Nick looked again in that direction. Kit stood there, shaking, furious. He glared so hard at where Desre’s hand had a biting hold of his throat that Nick worried her skin would burn. Behind Kit stood Ios, holding on to the edge of the doorway, afraid.
“He can’t overpower Kit,” Nick pointed out, guessing Ios wanted to grab Kit and drag him from the hall. “He’s too strong.”
“If you leave,” Desre said, “I will drag your lover to the bottom of the well and chain his body there. He will spend eternity rotting, cold and alone.”
The threat meant nothing to Nick. If she wanted to kill him, he would simply ask how he could help. He could climb into the well. He could swim down and breathe the water deep into his lungs. The idea of spending eternity in the well that belonged to her was a soothing one.
“Or,” Desre continued, “I will keep him alive as a lover of my own. I assume there is something about him that you enjoy in bed?”
“He likes my piercings –”
Kit’s snarl cut Nick off. But he didn’t advance towards them. Kit trembled as if straining against an invisible leash. Nick could feel the same leash in himself, a thread of calm compliance, but in Kit it twisted like a noose, choking his fury into stillness.
The sound of a metalclinkcaught Nick’s attention. His gaze slid from aisle to altar to well. A young kit balanced on the edge, something Nick thought was probably sacrilegious.
“The city is empty,” Kit said abruptly, voice loud. “My uncle has taken everything from the vaults. Every gem. Everycoin. Every bolt of silk. He has taken everything from you…but I will return to your service if you release Nick.”
Mini held the dagger Desre had tossed aside in his grip, Nick’s blood already dried onto the metal. He slid from the altar, feet silently finding the ground. He wore a short-sleeved shirt. Every inch of skin was covered in gleaming black ink, the same symbol repeated over and over again. The symbol that Nick, having failed to copy accurately, had made Mini copy instead. Had made him draw over and over until it was a perfect replica, and now here it was, replicated over every inch of available skin. Only his face was devoid of the black markings, glowing pale in the moonlight. He met Nick’s eyes, cocking his head to the side.
Desre sensed something behind her; she began to turn.
“This is quite the mess.”
Valor’s voice froze her.
Desre trembled as she turned towards him. Nick stared at the dagger in Mini’s hand, his heart beginning to race. He was close. Close enough to be dangerous. Nick opened his mouth, and Mini froze, his eyes flashing at Nick. From his expression, it seemed as though he’d only just come to the unpleasant realisation that Nick was under Desre’s sway.
He’s not dangerous, Nick thought forcefully, quashing the need to warn Desre. Nobody could hurt her. Nobody could raise a hand against her. It didn’t matter how close Mini got with that knife because he couldn’t wield it to harm her anyway. The symbol hadn’t worked on Kit; it wouldn’t work on Mini.
Nick forced himself to turn away from Mini, the resistance stifling his ability to even breathe. Kit’s gaze hooked Nick; he was holding so, so still.
“You’ve hidden away for so long, and now here you are,” Desre said. Valor stood with Kit.
Yes, Nick forced himself to think.Valor is the dangerous one. The strategist. The commander. The type that Desre found irksome. Valor was who Nick needed to take aim at.
“Kit,” Nick said. “Valor sent me here. You were right not to trust him.”
Kit’s tail froze mid-swing. His breath caught, and his eyes slid to his uncle, accusing and betrayed. The corner of Valor’s mouth twitched, but he expressed nothing else. Nick noticed the way Valor’s body shook too, a tremble, like he was pushing against Desre’s influence, trying to approach. You couldn’t approach if you meant her harm. So Nick didn’t need to tell her about Mini, who wouldn’t have been able to walk over here if he meant Desre harm.
“Capture him, Kit,” Desre ordered. “Tie him up.”
Worry began to gnaw at his gut. What if he did harm her, though? What if those symbols were working on Mini where they hadn’t on Kit? He turned to see where Mini had gone.
The blade was already pressed to the hollow of her throat.
Mini neatly pulled it across.
Pain seared through Nick’s neck as blood sprayed across his face. His chains rattled as he recoiled, raising his hands to his throat, choking. The stench of sweet rot filled his nose. Desre whirled, reaching wildly for her assailant, but Mini neatly leapt out of her reach. He crouched on the altar again, on the edge of the well, his tail lashing, his eyes deadly.
Blood spurted out, softly hissing as it met stone. Her hands slipped free of Nick’s skin, and the loss of her buckled his knees.
Nick gasped in a breath, his mind clearing.
Desre lunged for the well.
“Stop her!” Valor snapped. There was the sound of many feet racing across stone.
Mini’s tail cracked against her head, and he drove the knife towards her neck. She didn’t dodge. Desre took the blow, letting the knife sink once more into her flesh. She tackled Mini, who let out a squeal of surprise as he fell back. Both of them disappeared into the water with a splash.
