Page 67 of Night Fae

"Yes."

The blunt response startled a laugh from Malik. Damn it, but helikedthe fae's honesty.

Especially when compared with Caelen's manipulations.

Zev might be awful at processing and expressing his feelings, but he would never try to play mind games with Malik.

"Someone will bring food shortly," Zev continued, moving toward the door. "I'll return in a little while to help you to the council chamber."

Without waiting for a response, he slipped out, the door clicking shut behind him. Malik sank back onto the edge of the bed, feeling oddly bereft in the sudden silence.

But Zev had promised to come back.

And so far, he'd kept every promise he'd made.

True to his word, Zev returned an hour later, after Malik had eaten a breakfast of bread, fruit, and a strange herbal tea that had tasted like mint and something spicy.

"Ready?" Zev asked from the doorway.

Malik nodded, but in his urge toappearready, he rose to his feet too quickly, and when he took his first step, a wave of dizziness caught him off guard. Before he could stumble, Zev was at his side, one hand gripping his elbow, the other at his waist.

"I'm fine," Malik insisted, even as he leaned into the support.

Zev's hands were firm.

Warm too.

"Of course you are," Zev replied, his voice dry. But he didn't let go.

Malik was glad for that, and not only because he appreciated the support.

The two of them moved through the corridors in silence, Zev matching his pace to Malik's slower steps. Servants and guards they passed gave them curious glances, doubtless wondering about the strange human and his fae protector. They must all know who Zev was—he had a bit of a reputation, after all. Yet here he was, helping a stumbling human.

The thought put a smile on Malik's face.

How many people had experienced the assassin's softer side?

Probably not many at all.

After a few minutes of walking, they reached the council chamber at the end of a long hallway. Two guards stood at attention, opening the doors as they approached.

Inside, the others were already gathered around a large oval table of polished marble. Adrian and Knox sat side by side, heads bent in quiet conversation. Daniel perched on the table's edge near Caelen, who stood examining what appeared to be maps spread across the surface.

All eyes turned to them as they entered.

"Malik," Adrian was the first to speak, rising from his seat. "Should you be up?"

"I'm fine," Malik insisted, even though he was still leaning on Zev. "I want to help."

Caelen studied him with cool assessment. "Sit before you fall."

Malik bristled, but he allowed Zev to guide him to an empty chair. The fae warrior remained standing behind him.

"Now that we're all here," Knox began, "we need to discuss what's been happening with the barriers."

Caelen nodded, gesturing to the maps before them—which displayed the network of shadow paths that ran through Veridia. "There's reason enough to believe the paths play into it."

"I have information," Zev said. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a leather-bound journal. "I took this from werewolf researchers."