"You weren't asking for my blood then.”

"But now I am." Captain Batay smiled. "Just a drop or two."

"And if I say no?”

"Then I'm afraid our association is at an end. The door is there." He pointed. "Close it behind you on your way out." He set the knife down on the table and returned the empty vial to his pocket. The captain raised his glass, drank deep of the ruby wine, and raised his brows when Den remained where he was. "If you want to free your bride from the Tairen Soul, Goodman, you may stay. But the price for staying is your blood.”

Den thought of Ellysetta's abilities, of the riches that would be his. Of the wealth, the power. Of the satisfaction that would come from beating the arrogant Tairen Soul at his own game. The demon-souled Fey sorcerer had stolen Den's prize. Den was going to steal her back.

"Just a drop or two?”

"That's all I require.”

Den held out his hand.

The second of Ellysetta's six devotions passed with surprising calm, and though Ellysetta wouldn't exactly say the cathedral was overflowing with happiness, there was at least a certain level of acceptance instead of the dread and disapproval that had hung over yesterday's initial service. Greatfather Tivrest conducted the devotions in a sober, sonorous voice. When they were done, Mama and Selianne left together-without Fey escort-to visit Madame Binchi's shop on Queen's Street for their dress fittings, while the Fey escorted Ellysetta back home.

Bel and the rest of Ellysetta's primary quintet were there waiting, looking worse than she'd ever seen them, and the brief lightening of her spirits she'd enjoyed after sharing Selianne's company faded in an instant.

"I'm so sorry," she told Bel miserably when Ravel's quintet had departed. She felt near tears at the sight of the five warriors who'd become such dear friends. They looked so weary and wan, and she'd done that to them. She and her weave. "I swear I didn't mean to do it.”

Bel only shook his head and smiled gently. "Las, kem'falla, we know that." Far more forgiveness than she deserved shone from his cobalt eyes. "Your magic is awakening, and that is never a tidy process.”

"Bel is right, Feyreisa," Kieran said, smiling as he glanced down at the tiny white kitten perched on his shoulder. Love had decided that Kieran's shoulder was a much more comforting place than her hideout under the icebox. She stuck out her chin for a scratch and regarded the Fey Earth master with a look of pure feline adoration. Her stubby tail flicked his ear, her tiny claws curled into his leathers to secure her place, and despite the powerful magic shields still in place around the house, she was purring so loudly, Ellie could hear her all the way across the room. "You are not to blame in any way.”

"Aiyah," Kiel agreed. "Besides, no one was hurt, and no real harm was done.”

"I'll wager there's many a man who'd pay for such ... invigoration," Rowan pitched in helpfully, "if you catch my meaning." He grinned. Rowan had a sense of humor that Ellysetta was coming to realize was pure mischief. He was the kind who would poke monsters with a stick and laugh when they roared. "In fact," he added, "our lads Kieran and Adrial started a few new Fey legends in the brothel district last night.”

"Kieran Blue Eyes, they called him," Kiel said, sidling up to Kieran's side and giving him a simpering, syrupy look of adoration. "One look had them swooning.”

Kieran flashed his charming smile, fluttered his now-famous blue eyes, and caught Kiel when he pretended to faint. Love, unamused, swatted at the blond Fey.

"And baby brother was Adrial the Unstoppable," Rowan added proudly. "He had them swooning, too, but for a different reason." The Fey waggled his brows and grinned again with wicked, roguish humor.

Ellysetta covered her blazing cheeks with her hands and sank weakly on the arm of a settee. "This is not helping." She couldn't believe they were laughing about what she'd done. She didn't find anything funny about it at all.

Adrial apparently didn't either. Instead of laughing with the other Fey, he had retreated to the other side of the room and stood there, staring into space and trembling as if some great emotion gripped him.

"Adrial?" Concerned, she went to him. His Fey-pale skin was even whiter than the others', his brown eyes dilated and unfocused. She reached up and pressed a hand to his forehead. His skin felt clammy, and she gasped as blinding despair battered her senses. Adrial lurched away from her, and the emotion faded.

"Don't touch me." His voice was weak, thready.

Ellie was aware of the sudden alertness of the other Fey warriors in the room, but she ignored them, focusing her attention on Adrial. "You're ill," she said. "You should be in bed.”

"Nei." He rubbed his face with trembling hands. "I'm all right. I'll be fine”

"Adrial. Little brother." Rowan approached. His laughter was gone, replaced by worry. "Listen to the Feyreisa." He reached out to grasp his brother's arms, but Adrial threw him off.

"Nei." White sparks flashed in Adrial's eyes. "Don't touch me, Rowan. I said I'm fine.”

Love the kitten hissed furiously, jumped off Kieran's shoulder and went racing for the kitchen. A globe of light sprang up around Ellysetta as Bel, Kiel, Kieran, and the five warriors of her secondary quintet leapt forward to surround her.