Nik entered Misha's room. She was tangled up in the sheets, fast asleep. He stood by her bedside for a moment, staring at the serenity of her face and feeling his heart swell with gratitude, affection and love. He didn't know what he'd do without her.

Bending, Nik brushed Misha's hair from her face and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. She was safe. Romanov would not hurt her.

He reached Mikhael's place within the promised time frame. His knees wobbled as he rang the bell to the man's flat and he put out a hand to support himself against the wall next to the door.

Mikhael's grey eyes filled with concern when they rested on him. "Nik," he said, reaching out and checking his temperature by putting his hand against his forehead. His hand was warm in the most soothing way and Nik realised he was shivering as he leaned into the warmth of his friend's hand.

"Come in." The words were a command Nik couldn't ignore. He stumbled in, his bad leg burning with a pain so acute he nearly fell. Mikhael was there, though, grabbing his arm and helping him to the couch. "Sit," he said and walked into the kitchen. Nik sank onto the couch, stretching out his bad leg. The bruises from last night hurt. His body was reaching its limit.

Mikhael returned with food and medicine. Nik scarfed down the food and downed the pills, wiping at his mouth when he was done.

"What did he do?" Mikhael's tone was flat, allowing no space for argument.

Nik looked down at his hands, wringing them together. He closed his eyes, hearing the crack of the flogger as it came down on his skin and the metallic taste of his own blood when he cut his tongue by biting it too hard. Take my beatings without making a sound, and I won't hurt Misha for an entire week. The caress of the whispered promise, the need in his lungs as he resigned himself to his fate.

Nik opened his mouth, tasting bile on his tongue again. He looked across at his friend, the only person besides his sister whom he completely trusted and memorised the way his eyes were shining with concern. "He gave me a beating," he said. "That is all."

Frown lines marred Mikhael's forehead. "Show me," he said.

Nik let out a breath and resigned himself to yet another kind of fate. He closed his eyes as he unbuttoned his shirt, having no desire to set his gaze on the bruises because he'd throw up for real then, and heard Mikhael's sharp inhale as they were exposed to his gaze.

"Did you treat them?" he asked at long last, breaking the endless silence between them.

"No," Nik said, honest despite the urge to lie. "I passed out."

Mikhael nodded and stood. "I'll get some herbal creams for you. Stay there and don't even think about getting up."

Nik nodded and melted against the couch behind him, still shivering hard. He wrapped his arms around himself and closed his eyes.

Mikhael returned moments later. Nik removed his arms from around his torso and sat forward so his friend could access the bruises on his chest. The next few moments passed in silence. Mikhael was gentle as he dabbed cotton over Nik's bruises.

"Does Misha know?" he asked at last.

"No." Nik didn't elaborate.

"I see." Mikhael closed the lids of his healing creams and watched him. "How do you feel?"

"Exhausted." Nik shrugged.

"I have a sleeping draught if you want it," Mikhael said.

Nik shook his head. "We have to check up on Azaelya, right? Let's go." He pushed himself to his feet, swaying for a moment before steadying himself.

Mikhael frowned but didn't press. He knew how much Nik hated sleeping.

They reached the place Mae was staying in within minutes. On the way there, Mikhael filled Nik in on the details of the attack and the offer he'd given to Mae.

A brunette with flowing hair and dark skin opened the door of the flat. "Hello," she said, her accent suggesting that she was from the East. "May I help you?"

"We're here to meet Azaelya Mae," Mikhael said, while Nikolai looked down at a chubby toddler girl who clung to her mother's leg and fixed her wide, blue gaze on him.

"Ah," the woman said. "You must be Nikolai Aleksandrov, then."

"That's me." Nik nodded. "Is Azaelya present?"

"I am," said the person in question. She came into view at the woman's shoulder, her dark gaze piercing through Nik. She said something to the woman in another language, and the woman nodded and stepped back.

"Do come in," she said with a smile. "Make yourself comfortable."

Nik nodded politely and shrugged off his coat, wincing at the pain the movement brought him. He hung it on the coat stand by the door and took off his boots at the door as well, stepping in. Mikhael copied his movements, taking off his cap and gloves as well.

"It's cold outside, isn't it?" the woman asked. "Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Penelope. This is my daughter, Julia. Say hi, Julie."

