Page 106 of Night Fae

They dozed, drifting in and out of a light sleep, until a knock at the door startled them fully awake. Zev was on his feet in an instant, a dagger in his hand that Malik hadn't even seen him reach for.

"Who is it?" Zev called, positioning himself between the door and the bed.

"It's Lyrian," came the reply. "Knox and the others have returned. There's news."

Zev glanced back at Malik, a silent question in his eyes.

"Give us a few minutes," Malik called.

"I'll tell them," Lyrian responded. "But... hurry. It's not good."

Footsteps retreated from the door. Zev lowered the dagger, his expression hardening back into the warrior's mask Malik had grown familiar with.

"And so it begins again," Zev said, reaching for his discarded clothing.

Malik sat up slowly, wincing as the movement pulled at his wounds. "Help me with these bandages? If we're going to face whatever's coming, I'd rather not be half-naked when we do it."

Zev nodded, setting aside his own preparations to help Malik. His hands were gentle as he carefully peeled away the poultice. The wounds beneath looked better. The shadow taint had receded, leaving only thin red lines where the creature's claws had torn Malik's skin.

"They're healing well," Zev observed, reaching for the clean bandages the healer had left.

"Fast, too."

"The healer's work, yes, but also something in you." Zev's fingers brushed one of the marks. "Your connection to the paths may have some unexpected benefits."

Malik hadn't considered that. "You think my barrier keeper blood helped me heal?"

"It's possible." Zev finished securing the fresh bandage. "Though I'm no expert in such matters."

Once they were both dressed, Zev helped Malik to his feet. Before opening the door, he paused, his hand on Malik's arm.

"Whatever awaits us out there," Zev said quietly, "know that I will protect you with everything I have."

"I know," Malik replied. "But remember that it goes both ways. I protect you too."

The corner of Zev's mouth lifted in a small smile. "I'm beginning to understand that."

He opened the door, and they stepped out together to face whatever new danger had arrived.

They found the others gathered in a large chamber Malik hadn't seen before—a war room of sorts, with a massive table at its center upon which maps and scrolls were spread. Knox, Adrian, and Caelen looked exhausted, their clothing torn and dirty. Daniel hovered at Caelen's side, speaking to him in a low, urgent voice. Lyrian and Leon stood slightly apart from the group, tension evident in their postures.

Knox looked up as Zev and Malik entered. "You're both recovered, I see."

"Mostly," Malik admitted. "What happened? Did you find Yuri?"

"We found him," Caelen said grimly. "Too late. He's destabilized another nexus point. A major one at the border of my kingdom and the Siren territories."

"Villages are disappearing," Adrian added, his face pale. "Not just buildings—the people too. Whole sections of countryside being replaced with... nothing. Empty space that seems to fold in on itself."

Malik felt a chill run through him. "How many nexus points are left?"

"Three that we know of," Knox answered. "The one beneath this palace, one near the Night Court territories, and one at the heart of the Barrier Temple."

"And we have no way of knowing which one he'll target next," Daniel said, frustration evident in his voice.

"Actually," Leon spoke up, his voice strangely flat, "we do."

All eyes turned to him. Lyrian took a step back, watching Leon warily.