Page 12 of Night Fae

"Wake up." Zev's voice turned harsh. "Now."

"But—"

"Wake up!"

Malik jerked awake, gasping. The stone ceiling of their prison swam into focus above him. His eyes burned, face tight with dried tears. Across the room, Zev hung in his chains, watching him.

"Welcome back," Zev said flatly.

Malik pushed himself upright, muscles stiff from the hard surface of the cot. His mouth felt dry, head pounding with the remnants of whatever potion he'd been forced to swallow.

"How long was I out?"

"A few hours." Zev's eyes flicked to the door. "They're coming back."

Malik pushed to his feet, swaying slightly before finding his balance. As quickly as he could, he approached Zev and tried to get him out of his chains.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, realizing that it was no use. He'd never get these shackles off without the key.

"It's going to be okay," Zev said. "I'll get us out of here. Just don't do anything stupid."

"Stupid like what?"

There was no more time for talking.

The door to their torture chamber opened. Guards entered first, followed by Lord Darius, his elegant robes sweeping the floor.

"Well, well." Darius smiled. He held a silver goblet in his hand. "Did you two have a nice chat while I was gone?" His gaze flicked between them. "Or perhaps something more? Did my son finally sample what you're offering, human?"

Zev gave his father a look that could have turned water to ice in an instance. "Leave him alone."

"I'll take that as a no." Darius sighed. "Disappointing, but not surprising. My son always was stubborn about the wrong things." He gestured to the guards. "Bring the human."

Two guards advanced on Malik, seizing his arms.

"Where are you taking him?" Zev demanded.

Darius placed a hand over his heart in mock hurt. "You don't trust me with your pet? I'm wounded." He smiled. "Don't worry. Nothing is going to happen to him as long as you comply."

"Comply with what?"

Malik couldn't hear whatever response Darius might give as the guards dragged him toward the door. Malik's gaze remained on Zev. The fae's expression was carefully blank, but Malik could see the tension in every line of his body.

"Don't give them what they want," Malik called to him.

The last thing he saw before they pulled him from the room was Zev's face, eyes alight with anger as the door slammed shut between them.

CHAPTER 3

Zev's chains clinked as he slumped against the wall. The sound of Malik being dragged away echoed in his ears, replaced now by his father's measured breathing as Darius watched him, studying him like a specimen.

"Where are they taking him?" Zev wanted to know.

"To a secure room." Darius approached slowly, the silver goblet still in his hand. "Where he'll wait until we reach an agreement."

Zev tested the chains once more, feeling the runes etched into the metal resist his weakened magic.

"There's nothing to agree on."