Page 11 of Night Fae

"We can't count on that."

"Knox and Lyrian wouldn't abandon you to your family."

"No, but they might have their own problems to deal with. We have to make our own plan."

"What plan?"

Zev glanced aside. "I don't know. Until I do, we bide our time and survive." His gaze narrowed. "The day will come that I will slit my father's throat."

His words were not accompanied by a lust for blood, which made them seem more like a definite plan than a quickly spoken threat. Zevknewhe was going to kill that man one day.

Fae could not lie.

Malik felt like he should have been put off by the night fae's killer intent, but he wasn't. In fact, he appreciated that Zev wasn't someone who would sit idly by while fate pushed him around.

It added to the warrior's attractiveness. Sure, the purple eyes and the horns and all those lean muscles didn't hurt, but the way he could swing a sword?

Slice through his enemies?

That was what really sealed the deal for Malik.

Not that the night fae would ever be attracted tohimin return.

Especially not now.

Malik had just cried all over him like a scared child.

Not very attractive.

In fact, right now Malik was the thing that dragged Zev down. It was for his sake that Zev had ended up in chains. "I'm sorry," hesaid, feeling the need to apologizeagain. "If you hadn't tried to help me…"

"I don't abandon my allies," Zev cited his honor code. He didn't seem particularly interested in shifting blame around.

Malik nodded. "Thank you." He looked around the gray dreamscape. "What happens when I wake up?"

"My father will continue to use you against me." Zev's expression hardened. "He'll try to force me to feed on your fear, thinking it will awaken my hunger for more. Make me remember what it feels like to be a proper night fae."

"Why don't you?" Malik asked. "Feed on me, I mean. I've offered before."

"Your nightmares aren't the kind I'm interested in eating."

Malik didn't know whether or not that should offend him. His nightmares weren't appetizing to Zev?

Well, fuck, Malik didn't particularly like having them either.

"My dreams would still strengthen your magic," Malik argued.

Zev shot him a look. "You're talking about things you don't understand."

"Then help me understand."

"Your dreams would feed more than my magic. My father realizes that. That's why he's trying to tempt me to take a bite. I've worked hard to achieve my peace. You would shatter it."

"What about my dreams… Oh." Understanding dawned. Malik had nightmares about losing the people he loved. Of course Zevwouldn't be untouched by that, after what had happened to his lover. "It's because of…" He didn't say more.

Zev had made it clear he didn't want to talk about Rhys.

They sat in silence for another short while. Then, Zev's head snapped up.