Tabby pushed the deep emptiness of Nit's absence aside.

Midnight sharply inhaled, bolted up to sitting, and blinked. "What...?" He looked down at himself, prodding his abdomen. "Tabby?"

They were still in the Temple. Any minute they'd be discovered. Tabby stood and stumbled, arms out like a drunken sailor as she fought through her pain. Over the years, she'd learned how to focus through it, function through it, avoid making mistakes that would kill her. Gritting her teeth, she swept everything off the side table and into her satchel. Nit had been right. Her ring was missing—with its white prism. Everything else was there, including her black prism, completely unsuspected. She carefully tucked Nit away, kissing Nit's metal body. "We'll get you in the sunlight soon, my friend," she whispered, hoping it would work. She'd never drained Nit before. It felt like a crime, like killing them and hoping she might bring them back to life.

Midnight clambered to his feet, his movements stilted. She'd only done enough to keep him alive. He could barely walk—a sight for sore eyes that made her wince. He'd always been the strong one, steadfast and reliable. Seeing him weak illustrated just how badly things had gone wrong. She pulled his arm around her shoulders, supporting him. They stumbled for the door, but it opened before she reached it.

Her hands were ready to pull light, but the corridor was dark. Wall sconces had been extinguished. There was nothing to see by, which meant anyone could be lurking. She hesitated before moving out into the hallway.

A shadow of a figure loomed before her and she almost dropped Midnight to draw a weapon. "Ahh! Good, you made it."

"Steiner?! What the fuck?!"

Midnight tensed against her, muscles going rigid. He was in no state to react beyond that.

"Took you long enough," Steiner said. A faint red glow appeared, lighting his face and some of the world around them.

"You could have helped," she hissed, knowing how close Midnight had come to death. Steiner had simply left her in there to fend for herself.

"And deprived you of your revenge? I think not." His eyes roved over Midnight, assessing. Then the light winked out just as quickly. "Besides, I had other matters to handle. Someone had to keep the corridor clear." Just as he said it, her feet hit a body and she stumbled, Midnight with her. Strong hands wrapped around them both to kept them from falling. Steiner released her and stepped away.

"How many?" she asked.

"Three, just before I extinguished the sconces. More will come. Did you get your things? What happened to Midnight? Will he slow us down?"

"Everything but the ring. And don't worry about Midnight. I can shield us if needed. I've got him." Midnight grunted. It came out more like a dismissive snort.

"Good. Let's go." Steiner led them down the corridor, holding tight to her arm.

Not long after, he shifted his grip to her hand. Despite the missing nails on her fingers, despite the pins and needles even the gentlest touch brought, she couldn't bear to pull away as she laced her fingers through his. She held him like a lifeline. There was warmth in his grip, reassurance. "Hurry. Not long now."

They rushed into another corridor and straight for a set of stairs. A less traversed part of the Temple. Footsteps sounded behind them. Steiner's soft red glow returned, but briefly. "Keep going." He dropped her hand and forced them ahead without him, doubling back. She heard several cries behind her and then silence. She did not stop. He caught up moments later, breathing more heavily through his nose, and took her hand again. "I don't think any others will follow now. What of Nit?"

"Nit's...out of commission." She swallowed against the emptiness and the reminder.

"They didn't make it?!"

"No. No, they'll...be fine. I think." Talking hurt. Her hands hurt. Her face hurt. Her throat was raw from screaming.

"This way." Steiner led them to a locked door that would not open with any color of light. He produced a key. "This is the lowest point in the Temple." He locked the door behind them. There was no more light after this. Keeping a gentle hold on her hand, he led them through dank tunnels dripping with rainwater runoff from the city. It smelled of rot and filth. She kept her other arm firmly around Midnight's waist, helping him limp along.

"We're in the sewers now." A bit of light returned, streaming in patches from grates in the streets. Their feet splashed as they went. Midnight slowed and his labored breathing increased. Steiner dropped her hand then and went to Midnight's other side, helping him along until they clumsily ascended a ladder and found themselves in a deserted alley.

"You didn't bring your white prism?" she asked, hopeful.

"It's a rather large thing to carry around. I didn't exactly have time to return home." She said nothing, looking around the alley. "We're next to Canal Street," he added. "Stay here."

He disappeared then reappeared minutes later with the sound of horses hooves, motioning them forward. He had hailed a coach and shoved them inside. "Stay at Elias's shop. My house is too dangerous right now."

"So is Elias's shop," she said through clenched teeth, trying to ignore the rising pain.

"You should be fine. I killed enough of them. They'll be disorganized. They won't be sending anyone after you tonight. Me, however..."

She chewed on the inside of her cheek. So...he'd blown his cover? Or at the very least, risked it? She didn't want to ask. She didn't have enough in her to care. All she could think about was keeping Midnight alive.

"Just go. I'll meet you at the workshop in an hour—on the roof. I'll bring the prism. Pack what you need, just in case I don't return. Be ready to leave at a moment's notice." He slammed the carriage door and gave the driver instructions.