Julia, still hiding behind her mother's legs, raised a hand in shy greeting. "H-Hi," she said, voice barely above a whisper. Nik smiled and crouched so he didn't seem so huge to her, extending a hand to the shy girl.

"Hello," he said. "I'm Nik. This is Mikhael."

Mikhael spared the girl a small smile, but it was cold enough to make her shrink back. Nik ignored that. Mikhael was pathetic when it came to children. "Do you play chess, Julia? Is it fine if I call you that?"

Julia nodded and shook his hand. Her hand was tiny in his. "I - I've seen you on TV," she said.

"Have you?" Nik smiled.

Julia nodded, gaining more courage. "You're awesome, just like Aunt Mae! You beat everyone." She hesitated, and her eyes were full of innocence and admiration as they gazed up at him. "I want to play chess, too."

"That's a really good idea," Nik said with a broad, genuine smile. "I can teach you if you'd like."

"Really?" Julia's eyes widened, and she looked up at her mother. "Mommy! Nikolai says he'll teach me chess like Aunt Mae."

"That's nice." Penelope ruffled Julia's hair and sent Nik a look that said, she's just a small child, don't mind her. "Come along now, Julia. Aunt Mae and Nikolai have some important business to attend to."

"Is it about chess?" the girl asked as she was led out of the room. "I wanna learn chess, too!"

Nik smiled and pushed himself back to his feet, nearly keeling over with the effort. His torso burnt with pain.

Azaelya's cold gaze betrayed no emotion as she looked at him from her seat on the couch. He couldn't tell whether she'd noticed his discomfort or not and hoped for the latter.

"So," Mikhael said, taking a seat across her and pulling Nik with him. "Have you made up your mind?"

"To some extent," Azaelya said. "The only issue I see with this entire proposal is that I don't want members of a gang intruding on my personal interactions with people or on the things I do. For all I know, this could just be a plan to learn how I play chess." She levelled her gaze at Nik, who clenched his hands.

"I do not need to stoop to such methods to win my matches," Nik said and her eyes flashed.

"Are you trying to suggest that you'll beat me without any great effort?"

No. "It's up to you to come up with an answer to that," Nikolai said, evasive as always, and Azaelya clenched her jaw. He lounged back. "I've never lost a match before, remember?" I'll never lose again.

"I don't think you're in much of a position to make assumptions here," Azaelya said, her voice cold enough to freeze ice. "You need me in your gang, don't you?"

"Not quite," Nik said, his tone rivalling hers. "We don't need you in our gang, Azaelya. Please don't misunderstand."

Azaelya's expression hardened. "Fine. As I said, I don't want gang members intruding on my day-to-day life anyway."

But you're okay when a normal stranger does the same thing? "As a gang, we offer our members complete privacy for all they do outside our gang," Nik said, changing track. "Your bodyguards will be handpicked by me and you can trust me when I say that they'll be completely loyal, unwavering, powerful and deadly."

Azaelya's throat bobbed as she swallowed, turning over his words in her head. He could tell she was thinking about the previous night, where a member of the White Tigers had fled without even confronting Mikhael, and about his own dangerous reputation as a killer, a criminal and a thief. "I see," she said at last. "What's your price?"

Nik tilted his head, studying her confident demeanour and considering the cold, logical mind that he knew lurked behind her hard, icy gaze. Next to him, Mikhael stiffened as well. This was the moment they'd both been waiting for.

"It's simple, really," he said. "As you know, I am one of the most powerful members in the Shadows. Mikhael here is my right-hand and is often referred to as the most dangerous person in the city. Our team is as powerful as we are, each with their own special abilities. I want you to join the fray, Azaelya Mae. Step on the chess board and be our tactician."

Azaelya's shoulders tensed, and her hands curled into tight fists in her lap. Her eyes narrowed. "I thought you'd be the tactician."

"I am, but a second opinion always helps. There's a spot empty on our chess board, Azaelya. Do you know which one that is?"

Something shifted in Azalya's gaze and she tilted her head. "The Queen."

"Indeed." Nik fixed her with a hard stare. "Do you want to fill in?"

Azaelya licked her lips. "It'd be a shame to turn down an offer like that."

Nik let out a breath. "Indeed."

"However, you're sorely mistaken if you think I'm going to accept your offer without any conditions," Azaelya said. Her gaze was cool, but in its shadow was a shrewd mind Nik knew better than to underestimate.

