Lady Time seemed to speed her wheel.

There was a clatter as Sofia dropped the crystal blade. It shattered upon impact, the sound like a hail of arrows in the dark. Gabriel wrapped his arms around Iavor's torso by instinct. If the man lunged now – if he hurt this girl – there would be no coming back.

The bedroom door was not closed. Fair's large body darkened the doorstep before the sound had quite faded, and then the man was simply there, between the bed and Sofia. He had his sword in his hand. The blade came to rest at Iavor's throat, just below his chin.

The air trembled, as if the world itself held its breath.

Iavor tipped his head to one side, the movement gentle and slow. Eyes the color of old amber slid to Gabriel.

"What have I missed?" the vampire asked. His voice was shredded thin, but he spoke with care, so every word could be heard.

Relief had Gabriel smiling. Despite his posturing to Fair, the demon did not take the issue of Iavor's state of mind lightly. The vampire had been asleep for nearly a decade. His body was starved to emaciation, and could very well fall back onto animal instinct to insure survival. Yet, Iavor seemed sane and in control – or at least, not likely to rip anyone's throat out without the courtesy of a greeting.

Gabriel did not weaken his hold nonetheless. Better safe than dead, as the saying went.

"Lord Beaufort," Fair said.

Iavor nodded shallowly, so as not to aggravate the cold metal pressed against his skin. "Indeed."

Fair withdrew the sword. He maneuvered Sofia so she was behind him, hidden from view entirely. "Lord Todd, I leave this to you," he said, and departed with his charge. Moments later, Gabriel heard the front door open and close.

The this in question turned in Gabriel's arms, brows furled.

"I believe we have previously discussed your penchant for joining me in bed uninvited," the vampire said.

Gabriel could not help his laughter. He pressed his forehead against Iavor's shoulder, body shaking with a strange mixture of happiness and grief. Gabriel was not prone to feeling quite so much, all at once. It was overwhelming.

Hands hunger had whittled down to protruding bones and thin skin carded through Gabriel's hair. "Dear Gabi," Iavor sighed.

They remained close for some time. At last, the tremors in Iavor's hands grew too obvious to ignore – the vampire managed to snag at a few tangles in Gabriel's hair, prompting the demon to withdraw with an offended wince.

"I apologize," Iavor said. The words came out distorted, bitten through clenched teeth.

Gabriel took in the man's sunken face, the hazy gleam covering his eyes, and pulled them both to their feet. "Right. You need to eat, and quickly. I happen to know a place just beyond the village's border – what? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I fear that I cannot make the journey in my current state. If an innocent falls in my path on the way, I may not be able to hold the bloodlust at bay," Iavor said.

"I suppose I could deliver someone – oh, no," Gabriel snapped, hands coming up between them in a warding gesture as he tracked Iavor's eyes to his won throat. "Do you know what I went through to create this body? You are not feeding from me!"

"Be reasonable," Iavor said. Or at least that is how Gabriel chose to interpret the garbled growl that left the man's lips.

"You be reasonable!" Gabriel snapped. He let his hands fall and did not move back when Iavor took a step forward, already resigned to what was to happen but still determined to express his unhappiness. "I am submitting a complaint for unwanted vampire advances to the Dvor. Just you wait."

Iavor's chuckle ghosted over Gabriel's skin. Gabriel tipped his head to one side with a put-upon sigh, and did not wince when sharp teeth slid into his throat. Iavor was as gentle about the act as he could be, given his precarious state. The claw-like hands that gripped Gabriel's sides to keep him in place were still certain to leave bruises.

The soldier and his brood returned just before sunrise. Gabriel greeted them through a mouthful of greens and meat. Iavor had taken too much blood in his hunger, leaving the demon's human shell faint-headed and weak. Gabriel's innate power was still severely depleted. He was thus forced to consume energy the old-fashioned way.

Malik halted in the kitchen doorway. "That's my meat!" the boy snapped.

"And now, it is mine," Gabriel told him. "Such are the cruelties of life."

Malik looked to Fair, his expression so comically dismayed Gabriel almost choked on a piece of spinach in an attempt to hold back inelegant laughter. He was distantly relieved that the cub had been absent for their little meeting earlier that morning. The encounter would not have passed without shed blood, with the overprotective wolf ready to snap his teeth at the barest threat to come Sofia's way.

Speaking of young Sofia – Gabriel craned his neck, obvious in his attempt to get a look behind Fair's considerable bulk. He caught a glimpse of an elbow before his sight was once again blocked by a glaring soldier.

