"Are you sure this is going to work?" Flynn hissed, trailing Ruhn into the streets of the Meat Market. Cassia walked between the two of them, her brown eyes crackling with rage. She was bound and gagged, which attracted numerous stares as they walked.

    "I'm sure of nothing," Ruhn replied. "But it's our best shot, and it's more likely to attract the Viper Queen's attention, short of offering ourselves as gladiators."

    Cassia's eyes widened in horror. Flynn smirked, catching sight of her expression. "Relax, Wolfie. You're about to become a celebrity down here."

    Cassia growled something that was muffled by her gag. Ruhn didn't bother removing it and asking her to repeat herself. They kept walking, following Salem's instructions to reach the Viper Queen's underground gladiator pits. It wasn't long before they found one of the many entrances.

    Ruhn led the way down a flight of grimy stone stairs. There were several rust colored streaks on them, which he didn't bother to investigate. He knew the look of dried blood well enough. Flynn, however, was studying every inch of their surroundings.

    "It seems a bit quiet for a gladiator pit," Flynn remarked.

    "Salem said most of the fights take place after dark. There will only be practices right now," Ruhn answered.

    "Then how do you know we'll find the Viper Queen down here?"

    "We won't."

    Ahead, the corridor opened up into a grand veranda, stretching around a massive underground cavern. There were several levels above and below them, and at the bottom of the cavern was a sandy fighting ring. Gladiators were already training. The dull thud of wooden weapons reached Ruhn's ears.

    If things were going according to plan, Salem was close to locating his mysterious friend. They only had a limited time to work with now. Ruhn watched the gladiators for a moment before continuing on his way.

    "Hey, what are you doing up here?" A guard hollered. Ruhn paused as he came sprinting down the veranda. "No one is supposed to be here during daylight hours."

    "Apologies," Ruhn said. "But I had some business to attend to before tonight's fights."

    "Oh really?" The guard crossed his arms, arching a brow. "And what business might that be?"

    "A new entry." Ruhn gestured to Cassia. "And a Wolf in exchange."

    The guard eyed all three of them skeptically. "You're referring to the Viper's Wolf, I imagine. Which are you interested in? The male or female? And before you ask, no, they don't come as a package deal."

    "Male," Ruhn replied. "I've got a use for his skills." He and Flynn shared a look.

    "Hm. If this is about that little doll of yours, you'd best be on your way," the guard scoffed. "The Vipe doesn't care about any of those dead welps. If she did, she'd have put Salem and Amunet on the case already."

    Anger burned through him at the insults, but Ruhn attempted to push it aside. Amunet, he thought, making a mental note of the name. That had to be whomever Salem was interested in rescuing.

    "Regardless of my intentions with the Wolf, I've brought a second one who is just as powerful and capable as the first. She'll make things interesting for the Viper Queen." Ruhn grabbed Cassia's arm and jerked her forward. She glared at him, though he ignored her.

    "Well, well, well. You are the last person I'd expect to bargain with a person's life," an oily, yet melodic voice said behind him.

    Ruhn turned and found himself staring into the Viper Queen's green eyes, marbled by veins of jade and gold. Her slitted pupils narrowed and her mouth stretched into a cunning smile, revealing thin elongated canines, reminiscent of a serpent's fangs.

    "I'm curious, Prince," she continued. "How did you know Salem was under my command?"

    "I have my ways." Ruhn held the Viper Queen's gaze, unflinching. "Are you interested in my deal or not?" Flynn tightened his hold on Cassia as she struggled to break away from them.

    "Why do you need Salem?"

    "I don't just need him. I want him. Free from you, and loyal only to me."

    "Why?" The Viper Queen repeated. "Does this, by any chance, have something to do with the death of Sarai Ilerion and the Pack of Devils?"

    "What's it to you?"

    "Salem has been invaluable to me in more ways than one. If I'm going to release him, I need to know why. I need it to be worth my while."

    "I'm making it worth your while." Ruhn gestured to Cassia, fighting back an impatient huff. The Viper Queen flashed him an incredulous look and Flynn elbowed him. Ruhn glared at his friend, then faced the Viper Queen.

    "Yes, I'm investigating the murder of the Pack of Devils and Sarai Ilerion." He swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. "I figured I'd have more luck working with Salem than I will with any of the Angels, and everyone knows he's capable of holding his own against demons."

    "What are you hoping to find?"

    "Whomever summoned the demon, and the reason they summoned it."

    The Viper Queen tapped her cheek with a perfectly manicured nail. "I will release Salem in exchange for her." She pointed to Cassia. "But I want one more thing. A favor from you, Prince, to be charged at my convenience. Any favor."

    "Ruhn," Flynn warned.

    "Fine," Ruhn snapped. "Let's get this taken care of."

    "By my blood that flows in you, through no treachery, through no dishonor, I hereby free you, Salem Ares, of your blood oath to me." The Viper Queen lifted her chin, half closing her eyes. When she opened them, a hungry light glinted in their green depths. "Remove her gag."

    Flynn pulled the cloth from Cassia's mouth. The Viper Queen gave a short nod and her lingering guard forced Cassia to her knees. "You can't do this!" Cassia spat at Ruhn's feet. "You can't give me to her! I'm a living being!"

