“Why didn’t you return to the apartment right away?” I asked. “I could have talked to her.”
“I couldn’t risk Bruns discovering our location.”
“What about now?” Onora asked. “Can Zitora find us while you’re holding Yelena’s hand?”
Valek’s strained face was grim. “Yes. It’s just a matter of time.”
“I thought the baby blocked magic,” Onora said.
“The baby drains it,” I said. “Are you using your magic?” I asked Valek.
“No. I stopped using mine to block her as soon as I held your hands, but the baby is siphoning her power through me. Being the second most powerful magician in Sitia, she can follow that drain of magic.”
Which explained his exhaustion.
“Is she close?” Onora asked him.
“Yes. They’re a block away and heading for the mouth of the alley.”
“How many are with her?” She pulled her daggers.
“Eight. Best to ambush them. Do you have any darts with sleeping potion?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Find a hiding spot in the alley. When they come, hit as many as you can.”
“What if they’re resistant, like the ones who were guarding my father?” I asked.
Valek cursed.
“Wait,” Onora said. “We have that new draft Leif cooked up for us.”
So much had happened, I’d forgotten about that. Or was it baby brain?
“Thank fate,” Valek said. “Give some of them to Yelena and then get into position.”
“Yes, sir.” Keeping ten, Onora handed me six darts. Then she disappeared through the door.
“Yelena, do you have your blowpipe with you?” he asked.
“Always.” I loved that weapon. Stolen from Bruns’s armory, it had a rifling pattern on the inside to improve even my terrible aim.
“Stay here and hit anyone who comes through that door.”
“And you?”
He pushed to his feet, pulling me up with him. “I’m the bait.” He let go of my hands.
I clamped down on my protest. “What is she planning to do once she catches you?”
“Take me to Bruns for interrogation. I considered letting her so I could see where they’re holding Fisk, but...” He rubbed his ribs, probably remembering the last time he was Bruns’s prisoner and had almost been beaten to death.
“Better to get Zitora on our side first. You need to convince her, love.” He sat down on the floor next to the door. If anyone entered, the open door would hide him from view.
I moved to the deepest shadow that had a clear shot to the entrance. Careful not to prick myself with the sharp tips, I laced the darts in my tunic for easy access. Then I loaded a dart into the pipe and waited. My stomach did flips—or was that the baby, energized by all the magic? Easier to blame him or her than my nerves.
After a moment, Valek said, “They’re in the alley.” He closed his eyes. “Onora has engaged.”
A few shouts and sounds of a scuffle reached us.
“Right outside.” Valek’s voice strained with the effort to speak.
I raised my blowpipe and aimed. The door flew wide. Spotting the guard’s neck, I puffed, then loaded another dart. People tumbled into the room. I shot at anyone I didn’t recognize until I ran out of darts. However, many of the guards remained on their feet, and while I managed to hold my own with my switchblade for a minute or so, the small confines of the room limited my maneuverability. Two guards disarmed me and grabbed my arms, pinning me between them.
“Yelena! Figures I’d find you here.” Zitora’s tone turned deadly. “Traitor, where’s that killer Valek?”
Flabbergasted by her anger and hatred, I stared at her. Words refused to move past my lips.
“Behind you.” Valek pressed a knife against her throat. She didn’t make a sound or move, but he tightened his grip on her and said, “Don’t.”
Zitora glowered at me. Finally the sleeping draft kicked in, and the men holding me swayed and collapsed. Wow. Leif hadn’t been kidding when he’d said it would take longer. Onora entered and, in a few quick moves, disarmed the other two before they also succumbed to the drug.
“Is that all of them?” Valek asked Onora.
“For now. When they don’t return, the others will come investigate.”
“Yelena.” Valek met my gaze. Lines of strain showed on his face.
Oh, right. I approached and grabbed Zitora’s hand.
She cried, “You? You’re the one draining my power?”
“Not me. The baby.”
She glanced at my abdomen, and for the first time, I wished I had a baby bump.
“It’s hard to explain, but if you stop aiming your magic at me, it won’t...er...collect it. At this point, we don’t really know what it’s doing with the magic.”
“You’re not making any sense,” she said.
I figured she might be distracted by the deadly weapon at her throat. “Valek, put the knife away. Why don’t you and Onora go guard the door?”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
No. “Yes.”