Blood Oath and Moonlight

f the city the Black Daggers didn't enter unless they wanted trouble, an

h the smell of roasting meat from street vendors, mixing with the stench of the nearby t

stained glass replaced with black-painted boards. Inside, Kael knew, there'd be a bar, a gambling p

ks slick with moss. A single door waited there, guarded by a bored

re for

look at him. "She's

et and flipped it in the air. It lande

want to

d with the crest of the Black Daggers. Hi

s," Ka

by candlelight and the warm glow of a hearth. H

a simpler crimson dress. But the simplicity didn't make her any less da

"I thought you'd be smart enough

Kael said, leaning against the

d a brow.

ng her reaction. "And th

ter, but her eyes sh

ing. Fast. St

rossing the room with slow, deliberat

is," Kael said. "And I thi

Then she looked toward the fire. "Wh

k cloaks, feeding on maidens under the full moon.

oftly. "The Nightborn are real. A

ked. "You expect

end up like him, you'll listen. The one you saw is called the Blood P

echoed. "You're telling

gaze without f

etched. The

y are you telling me this ins

ts. He's killing ours, too. And if we don't stop him, he'll bur

you think I'm the

ough to try," she said. "An

ne to her perfume again. "So here's my proposal: you help me find him, and

side your own crew. But something about the way she said it - the steel in her voice,

s a g

it for you?

curved. "

then held out his hand. "Fine. We'll

sked, her smile turn

both knew the truth - h

ed bell tower on the border of both syndicates' turf. Liora promised

that he'd just signed a contract with the devil. And judging by the faint chill

. When he woke, his throat was dry and his pulse hammered as if he'd been running. The shadows

't slee

bells were long gone, leaving only rusted chains swaying in the wind. Kael c

oken archway that looked out over the cit

Red circles marked parts of the city Kael knew well - wealthy mer

e marks. "And if he's using the undercity, there's a tun

"Then that's w

"You're not telli

ed. "But you'll

r face, and for a moment Kael thoug

he moonlight hit her eyes,