    "I'm sure Lucas would agree." Ruhn crouched, meeting Cassia's gaze. He lowered his voice. "After everything you did to Sarai, I owe you no favors. And this wasn't my decision. The person who made it had every right to do so."

    "Sabine will have people looking for me," Cassia spat. "You won't get away with this. Any of you!"

    "Sabine Fendyr won't even know you're gone," the Viper Queen chuckled. She lifted her wrist to her fangs and slashed it open. Dark blood spilt onto her moon-white skin. "Drink," she ordered, offering her wrist to Cassia. "And swear your fidelity." A chill ran down Ruhn's spine as he watched Cassia sign her life away.

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ☾☽ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

    Salem halted, bracing his forearm on the side of a building. Something was happening. That leash that had always stretched between him and the Viper Queen... It was gone.

    Salem sucked in a sharp breath, rubbing a hand against his chest. "They did it," he whispered, almost giddily. "They did it!" He was free. He was free! A lifetime of serving the Viper Queen, and he was finally free!

    Salem sprinted down the street towards Amunet's apartment. He skidded around the building and climbed up the fire escape, taking care to avoid the security cameras as he went. He finally reached the landing outside of Amunet's apartment and drew a spare key from his pocket. Salem let himself into the house.

    He heard faint humming coming from the bathroom just down the hall. Salem approached quietly, knowing that Amunet was already aware of his presence. No one entered her apartment without her knowing. Her senses were just as sharp as his own, despite her only being half Wolf.

    He reached the bathroom and leaned against the doorframe, watching her quietly. Amunet ignored him for the moment, leaning over the sink to apply another layer of wine red lipstick. She was already dressed in the skimpy lace attire of her second job. A job she'd never had a say in, just like the first. Anger curled in his gut, along with resolution.

    Amunet flipped pin-straight chocolate hair over her pale shoulder and turned to him with a sigh. "You know this isn't a good time, Baby."

    "I should be able to see my wife whenever I want to," Salem replied. "Which is why we're going somewhere where that is a possibility."

    Amunet knit her brows, watching him through shrewd gray eyes. "What are you talking about?"

    Salem took her hands in his own and kissed her knuckles lightly. "We're getting out of the city, just like we planned."

    "What? How?"

    "Ruhn Danaan is helping us. So are his friends, and Rafe."

    "Your Alpha?" Amunet blinked in surprise. "But...but we can't leave. The Vipe will force you to come back or worse." She pressed her palm flat over his heart.

    Salem covered it with his own. "I've been freed."

    Her jaw dropped. "What?"

    Salem's mouth curved into a rare smile. He cupped her cheek in his palm and pressed their foreheads together. "I've been freed. The Viper Queen has no more control over me than she has over you. We can leave, and we're going to. We're getting out of the city and going somewhere safe."

    Amunet's voice was thick with emotion when she next spoke. "Do you mean it?" She whispered.

    "I promise, Love." Salem touched a kiss to her forehead. "You've got a few minutes before Ruhn gets here. Change into something more durable and grab what weapons you can."

    Amunet brushed past him and wasted no time following his instructions. "We'll have to hurry. It won't be long before the Madame realizes I've missed my shift. She'll alert the Vipe and then we'll have her personal guards to deal with."

    "Nothing we haven't handled before," Salem answered, grabbing her gun holsters off a dresser. Amunet stepped into her boots and Salem knelt, strapping the holsters to her hips and around her thighs while she tugged on a leather shirt.

    He shifted towards a window and pulled back the blinds. There was no sign of Ruhn Danaan, although Salem knew he had to be on his way. The Viper Queen was taken care of and Amunet was ready. The first two parts of their plan were complete. It was the next few steps that had Salem worried.

    He glanced back at Amunet as she fitted a box of spare ammunition into a pouch on her utility belt. "Ruhn is the one people say fell in love with Sarai, isn't he?" She asked. "The one at the Sailing who tried to go after her boat?"

    "Yes."

    "I understand the sentiment." Amunet's gaze found his. "We both leave this city or neither of us do."

    "I want you safe."

    "And I want the same for you, but I will not leave here unless we leave together."

    Salem was still as Amunet crossed the room and wrapped her arms around his waist. He rested his cheek atop her head, heaving a slow sigh. "I taught you how to take care of yourself. You'll be fine without me."

    "Yes, but I don't want to be without you. The whole point of trying to leave is so we can truly have a life together. Why should one of us escape if the other gets left behind?" Amunet lifted her head, her throat bobbing. "You are the one good thing I have in this life. Without you, life isn't worth living."

    The door opened, then creaked shut again. Salem went rigid, one hand falling to the gun at his hip. "If we're going, it has to be now," Ruhn said, appearing out of thin air. Shadows still flickered at his fingertips. He sketched a bow, his sapphire eyes landing on Amunet. "After you, Mrs. Brooding Wolf."

    Amunet laughed and joined the Fae. "I like that nickname. What do you think, Baby?"

    "It is not sticking," Salem grunted. "I don't brood."

    "Yes, you do," Amunet retorted. Ruhn's shadows wrapped around them and they hurried out of the apartment without another word.