Gabriel frowned. Sofia's sleeve was ripped, the fabric stained with mud and what may very well be the girl's own blood.

"I do not mean to question your parenting, but do keep in mind that you are not in the Amith Capil's kennel at present," Gabriel said.

Malik took an angry stride forward. Fair grabbed the boy's shoulder, keeping him still.

"Thank you for your concern," the man said.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes. Fair was difficult to move, which only made the demon more likely to prod him for a reaction. Gabriel's concern was however not fabricated. The girl's identity was far from simple, and any duress she experienced held far-reaching consequences.

"Where is your friend?" Fair asked.

Gabriel ripped off a large chunk of meat with his teeth, just to watch the cub growl. "Around," he said, spinning his fork in the air as demonstration. "He shall return."

Fair did not seem too thrilled at the prospect. He hesitated before speaking; Gabriel chewed loudly in the interim. The soldier knew that he could not control Iavor's actions. To demand any sort of obedience of a Vampire Lord was ludicrous, not to mention grounds for retaliation, should the Vampire Lord in question be of the vengeful kind. Fortunately for all involved, Iavor was not. That did not mean Gabriel would encourage disrespect toward his friend. A little fear did humans good.

"I would meet with you both, and discuss your plans for departure and any assistance I can offer," Fair said after some deliberation.

Gabriel let out a low hum. It was a poor attempt at rhetoric, as far as such things went, but he knew it had taken Fair effort to put together something resembling the roundabout pleasantries dignitaries offered one another. The translation was much simpler: The soldier wanted them gone, and wished to know what he could do to make that happen as quickly as possible. The emphasis on Fair in the singular was also of note. Malik and Sofia had both sworn to aid Gabriel's quest, but Fair did not appear willing to acknowledge the possibility of their involvement.

Given the recent revelations of Sofia's lineage, Gabriel would rather chop off his arm than free the girl from her promise. The demon felt no need to advertise the fact, however; Sofia struck him as the loyal kind. She would persist, no matter what her guardian had to say about it. The thought bled some of the tension gnawing at Gabriel's mind.

With the Queen's support, success was almost certain.

"We will meet," Gabriel agreed.

Fair nodded in acknowledgement. He did not leave the room, as Gabriel had expected, but leaned against a wall facing the doorway. Sitting was too much an impediment to quick action. Gabriel snorted internally; if Iavor wanted the man dead, no amount of preparation and strategy would help.

Sofia had slipped away at some point, a fact Gabriel noticed only when Fair moved to reveal the space the girl had occupied was vacant. Malik's absence should have been a tell, but Gabriel found his awareness of his surroundings somewhat affected at present. Likely the work of the blood loss.

Gabriel munched on a piece of spinach angrily. Vampires required far more maintenance than an undead creature reasonably should.

There was a knock on the door, as if summoned by Gabriel's thoughts.

"Is he able to enter without permission?" Fair asked.

Gabriel shrugged. He was not one for diplomacy and had therefore never invested time in learning the intricacies of vampire customs. Nonetheless, the demon did not think his friend was being polite in announcing his presence by knocking. Elsendorf was Beaufort territory, but individual homes still belonged to their owners. Not to mention the fact that one of the residents in this particular household outranked Iavor rather severely.

"I would not make him wait," is all the demon said.

Fair strode to the door with decisive steps. His sword was strapped to his back, Gabriel noted; given that the soldier would not have the time to draw if the situation devolved into violence, the sword's presence was likely symbolic. Gabriel snorted into his food. As if anyone needed a reminder of where Fair's loyalty lay.

"Welcome," Fair said, and stepped aside to allow Iavor entry.

Gabriel tried not to be too obvious in his impatience. Still, he could not help straightening in his seat, eyes locked onto the empty doorway.

"You have my gratitude," came Iavor's voice, closely followed by the man himself.

Iavor Beaufort was an imposing man. He matched Fair's impressive height, his lean frame appearing no less powerful than the soldier's bulging muscles and thick arms. His bearing was pride personified, from the haughty curl of his lips to the cold glint in his eyes. It was a good look on him, Gabriel admitted, although one reserved for strangers and those the vampire deemed less than trustworthy.

Fair studied the Vampire Lord, as well. Gabriel would wager that the soldier's analysis was far less appreciative of the vampire's charms, however.

"How was your breakfast?" Gabriel asked cheerfully. He was a firm believer of setting things on fire as means of diffusing potentially explosive situations.

Fair's expression did not shift. He kept his hands very still at his sides, which meant that he wished to reach for his sword and was consciously suppressing his instincts. The man might live yet.

