Author: J.D. Tyler

"Hmph," followed by a small smile was all his friend contributed.

Zan led her in the direction of the place she suspected was the lobby of the infirmary she'd stumbled onto earlier where nobody had been working the desk. Before they reached it, however, he made a couple of turns and strode down a long corridor she recognized. It had a set of double doors at the end marked "Restricted Area."

She waved a hand at it as they approached and pushed through. "I didn't see the sign before, but I was able to enter with no problem. How come there's not a pass card or code required?"

"We don't get any visitors," Zan replied. "Besides, this isn't the high security area for the staff. That would be Block T, in the basement."

A chill crept down her spine. "What does T stand for?"

"Termination."

Halting just before the row of cells began, she gaped at Jax's friend. "What? Nick told me none of the residents of Block R have ever been terminated!"

"That's true."

"Then what's the deal with having a death row on site? I'd like a straight answer to my questions, damn it!"

"He wasn't lying to you, Kira. He simply isn't in the habit of giving away more information than is absolutely necessary." Seeing this wasn't going to placate her, the dark-haired man continued. "Beings that are not only deadly but evil beyond hope are sent straight to Block T. Do not pass go, etcetera. Not every paranormal creature is redeemable, sweetheart, just as not every human is."

Kira swallowed hard, struggling with this. She didn't consider herself a bleeding-heart liberal by any means, but life was precious. Yes, she stood by the law and the guilty deserved to be punished accordingly, but if there was any hope that a soul might be saved, it seemed a waste to extinguish it.

"Are there any residents there now?" she managed in an even tone.

His eyes hardened. "Yes, there's one. And don't even think of going down there, hoping to play savior to that scum, do you hear me? He doesn't want or need Mary Poppins to sweep in with a spoonful of sugar and fix him, and the only reason he isn't worm food is because he has vital information we need. End of story. Got it?"

"Yes." She wondered what type of creature he was, but it didn't matter. No point in arguing. If he was as bad as all that, she'd stay away. Despite her awful curiosity. Dropping the subject, she gestured toward the cell she was most anxious to visit. "Shall we?"

Hammer spoke up, sounding amused. "What, we're not checking out snake boy first?"

"From the way his disposition has been described, I think he can hold his own for a while."

"That's putting it mildly."

The basilisk was going to be a pill, it seemed. But looks could be deceiving and she had to wonder how hard any of them had tried after their help had been initially rebuked. Even humans would snarl or lash out when afraid. Why would these guys be any different?

Zan entered a code on the keypad beside the door, but blocked her view with his body, so she couldn't see the number sequence. She'd have to earn their trust to gain the codes, and she didn't blame them. He gave a shove and the heavy door swung inward with a groan. He and Hammer went in first, Kira close on their heels.

She wasn't sure what to expect, but the sight that greeted them hit her even harder than when she'd seen him before. The slim figure huddled on his bed, wedged in the corner where the walls met, sitting up, knees bent, large azure wings draped protectively around his body, crossed in front. Only the top of his head and his toes were visible, and she couldn't tell whether he was asleep or not.

Stepping around her two companions, she tried a soft greeting. "Hello? Are you awake?"

No response.

She edged closer, brought up short by Zan's hand on her arm, pulling her back in warning. She shook him off, but stayed put and tried again. "Hey there, are you hungry? Have you had any breakfast?"

Immediately, she felt like a fool. Would a member of the Fae know the term "breakfast"? Stupid.

"We're not going to hurt you, I promise. Would you please speak with us . . . Your Highness?" The last, she'd added on impulse. Why, she wasn't sure. Just that it seemed right, as though she was picking up a vibe from the gorgeous man. Whatever the case, it turned out to be the right thing to say.

Slowly, he raised his head, his wings lowering just enough to allow him to study her and still shield his nakedness. She expected his eyes to be blue, but they were gold. Brilliant, luminous, clear gold, like the eyes of an eagle she'd once seen behind bars at a zoo. But unlike the bird, there was nothing proud or fierce about his gaze, though she sensed his bearing might've been different, once.

Defeated. Whatever he'd been before, that was the best word to describe him now-not to mention tired, and more than a little wary of what the newcomer wanted of him. There might have been a brief spark of curiosity as well, but she couldn't be certain.

Cocking his head, he surprised them all by ordering her softly, "Come closer."

As she started to obey, Zander laid a hand on her arm, and again she shook him off. Perhaps she was naive not to be more afraid, but she felt she could trust Blue. Or whatever his name was. Getting him to trust her or anyone else might be a challenge. When she'd moved nearly to the edge of his bare mattress, he held up his gloved, bound hands, indicating for her to stop.

Immediately, both men stepped in front of her and growled a dual warning at the winged man. Belatedly she recalled that this being had supposedly immobilized half their team with a single gesture. But he'd been fighting for his life then, or so he'd undoubtedly believed. Something told her that even if his hands were free, he wouldn't do the same again without a very good cause.

She hoped she wasn't wrong.

"Honestly, how am I supposed to make any progress with you overgrown bullies getting in my way?" Crossly, she stepped around them and caught their incredulous expressions.

