Kali carefully made her way to the earth from her precarious position atop one of the polar bear statues clinging to the balcony's edge outside Kallias' library. The ice made each movement dangerous and it took all of her concentration to keep from plummeting to her death on the stone path below.

The thought of what these soldiers moving towards Kharos could mean made her want to disappear and run for one of her safe houses. She should just toss Amarantha's book and run before this situation got any more dangerous, but...Kali wasn't ready to leave him.

Already she missed the sunny warmth of the solarium and Rhone's laughter. A stupid grin seemed plastered to her face at the thought.

Kindness was rare enough in her world that she carried each moment close to her heart, cherishing it like some did the finest jewels or wine. The bond within her soul was still without the final link, but it danced and glowed like the sun.

Maybe there was hope.

The thought sobered her as she wiggled down a drain pipe and gracefully leapt over to one of the massive cedar trees that ringed the ice garden. She paused there as a trio of guards walked past, discussing the lunch menu with eager expressions. Once they were out of sight, she shimmied down the tree and dropped down to the frozen earth.

A soft panting noise made her freeze, her mind racing to the massive white bears that patrolled the palace grounds. Slowly, arms raised in a placating gesture, she pivoted and let out a breath of frustration.

Juno and Freya gave her wolfish grins and wagged their tails happily at the sight of her-clearly pleased with their trick.

Narrowing her eyes, Kali put her hands on her hips. "Very funny."

Freya broke first, her body wiggling with excitement as she rubbed up against Kali's legs. Eventually Kali gave in and rubbed their soft fur, unable to stay mad when they were so happy to see her. "Let's go home," she murmured and began to walk towards the main entrance, willing to bet no one would stop her with the princeling's prized wolves at her side.

The day seemed brighter than others, even with dark clouds edging the horizon, warning of storms to come. Kali made her way back to the apartment with a spring in her step, happiness like an unfamiliar cloak around her. For once, the beat of other fae's emotions didn't feel like blows against her consciousness as she walked through the marketplace.

The smell of familiar fruits drew her to a vendor at the edge of the market, her dark skin creasing in a welcoming smile. Kali ran her hands over the bright fruits, a luxury in this frozen climate. Her mouth watered and she reached into her pocket, hesitantly closing her fingers around the small purse there.

"You can't keep pickpocketing every time you want something, thief," Rhone had told her when he slipped the purse into her pocket a few days before, "I'd hate to have to bail you out of prison."

Now she ran her fingers over the worn leather, feeling the shape of the coins within. Though her pride was ruffled at the thought of continuing to be in Rhone's debt, it was tempting. Perhaps if she got him a few pieces it wouldn't feel so wrong.

Smiling, she began to make her selections and fished out the appropriate coins.

"You have expensive taste-" a familiar voice drifted from nearby, making her look up with a scowl as Stryker continued, "-although I guess that's not surprising for a thief."

The vendor frowned, looking nervously between them and Kali sent a soothing note of energy towards her. "He's just joking," she murmured with an apologetic smile.

That smile disappeared as she hauled the King of Warrens away from the stall by his arm. Once they were out of earshot, she whirled on him. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded.

"Keeping you company, of course," Stryker replied with a lazy grin.

"Did Rhone send you? I don't need a babysitter."

"I'm actually here for him," he said, gesturing for her to walk with him towards the apartment. "I just happened to see you walk by."

Kali told herself she wasn't still annoyed at the spymaster for misleading her with Rhone in the Warrens. The reminder of the way she'd claimed the princeling in front of all those witnesses made her blush furiously. It was clear Rhone had never been in any kind of danger that night and she'd embarrassed herself for nothing.

"He's still at the palace." Her voice and pace remained clipped, even when they reached the front door and she dug around for her key.

Stryker sighed. "You're not still mad at me about Rhone, are you? It was just a bit of fun," he batted his eyelashes at her in a decent impersonation of Freya's begging face.

She shot him a look and walked into the apartment, dropping the bag of fruit on the massive table. Mimicking Rhone's habits, she tossed a few logs in the fireplace and set about warming up the space while Stryker settled into one of the kitchen chairs and watched her work, fishing out a weathered deck of cards and playing with them idly. Eventually she was forced to stop pretending to stroke the fire and wandered back into the kitchens, feeling uncomfortable with the male in a space she was beginning to feel possessive of.

The lanky male rested his arms on the table and let out a dramatic sigh. "We could be good friends, you know," he weedled, "I have all sorts of information you might like."

Curiosity piqued, Kali leaned against the counter with an orange in one hand, considering the offer. "Such as?"

"I have all sorts of embarrassing stories about Rhone," Stryker replied with a mischievous grin, cards moving in a complicated pattern.

"Oh really?"

"But, like everything worthwhile, they come with a price."

Kali's eyebrows rose and she settled into the chair across from him. "What do you want? Money? Jewels?"

"Information and favors are always valuable for someone like me."

She grinned, her gaze on the cards shuffling in his dexterous hands. "Why don't we play for it?"

Green eyes sharpened with interest. "Oh?"

"Winner gets one favor or can ask one question and the loser must answer truthfully."

"What kind of game shall we play?"

"I'll let you choose," she said easily, waving a hand dismissively, "you're the owner of gambling den after all."

Stryker leaned forward, a dare in his eyes, "Excellent. Ever played Thief's Gamble?"

"Of course."

"I prefer to play with a unique set of penalties for the losers…"

An hour later, Kali looked over her cards thoughtfully, not really paying attention to the images on the paper as much as she did the emotions trickling over from the male across from her. Juno's head was a warm weight against her bare feet and helped anchor herself against the tide of her magic.

Stryker was an excellent card player. Unfortunately, even with a carefully expressionless face, he had no chance of hiding his reactions to what he was dealt.

