hollow grief he'd carried for so long, but something sharper, more immediate.

"You should lie down," Zev said, not taking his eyes off Malik.

"Yes," Lyrian said. "You both should. Come on, let's get you to your chambers. Then a healer can look at you."

Zev nodded and slid an arm around Malik's waist. "Can you walk?"

"Do I have a choice?" Malik replied—so naturally, Zev picked him up, hooking one arm under his knees to sweep him off the floor. "Hey!" Malik protested. "I didn't say you needed to carry me."

"You didn't have to say it," Zev responded easily. He looked to Lyrian. "Lead the way."

The siren walked ahead.

As they made their way through the palace corridors, Zev tried to figure out what happened in his absence. "Where is Knox?" Zev asked as they climbed a sweeping staircase to the east wing.

"He and Caelen went after Yuri," Leon explained. "We think he's trying to trigger some kind of cascade failure in the paths."

"To what end?" Zev frowned.

"To break down the barriers between worlds completely," Lyrian said from behind them.

Zev processed this quietly. He didn't know why anyone would want that, but the why wasn't important. He only wanted to stop it. Mentally, he moved on to the next question. "What about the Night Court?"

Leon and Lyrian exchanged glances.

"We don't know," Leon admitted. "After you disappeared into the Fields, they retreated."

They reached the chamber Zev had been staying in. Lyrian opened the door and gestured inside. "I'll send for a healer immediately."