Free Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands, Book 1) by Sarah Fine Page A

to ask?”
    “It would,” he said as he stood up and leaned forward into the weak pool of lamplight, giving me the first real glimpse of his face. “I’m Malachi, by the way.” He held out his hand.
    Crap. It was him—the Guard from the street fight. The guy the rhino Guards had said would wring the truth out of me.The one they seemed to fear and hate. The one who murdered two people right in front of Nadia.
    His features were smooth and unlined, and yet somehow still carried that air of ferocity and defiance I’d observed before. The deep voids of his eyes were surrounded by thick, black lashes and full of confidence and threat. It was as if he’d already assessed my weaknesses and ticked off all the possible ways to kill me, so now he could relax and be friendly. His was not a soft face, but it held a harsh, dangerous sort of beauty.
Dangerous
being the operative word. I reached out carefully to shake his hand, like I might pet a viper or a shark.
    “I’m Lela.”
    His hand was warm over mine. His grip was strong. I pulled back quickly. He let me, though his gaze lingered on mine. “A pleasure, Lela. Now, please tell me what you’re doing in my city.”
    “Um…the same thing as everyone else. I killed myself,” I explained dully, trying to droop my face into that look of sorrowful self-absorption I’d seen on all the residents in this city. I’d seen what he did to people who defied him, and I didn’t feel like being introduced to the business end of his knife. I would play dumb until I figured out the magical combination of words that would spring the lock on this cage.
    “Your behavior suggests you have another agenda.” His voice was mild as he pulled out one of the folding chairs next to the table and sat down. He crossed his arms over his chest andleaned back. He wasn’t wearing armor or any obvious weaponry and looked perfectly casual in a pair of fatigue pants and a snug, long-sleeved T-shirt. He looked like any ordinary high school senior. One who was in terrific shape. One who killed people in his spare time.
    Satisfied that he was at a reasonably safe distance, I sank down on the cot, happy not to have to hold my pants up any longer. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied, still attempting to sound mournful.
    His eyebrows shot up, though he didn’t really look surprised. “Is that so? Let me give
you
some information, then. Apart from the Guards, there are only two types of creatures in this city who pay any attention to others. Most of the souls within these walls are pretty busy dealing with themselves. But I think you know that.”
    “Who says I’m not busy dealing with myself?”
    “You were seen trying to talk to several people last night.”
    I rolled my eyes, then caught myself and tried to look depressed again. “Is that against the law here?”
    He smiled. “Not at all,” he said evenly, “but it does draw our attention.”
    “I haven’t been here long. I’m just trying to figure this place out.”
    “Again, that’s not typical behavior for the residents of this city. Which makes you one of two things. Either you’re aMazikin, and I will destroy you, or you are ready to go before the Judge and get out of this city.”
    I definitely did not want to be destroyed. I also didn’t want to get out of the city. Well, I did, desperately—but not before I found Nadia. “I have no idea what a Mazikin is. I’d know if I was one, right? I’m not quite ready to leave, though. I have some issues to deal with….” I tried to sound dazed.
    God, I am such a pathetic actress.
    The side of his mouth twitched, like he was trying not to laugh. “Lela, you have exhibited some very
aggressive
behavior. You assaulted a Guard when he tried to place you under arrest—”
    That jerked my head up. “Hey now, he didn’t say anything about arresting me. One minute I’m minding my own business, and the next he’s assaulting
me
.”
    His eyes flashed. “He said you