The first game she'd let him win, feigning irritation when she was forced to pull off her boots and agree to answer one question. His insistence that each time one of the lost, they were required to take off an item of clothing was amusing to say the least. Inwardly she'd grinned at the 'unique penalty' Stryker was so proud of.

She'd make him regret it.

Kali won the next three hands easily, waiting for the spike of adrenaline or annoyance that signaled he had a good or bad hand. His competitiveness became apparent after each loss, but he kept his word and shucked a piece of clothing with a wink. Talking became easier as they fell into the rhythm of the game and Kali was surprised to find herself relaxing with the incorrigible male.

Stryker produced a flask from his jacket and they passed it back and forth good naturedly. The warmth of the liquor seemed to settle into her bones and made it easier to admit defeat in the fourth hand.

"Looks like I win again!" Stryker crowed and Kali's lips twitched at his gleeful dance.

"Don't get too excited-" she said primly as she tossed Rhone's sweater onto the growing pile of clothing, "-I intend to destroy you in the next round."

The cooler air felt good against her skin and she took another drink from his flask, enjoying the burn as it went down her throat. Stryker gathered the discarded cards and began to shuffle again, clearly unbothered by his missing shirt, shoes, jacket, and socks. His speech was beginning to slur from the alcohol and she could feel the echo of her own buzz in his emotions.

"What are you doing here in Summer?" he asked abruptly, eyes on the cards.

"What?"

Stryker's gaze was surprisingly shrewd when he looked up and she blinked. "What are you doing here?"

She swallowed and smiled weakly, trying to reclaim the easy atmosphere. "Are you using one of your questions?"

"Yes. Tell me the truth."

Kali hesitated, suddenly unsure if she was the one taking advantage of this game. She toyed with her braid, removing the tie and carding her fingers through the strands to buy herself some time. "I'm here to retrieve the spellbook," she finally said.

"What do you want with it?"

"I need to destroy it...before someone uses her magic." The words dropped like stones into the pit of her stomach and she reached for the flask again to get rid of the acrid taste.

Stryker was silent for a long moment, tracing the faded picture of a red queen with his finger. His emotions shifted wildly from suspicion to curiosity to worry, leaving her unsure of what to expect. Finally he met her gaze again, "What do you want with Rhone?"

Kali opened her mouth, then closed it again, suddenly unsure. What did she want with Rhone? Even after they'd slept together, he'd shown no sign of feeling the mating bond that seemed to itch beneath her skin each time she looked at him. Maybe she was just hurting herself in the long run staying here.

She looked around the apartment that had become her home in the short time she'd been here. Freya was snoring softly on the couch, curled on top of the blanket Rhone had left there. Through the slightly ajar bedroom door, the sheets were still rumpled from the night before and she felt that happy warmth grow in her chest at the reminder of how protectively Rhone had held her. He was good and kind and she knew she didn't deserve him.

But gods did she want him.

Weakly, she attempted to look cocky to Stryker, snagging the cards and reshuffling them quickly. "Nice try, but I already answered the two questions I owed you."

He was silent for long enough that she risked looking up from the cards, surprised to see sympathy in his forest green eyes. "Damn girl, you've already got it bad," he sighed.

Kali opened her mouth to protest, but the sound of the door opening had her standing up nervously. Juno and Freya gave a joyful bark and rushed to the door in a flurry of white fur and wagging tails. Rhone walked in looking tired, his smile of greeting shifting into confusion then fury.

"What the hell is going on here?" Rhone's voice was little more than a growl as he took in the sight of her standing shirtless in her thin undershirt next to Stryker grinning in only his pants.

She made a placating sound, but Stryker answered for her, "Your lovely little roommate is hustling me in Thieves Gamble."

"Is she now?" Rhone rumbled, sounding slightly mollified at the title Stryker had given her. Kali blushed and wrapped her arms around her middle to keep from reaching out for him. He gave her a proud smile. "I expect nothing less from the best thief in Prythian."

"In the world," she corrected with a humble smile and bat of her eyelashes.

Rhone laughed and some of that terrible sadness that was clinging to him ebbed away. He settled into the chair beside her, the warmth of his presence seeping into her skin like the sun.

"I tell you Rhone, if you don't marry her, I will," Stryker said with smirk that didn't quite meet his eyes and Kali frowned at him. Casually, as if he did so every day, Rhone curled one arm around her waist, his thumb brushing gently against her side.

"What are you doing here, Stryker?" he asked, taking a sniff of the nearly empty flask with an arched brow towards Kali.

"Your mother sent me to babysit you on this scouting mission. She's worried you and Phinn may get into trouble."

"I don't need a babysitter-besides I need you to stay here and guard Kali."

Kali scowled at him, temper rising, "If you think I'm staying here while you go investigate Hybern, you're delusional."

Rhone glared back at her. "You're a target. Do you think those soldiers coming into our Court is a coincidence?"

"I don't know what gave you the idea that you were my boss," she said coolly, "but you are mistaken."

He sighed, running his fingers through his pale hair and releasing it from its band so it fell around his face. "It's too dangerous, Kali."

Some of her temper ebbed and she gave him a teasing smile, "Don't worry, princeling. I'll protect you."

Stryker hooted with laughter and stood, grabbing his scattered clothing. "Guess I'll see you both in the morning," he chuckled.

Rhone still looked unconvinced even after Stryker left the apartment, still grinning. Kali rested her head against his shoulder and patted his leg in a comforting gesture, "You know I'd follow you even if you left me behind."

He scowled and looked her over thoughtfully. "Maybe if I tied you to the bed…"

Kali laughed and stood up. "Come on princeling, let's get some sleep. We have a long way to go tomorrow."

Thank you to all of you lovely readers who have been kind enough to leave reviews for these chapters. They mean the world to me!