"I did not reach the tavern you described," Iavor said evenly. "A carnivorous bear happened upon me, and served well enough as sustenance."

"There's bear meat?" a young voice sounded from just beyond the kitchen door.

Fair had only just relaxed his stance. The man tensed all over again, blue eyes snapping to the door in mild alarm.

Iavor's lips quirked upward. The man took a seat beside Gabriel, purposefully drawing away from where Malik – and no doubt, Sofia – were shamelessly eavesdropping on their conversation. "You may have them join us, if you wish," he offered.

Fair hesitated only briefly. The suggestion was less that and more an order, and Iavor was not in a mood to be denied, despite his gallant façade. The soldier opened the door for the two young humans.

"Behave," he told Malik as the boy passed through.

The cub had sense enough to realize he was in the wrong, and looked appropriately contrite as he shuffled into the room. Sofia followed after him. She looked pale but orderly, her clothes obviously changed and any wounds hidden. Her eyes moved over everyone in the room with boldness Gabriel would have thought strange a day ago. At present, he felt the need to lower his head in response.

Iavor rose to his feet. He bowed low at the waist, hand pressing over a heart that had long been still.

"Thank you," he said simply, the words obviously meant for the young girl.

Sofia did not reply. Iavor took his seat, appearing neither troubled nor slighted by the girl's silence.

"I did not think to bring the carcass. My apologies," the vampire said, addressing Malik this time.

"Wasteful," the boy muttered. At Fair's quelling look, he added, "It's alright. Meat's probably no good, since you bled it dead."

Gabriel laughed quietly. He wondered how long it had been since Iavor was so boldly rebuked.

Iavor appeared to find the situation similarly humorous. The vampire inclined his head, as if he put serious weight on the cub's words. "I appreciate your understanding."

Gabriel pushed his plate away. He felt too-full, his body vibrating with restless energy. "Well, now that everyone has officially been acquainted and the important bits are settled – kids, go play, and take your surly guardian with you. My dead friend and I have some matters to discuss in private."

Sofia took Malik's hand and tugged her friend out of the room without hesitation. She paused in the doorway, turning to Fair with expectant eyes.

"Inform me when you are ready to discuss my involvement," Fair said.

Gabriel waved him away. "Never fear, soldier. I will not cut you free."

The door closed. Gabriel let out a rattling sigh, his exhaustion less of a show than he would prefer. He read tension in the tight line of Iavor's shoulders and readied for an unpleasant conversation.

"We are in Elsendorf," Iavor said, breaking the silence between them.

"That we are," the demon agreed.

"Why?" Iavor asked.

"You would have to ask Valeri. I never did understand the boy," Gabriel drawled, shamelessly avoiding the question.

Iavor looked at Gabriel like a parent might a misbehaving child. Gabriel's throat closed. He had forgotten this particular expression, and only now realized that he had missed it dearly.

"Gabriel, where is Yevelina?"

As always, Iavor went for the throat.

Gabriel could not speak. He should have known it would be the first thing Iavor asked, yet still felt woefully unprepared to answer.

Iavor's eyes dimmed. The man stood with a clatter; the table screeched across the floor, the chair splintering into two as it slammed against a wall. More structural damage was certain to follow. Iavor was not easy to provoke, but his current state was far from optimal, his baser side much closer to the surface.

The death of a loved one was never easy news to receive.

Gabriel thought of reminding the man to leave the windows alone – he had spent a lot of time and effort blinding the house against the sun. In the end, he moved his chair to a corner out of the way and allowed Iavor the space to rage as he willed. Better the walls than Gabriel's hide, after all.

He would tell Iavor the rest once the violence was out of his system. The man was certain to appreciate news of Ira and Valeri. Gabriel decided to omit the part where the two had turned on each other, resulting in Ira's temporary demise. He had a feeling Iavor would find the situation far less amusing than Gabriel had.

The cold, calculative part of Gabriel's heart was pleased. Securing Iavor's cooperation in defying both the Dvor and the Queen's Court would require no effort at all once the demon laid out their betrayal of Yevelina Hale in clear, intimate terms.

The rest of him - most of him, Gabriel was alarmed to find - felt Iavor's misery only too keenly.

There had been a time this would not have been the case. Dimitri's presence in Gabriel's mind was akin a splash of color over a monochrome canvas. It was strange and at times frightening, to feel so much so deeply.

Gabriel would tear the world apart to keep Dimitri's fragile, foreign warmth for himself.