Ruhn stood in an alleyway, just a short distance from the White Raven, safely hidden by his shadows. Only a day had passed since the meeting, and he, Declan, and Flynn had wasted no time making preparations. Now, Ruhn was waiting to meet with Salem himself.

He'd messaged the Wolf from Sarai's phone, giving only a location and a time. Everything else would be discussed in person. Declan was monitoring the alley and would power down the security cameras around them as soon as Salem arrived.

After that, they'd only have a few minutes to make their plans and leave. Any longer and a city technician would realize that some of the cameras were down, especially since it was in such an active portion of the city. Ruhn couldn't risk drawing attention to this endeavor unless he wanted to get himself and everyone involved imprisoned or killed.

Ruhn perked up, hearing the pad of a Wolf's paws just down the street. He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the camera lights blink off. When he turned back, allowing his shadows to recede, Salem was standing before him, already in his normal form. He flipped a long dark braid over his shoulder and watched Ruhn expectantly. "What do you want?"

"I'm going to help you get out of the city."

Salem's dark eyes widened, then flashed with suspicion. "Why?"

"Sarai was going to help you, wasn't she?" He gave a slow nod. "And you were helping her look into the drug case in return." Salem nodded once more. "I want you to tell me whatever you know about her research, and in exchange, I'll get you out of the city."

"That's going to be difficult. Sarai never told me anything, and she never went to the meeting I set up for her."

Ruhn toyed with his lip ring for a moment, then shook his head. "Just tell me what you can." Salem began to speak. "But not here," Ruhn interrupted. "The cameras will come back online in a few minutes. You can tell me while we're on our way out of the city."

"I went over Sarai's plans for you and found the one I think will work the best. If we meet here and head down a side street through FiRo, we'll be able to exit the city on the Eastern Road. It's not monitored as heavily as the other main roads, and Declan often leaves the city that way because he's got cousins to the east."

Salem nodded, a thoughtful look in his eye, and Ruhn continued. "We'll smuggle you out of the city that way and take you to Dec's family. We'll stay one night before returning to the city and Declan said his family will help you get to wherever you want to go."

"All right," Salem said. "But Sarai wasn't just helping me get out." Ruhn arched a brow. "I've got a friend in the Meat Market. She's a gladiator for the Viper Queen. Sarai was going to help me bust her out and we were both going to leave the city."

"How difficult will that be?" Ruhn asked.

Salem rubbed his chin. "It's hard to say. She isn't tied to the Viper Queen through blood like some of the gladiators, but she is heavily guarded. She's one of the Vipe's favored warriors. They'll notice when she goes missing and the Viper Queen's people will be combing the city for her."

"Can we break her out tomorrow night?"

"Maybe, if we leave the city immediately after."

Ruhn gave a curt nod. "Tell her to be ready. Declan and I will rework the plan and tell you everything you need to know when we've got it figured out."

"There's one more thing." Salem closed his eyes, his features contorting in discomfort. "I need to be severed from the Vipe's control."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know what I meant when I said she ties gladiators to her through blood?" Ruhn shook his head. "It's an ancient practice, from even before the Asteri's time. Drinking a person's blood and swearing your loyalty to them binds your very soul to their will."

"That doesn't sound good."

"It isn't. You are under their complete control. They can command you to do anything, and if you try to disobey..." Salem grimaced, his throat bobbing.

"It causes pain," Ruhn guessed.

"It can even cause death."

"And you are bound to the Viper Queen in this way?" Salem gave a slow nod, drawing a sharp breath. "She commanded you not to tell anyone, didn't she?" He nodded again. "How did this happen?" Ruhn looked back at the cameras. "Wait, don't say anything. The cameras are about to come back on."

"I'll explain it when we're on our way out of the city," Salem promised. "All you need to know is that the Viper Queen has to verbally release me. If I try to break the bond myself, it will kill me. I don't care if she releases me dishonorably or anything like that, just so long as she does it."

"How can we accomplish that?"

"She'll demand a bargain or a trade." Salem backed towards the street. "I have to go. I'll meet you outside the Meat Market tomorrow evening. I'll text a time."