"Continue," he said, glancing at Mikhael. "What are your conditions?"

"First of all, I want someone rivalling either of you two's power to be my bodyguard," Azaelya said. Nik nodded. That condition he'd expected and covered already. "Second, I want to be a part of the investigations concerning the people who are after us."

At this, Nik paused, but only for a fraction of a second. It was natural that she'd want to know. He gave her a curt nod and reminded himself to convince Immanuel about this particular condition later. Those investigations were considered confidential gang work, after all. It wouldn't be easy to convince Immanuel to let a newcomer be privy to such investigations.

"Third, I want to be involved in any and all altercations, discussions and actions that concern the White Tigers."

Nik stiffened. "That's dangerous," he said at once. The White Tigers were no small enemy. It was true that their man had fled from Mikhael the previous night, but it was only because any conscious and straightforward aggression towards Mikhael would've sparked off a conflict so great that nothing but war would settle the rivalry and rage that brewed in the shadows of Kin.

"I know." Azaelya's gaze was unwavering. "However, their members attacked me last night without any provocation and killed my bodyguard. I will not be able to relax until I uncover the reasons and motivations for such an attack."

"I see." Nik exchanged a glance with Mikhael, and read the silent message in the other's eyes. "I will not be able to make any promises on this front, though, not until I've had a word with Immanuel."

Mikhael stiffened next to him and Nik could sense his mutiny and anger from the dangerous vibes he started emanating. True, Mikhael didn't want to talk to Immanuel about anything, but he also knew better than to contradict Nik's words. They knew they had to consult Immanuel first and foremost before making any promises concerning the gang's relations with rival gangs.

"Is that fine by you?" Nik asked. "We can start your drafting process whenever you want us to, but you'll have to wait for news on this particular condition."

"That's okay," Azaelya said. "I understand that I'm asking for something extreme. Your dealings with the White Tigers are probably strictly confidential and limited to within the top members with the gang. All I can say in return is that I'll try my best to not exploit, spoil or breach the terms of this secrecy."

"I'll keep that in mind." Nik stood. "We'll be heading off to HQs now and will return in an hour or two to pick you up. Is that fine?"

"Absolutely," Azaelya stood up as well. She extended her hand. "I look forward to good relations as fellow members of the Shadows," she said.

"Indeed," Nik said, and they shook over it.

As if on cue, Julia burst into the room. "Aunt Mae! Nikolai! Look, this is my chess set!" She held forward a small box of chess pieces made of wood. They were probably substitutes for the time until she turned ten and got a proper set.

Nik knelt again, ruffling her hair. "They're really pretty," he said, and she practically glowed. "I have to go now, but I'll return later and teach you how to play, alright?"

"Thank you!" Julia said and threw her arms around him. Nik stiffened for a moment, for her tight grip made pain explode everywhere, wrapping his arms around her and giving her a hug, burying his face into his shoulders and blinking hard to hold back the wetness in his eyes. She smelt like chocolate and flowers, and the familiar scent made nostalgia and grief fill Nik's chest along with familiar emotions of self-hatred and guilt. It was all he could do to not break down.

Julia probably felt him trembling, but did not say anything and just hugged him harder. Nik held her for a moment longer before pulling away. "Take care of yourself," he said, tickling her and making her giggle. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay!" Julia grinned from ear to ear and turned to Mikhael. "Bye-bye, Mik-hael," she said with the most adorable smile ever, and Mikhael's gaze softened.

"Bye," he said with a small smile. Nik stood up. He nodded at Azaelya, who had a weird look in her eye as she studied him, and left with Mikhael.

"Are you okay?" Mikhael asked when they were downstairs. He peered at Nik. He knew how Nik had developed an extremely soft spot for children ever since—

Nik shook off the thought. He didn't want to think about it. About her. "I'm okay," he said, crisp and cold. Mikhael frowned, not buying his words at all.

"You know you can-"

"No." The single word trembled with rage and barely suppressed pain, all the emotion he couldn't turn his back on no matter how he tried, and Mikhael did not say anything more.

* * *

Julia is so adorable! What do you think about her? And Nik is so good with children! Anyone else who's completely in love yet? 

Mae joined the Shadows! Thoughts?

See ya!

*disappears*