"Bullies! That firefly over there just about turned us into pillars of salt," Zan protested.

"Hush and let me concentrate." Giving her attention back to Blue, she had another pleasant jolt. He was sitting up straighter, regarding her with rapt attention, lips curved the smallest fraction.

"Who are you?"

The smooth, melodic quality of his voice rushed over her like cool water. "I'm Kira Locke. Like you, I'm new here. Really new-today's my first day."

"You are my jailor?"

"What? No! I'm going to be a lab assistant and sort of a caretaker."

He looked puzzled. "Lab assistant?"

"It's someone who helps a doctor around the lab with-well, never mind that at the moment. Too much information. The important thing is, I'm going to take care of you and the other creatures here, make you feel at home."

Instantly she regretted her poor choice of words as his face fell and sadness once again replaced the curiosity. "I have no home. I am outcast."

"From where?" she prodded gently.

"The Seelie High Court. I was a prince. Now I am nothing," he whispered.

She shook her head. "I disagree there, but we'll work on it. Is that why you were running loose on the streets in Ireland when the team found you? Had you just been cast out?"

"Yes. I was in Ireland once, as a child, but when I was tossed through the gate, I was disoriented and frightened. People were screaming and I ran. I meant no harm." Remorse colored his voice, and she knew he spoke the truth.

"Why didn't you just tell that to the Alpha Pack guys when they came for you? Could've saved yourself a bunch of trouble."

"As I said, I was frightened. I thought they were sent by my sire to kill me."

"What's your name?"

"Sariel."

She smiled. "What a beautiful name. It suits you."

Ducking his head, he flushed. "Thank you."

"Who's your father? Do you think he'll follow you here?"

This evoked a bitter laugh. "My sire is Malik. He'll stop at nothing to see me dead. He is Unseelie, and is the reason I'm no longer welcome in my world."

Not promising. "You're royalty, right? Can't your people protect you?"

"From Malik? You know nothing of Unseelie, then. They are little better than demons, and Malik is the worst. When the Seelie High Court learned that I'm a Halfling, they were upset enough. But when they found out Malik is my sire, public outcry forced them to banish me rather than risk facing his wrath. You see, he's on a quest to destroy me and will kill anyone who gets in his way."

"Why? I don't understand." How awful for Sariel.

"Does it matter? He is a rotten stench, a pestilence in any land he chooses to corrupt." Sariel paused, as though searching for the right term.

"Malik is the evil that time forgot. And now he is risen."

Chapter Six

"That's kind of melodramatic,isn't it?" Sariel leveled Zan with a cool look. "Malik likes to paralyze his prey with his venom and then strip the flesh from their bones, eating them alive-and that is when he is in a jovial mood."

"Jesus," Hammer muttered. "You sure you don't have any other relatives we can contact who'll take you in? A distant cousin or something?"

Hurt flashed in his golden eyes, and was quickly gone. "My family is the reason I am here. But if you'll kindly step aside and allow me to pass, I'll no longer be your problem."

Zan disagreed. "You will when we get dispatched to wherever you've caused a stir after being spotted by humans again. Bad plan."

"I cannot imagine that all areas of your world are overrun by your kind." His wings rustled and he negligently waved a hand. "Point me to one of those places and I'll spend the last centuries of my life there."

Kira wanted to ask how old he was, but the pain behind his declaration concerned her more. "Alone, and with no one to help if Malik locates you? I don't think so."

"When he finds me," Sariel said with total surety. "And none of you will wish to be within leagues of me on that day. No, it's best I go."

"And I believe it's in your best interests to stay." She glanced at the guys, who didn't look pleased. "What, you're going to tell me you guys are a bunch of wimps who can't take on one nasty Unseelie?"

"Nasty flesh-eating Unseelie." Zan sighed, apparently deciding she wasn't going to budge. "Fine. It's not like we've ever backed down from a fight, anyway."

"Great, it's settled! And no arguments from you, Highness," she said firmly. "I can't think of anywhere better for you to be than here, where most of the folks aren't human and can relate to your situation. Well, I can relate, but I'm human-there's nothing special about me."

He studied her, bemused. "I'm simply Sariel now, not royalty. And you're wrong about your worth. If you possessed wings, you would be Seraphim-highest of the Angel Hierarchy, a being of pure light and love."

Clearly, the wolves could use a lesson in charm from this guy.

"Well, aren't you sweet? Maybe your manners will rub off on certain others around here." She turned to Hammer. "Would you get Sariel some clothes? He can't go parading around naked." Darn it.

"Sure." He eyed their newest resident. "Tall and slender? I'll see what I can find."

After he left, she addressed Sariel again. "If we let you out, do I have your word you won't try to harm yourself again?" She should've thought of this before sending Hammer on his way.

The faery had the grace to appear ashamed. "Yes. I wouldn't have succeeded anyway, not by attempting strangulation. The Fae are not so easily killed, and I dishonored my name even further by attempting such foolishness. I was feeling very hopeless and I still don't see how things can end well for me. But I give you my word I won't attempt to harm myself again."