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queen’s chief guard. No one approaches him.”
    I had to convince her to go to him. He rescued me twice now. I didn’t know much about faeries, except their value on honor. If he rescued me again, I’d owe him another favor, but he was the second person I knew who could just pop in and out of places. Draken would be my first choice if I hadn’t seen him escort D into the Ardent Asylum. I wasn’t sure where Draken stood on loyalty, but I wasn’t convinced of Bliss’s intentions either.
    “He knows me. If you tell him I’m here, he’ll come.”
    I wanted to promise her safety, but I couldn’t even take care of myself. She looked unconvinced as she dropped the cloth in the water and picked up the vase of water. I stood at her command and the water felt colder this time as she dumped it over my shoulders, taking the last of the grime. I stepped out of the tub, feeling lighter without the grave dirt clinging to my body, but the wolf bites took some of my strength.
    “I will give you anything I have if you will deliver the message,” I said. That was a dangerous offer and the minute it came from my mouth, I felt uncertain.
    The sith grabbed the towel off the bed and tossed it to me. I was grateful for the fabric, though it was rough. I dotted my skin before wrapping it around my torso. When I looked back up, the sith was watching me closely. It was alien how the light played through the emerald of her eyes.
    “I want your wolf.” Her aura brightened at the statement.
    Disappointed hardened in my stomach. “Your price is too high. I don’t own the wolf and even if I did, I wouldn’t give you his life for a message.”
    Her smirk was telling. I wasn’t going to like her resolution. “Then I’ll ask for something you can give, Belen McKnight, the daughter of Kelaino; the chosen one.”
    “It’s not proven that I’m her daughter.”
    Her hair fell over her shoulders, framing her face and drawing attention to her mouth. I couldn’t imagine those teeth going gracefully into skin.
    I knew I was going to regret this, but I needed to speak with Bliss. “What did you want in exchange?”
    Her pointed tongue darted over her lips. “Your blood.”
    “My message is useless if I’m dead.” I didn’t want her teeth digging in my skin. The wolves already took a chuck of flesh.
    “I won’t take much. I just want to taste the Moon Goddess, Hecate,” she said.
    I wish she’d stop insisting that I was Kelaino’s daughter. “Fine, but give me a chance to get dressed.”
    The sith shrugged and leaned against the wall, crossing her arms under her breasts. Her presence made me uncomfortable, so I pulled the clothes on with as much modesty as I could get from the towel. When I’m alone, I’ll doctor my cuts, but right now, I just wanted the cover. The burgundy, silk pants had draw-strings that I pulled tight. The top was formfitting with a high collar, but I felt naked with the high shoulders. The fabric didn’t cover the scars over my arms.
    She kicked away from the wall, her grace uncanny. “There’s something dark in you and I find it pleasing. I want to taste it.”
    “How can I trust you’ll deliver the message to Bliss?”
    She frowned. “If you keep speaking his name, you might summon the queen. That would be bad for all of us. I’ve given you my word; I’ll go in search of him. He’s been on a fool’s mission for thirty-four years and counting.”
    “Okay, fine,” I still wasn’t ready for this. “Do you have a name?”
    “This isn’t a date. No need to get personal,” she growled.
    Touchy. I tried to brace myself, but when she stepped within my circle of comfort, her energy rolled over me despite my shields. With the patch over my eye, I couldn’t see her aura and that bothered me. I stepped back, feeling the bed against the back of my legs and I stiffened further. I wasn’t going to lie down while this was happening, that would make me feel like a victim, and I was no one’s victim.
    Her