Ruhn nodded and Salem vanished. Ruhn pulled his shadows around himself, just as the cameras came online with a soft click. He crept out of the alley and hurried back to the house, his mind whirling with an assortment of plans.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ☾☽ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

Salem slipped several throwing knives into the folds of his leathers. He already had twin short swords sheathed at his back, and two handguns sat on his thighs. His weapons were the only things he'd take out of the city besides what little money he'd managed to save. Anything else would be too cumbersome to drag around until he and Amunet found a relatively safe place to settle.

Apprehension curled in his stomach at the thought. In just a few short hours, they would be outside of Lunathion and on their way to freedom. Assuming everything goes as planned, he thought. There were so many things that could go wrong and spell disaster for all of them.

He still couldn't believe the Fae Prince had chosen to help him. He was gaining very little from this deal, and if they were caught, Ruhn would face a more terrible sentence than the rest of them. Salem still wasn't certain the Prince's plan for securing his freedom would work, but he wouldn't question it.

That was Ruhn's part to play. He had his own. If Ruhn failed with the Viper Queen, at least Salem could get Amunet out of the Meat Market before the Vipe turned her wrath on him. So long as Amunet got to safety, nothing else mattered.

"What are you doing?"

Salem jerked around, coming face to face with his Alpha. Rafe was leaning against the doorframe, eyes narrow with suspicion. "Getting ready for a patrol," Salem lied.

"With that many weapons?"

"More demons have been sighted in the city. You know that."

"I also know that you are capable of dispatching demons without firing a single bullet. You've made the Umbra Mortis fight for his title how many times?"

"And then I saw what a demon did to the Devils and Sarai. I'm not taking any unnecessary chances."

"You're lying," Rafe growled. Salem crossed his arms, not answering. "What are you up to?" Rafe came closer, drawing a deep breath. "You've spoken with Ruhn Danaan. Why?" His gaze swept over Salem once more.

"Gods," Rafe groaned. "You're leaving, aren't you? You're a fucking idiot, Salem. Sabine will hunt you down and drag you back here before clawing your skin from your bones."

"Then at least I'll have died trying to escape," Salem replied. "Not all of us are content to sit here and slave away to others while they dangle the lives of our loved ones over our heads."

Rafe knit his brows. "You don't have any family."

"I didn't say family, did I?"

"You have a lover? I thought you, Lucas, and Cassia..."

"Cassia is a selfish bitch who strung Lucas along and blackmailed me to get what she wanted. And I don't have a lover." Salem turned away, adjusting a few straps on his leathers. "I have a wife. You aren't the only one who can keep secrets."

"Who is she?"

"A gladiator for the Viper Queen."

"Like you were?"

Salem gave a slow nod. "She arrived a few years after I was...released."

"What do you mean by that?" Rafe asked.

"Nothing I have time to explain. I have to go." He tried to move past the Alpha.

Rafe caught him by the shoulder. "You're going to get yourself killed, and her along with you."

"If you're offering your assistance, I'll accept it. If not, get out of my way."

"I'll help if Holly and I can come with you."

Salem glanced at Rafe, eyes wide in surprise. "All right. You can't come into the Meat Market with me, but you can wait a few blocks away. If something happens to me, get Amunet to safety. Declan Emmet will be waiting with a vehicle at the Merchants' Gate."

"What is Ruhn doing?"

"Securing my freedom." Salem cocked his head. "Actually, I have an idea. Do you know where Cassia is?"

Rafe massaged his forehead with a frustrated groan. "Don't tell me you plan on giving her to the Viper Queen."

"That's exactly what I plan on doing. After all she's put me through, Cassia owes me a few favors. And besides, I found out how she came into all of that money."

Rafe furrowed his brows. "How?"

"She sold out Lucas for a drug experiment. My sources say he's dead."

"Shit." Rafe's hand drifted to the back of his neck. "All right. I'll find her."

"Take her to Ruhn and get Holly to Declan, then situate yourself between the Merchants' Gate and the entrance to the Meat Market." Rafe nodded his understanding. Salem brushed past him, heading out the door.

"Good luck," Rafe called. "You're going to need it."

"We all are."