Kyra
Kyra tried to keep her composure, the frustration harshing her tone. “No, accept something else.”
Bludrial laughed, the sound like little bells in the wind. “Bane already agreed the price,” they said, smirk darkening. “Now give me a vial, or you don’t get the supplies requested.” Bludrial crossed their arms, pearlescent lavender eyes enlarged in a symmetrically oval face.
Kyra let out a steady breath, trying to calm herself. Bane, which meant Frederick had agreed a vial of her blood as payment, and that was something she would never have approved. Blood was the catalyst used within black magic, and hers was more potent than most. She could never risk anyone using it.
“No, it’s not possible,” she said again. “You will accept a Ravyn.”
Kyra knew Bludrial was a faerie, not only because of the androgynous characteristics popular with many of the twenty-odd faerie kinds, but because Bludrial had acknowledged themselves as such. Unusual amongst any Breed to give away knowledge that could be used against them. Although, it wasn’t like either of them could hide behind glamour within the walls of the market.
“That was not the deal. One vial for the supplies!” Bludrial snarled, smile disappearing altogether as their words came out in a harsh bark, drawing attention she didn’t want or need.
She kept herself quiet, voice straining even as she fought the frustration and anger that tightened her fists. “I'm sure we can come to some other arrangement, but I can’t give you a vial of blood.”
Bludrial narrowed their eyes, snake-like tongue flicking out. “Don’t worry, I know a fun way to collect blood that will leave you wanting more.”
She must have been unable to stop the disgust from creasing her face, because the next thing Kyra felt was the sharp sting of pain against her cheek.
“Touch her again and lose the hand,” a voice growled from beside her.
Kyra stopped herself from cupping her face, copper on her tongue when she licked against her lip. Pushing at the dark hair that had escaped her braid she frowned, taking a second to recognise the larger male who had somehow slammed Bludrial against their own table, and bent them like a pretzel.
“Xander?” Panic set, her hands beginning to shake. “What do you think you’re doing?”
She would be blamed for this, she knew it.
“Are you okay?” another male asked, pulling her attention with his beautiful smile and perfectly straight teeth. She recognised his friendly eyes and military short hairstyle, but not his name. The Guardian’s eyes dipped to her lips, to the cut that had already begun to clot, his smile tightening.
Axel!she thought, finally remembering. That was his name.
“What do they feed you all?” There were seven Guardians, and they all were large men heavily roped in muscle designed for both strength and speed. Fascinating black and red tattoos decorated their skin, the patterns intricate enough she had caught herself staring on more than one occasion when they had been around.
Axel’s eyes widened, and then she realised she had asked the question aloud and not just inside her head.
Oh, bloody hell!
“Excuse me,” she said, the words more of a squeak as she quickly grabbed the package.
“Hey!” Bludrial shouted, their face still pressed against the table, arms twisted at an impossible angle. “You haven’t paid for that!”
Blindly reaching into her pocket she grabbed a Ravyn, not even caring how much it was. She left it beside Bludiral’s face, not daring to look back as she rushed towards the exit. The anti-violence wards glowed against the walls, not yet activated but ready to intervene.
Heart racing she found a vacant travi-portal, the dial ready as she spun it until the incantation showed the outskirts of the city. The Troll Market was connected by carefully constructed portals and doorways, and for a price they could take you further than a few miles from the cemetery. The travi-portals had the ability to change the destination, with one travi-portal connected up to ten other places across the country within seconds. The portals were relatively new magic, and notoriously banned by both the Light and Dark courts of the Fae, and yet the High Lords who ran the market cared very little when it could make a profit.
Wild magic was notoriously unpredictable, as were the travi-portals. Normally Kyra would never have trusted them, even though they were convenient, but she couldn’t face the man who seemed to hate her on sight.
She grabbed another Ravyn, checking the value before she found the slot beside the dial.
“Little girls shouldn't be here.” A hand struck out, carefully circling her wrist with enough pressure to stop her, but not enough to hurt.
Kyra paused, the coin at the edge of the slot. She looked up, and Xander removed his sunglasses.
“That’s a rude comment,” she said, trying to tug from his grasp.
His mouth twisted, pale eyes narrowed as he released her wrist, only to grip her jaw. He angled her face against the light, her lip stinging when she frowned.
“What are you doing here, Kyra?” His white silver hair, just long enough to cover his unusually dark brows moved across his forehead, partially concealing his expression.