It was a jarring ride. Midnight's head bounced back and forth, falling against her injured shoulder several times. She bit back the pain.

He muttered something unintelligible, nothing she could understand. "Just a little longer," she whispered, pushing hair from his forehead, kissing his temple, hoping her fingers would sooth him. His skin was pale...so pale. Healing him didn't replenish his blood. He'd lost too much and was still losing more from the wounds she hadn't yet healed.

The carriage dropped them near Crock's Row. She helped Midnight stumble out. He nearly fell to the ground. Her knees buckled trying to keep him upright. "I need you to walk just a little further, okay?" She held him, trying to push his hulking figure upright. He mumbled something else but managed to take a few steps. She guided him down the street.

It was still dark. The streets were teaming with manufactory workers heading into work. The watchman called out four thirty in the morning. "He's just had too much to drink," she answered a few pointed glares in her direction, moving against the crowd.

When Elias's workshop loomed into view, she nearly cried with relief. The familiar sight felt like coming home. Felt safe.

She took him around back, up the stairs to the loft, and got him comfortably set on the couch in the kitchen area. He slurred something and his head fell back against the couch, eyes closed. She listened to his breathing, relieved, before leaving him alone. She rushed around to activate her army of dragonflies. They would warn her if there was any sign of danger, even without Nit to command them.

She took Nit to the window, urging the sun rise. But it was at least two hours off. Then she set about blocking all the entrances to the workshop, rigging them with poison darts. Everything except the roof, where she went to wait. Steiner arrived minutes later. "Where is he?"

"Downstairs. But he's alive."

Steiner nodded, following her. Midnight was still unconscious. She set about healing his wounds. It was better this way. He wouldn't feel pain.

Steiner watched in silence until she was nearly done. "I'm sorry for what happened," he said at last. "I should have..."

"Should have, what?" She paused, turning to him.

He opened and closed his mouth, then shrugged. "You knew what we were getting into." It wasn't his pity she wanted. She nodded, turning back to Midnight, but he grabbed her arm. "Even still," he added, staring into her eyes, "I should have acted. I should have killed every one of them instead of letting Reaper put his hands on you. But I didn't. I...I just watched. I..."

She shrugged out of his grasp. "You did what you had to. As did I."

He didn't appear satisfied with that answer. In fact, his lips pressed together in a slight grimace. "Are...are you okay?" He looked her up and down then took hold of her hand and stared at it, at the missing nails. "You should see to that."

"After Midnight." She pulled free.

"I wasn't sure if he'd come," he mused.

She hesitated. "It was you? You summoned him?" Her eyebrows pulled together.

He nodded. "And Nit."

She sighed, studying him. "I know what it cost you to sacrifice your position with the Spectrum before learning Ghost's identity. I..." She swallowed. "Thank you, Conrad."

"I would do it again, if I had to." He inhaled, letting the breath out slowly. "And think of it this way. At least we know the answer to something."

She frowned. "What's that?"

"You wondered what Midnight would do were the roles reversed. You didn't think he would act. But he did. He came for you. He cares."

She turned her gaze to Midnight and her heart swelled. "I didn't expect it." She shook her head. "I never expected it..."

"And anyway," Steiner added, "I suppose we had a good run. I have a few matters to attend to, but at this point, I'm on borrowed time. We'd better retreat to Solaris. Perhaps as early as tomorrow."

"What?! That's...it? We're just giving up?"

"It's probably for the best. I will return this evening. Let's discuss it then. See to Midnight and yourself. Keep the prism." She clenched it in her other hand. He turned to go but hesitated. "Tabby?" There was something in his voice that surprised her. "I...I'm glad you're okay. Don't scare me like that again. Whatever stupid thing you did to get yourself captured—never again. Understand?"

Her heart fluttered at his concern, that anyone would care about her enough to scold her. "I..." She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat and nodded. "I'll be careful. You as well. Be here tonight or I'll hunt you down."

"I'll see you soon." He disappeared, leaving her to finish her work on Midnight.

She got on her knees before the couch and set about healing Midnight's remaining injuries, fussing over him. His eyes opened just as she was washing away blood from his face, listening to the trickle of water from the rag. The sound was therapeutic.

"Tabby—" Midnight reached out and captured her hand, taking the rag from her grasp. She winced. Ever astute, his gaze snapped to her fingers, saw the missing nails, the blood. He swore, leaning forward. "That piece of shit. He did this to you?" He shifted to better look at her. "What else? Where else?"

"It's fine," she lied, leaning back on her heels, her eyes darting over his face, over his expression. "I...I killed him. It's done. How do you feel?"

He frowned. "I felt like hell. Now I feel...okay. What did you do? How...? I should be dead. I intended to be dead."

A dark chuckle fell from her lips. "Sorry to disappoint."

"You healed me?" His heavy brows drew tighter. "How?" He tried to get up but she put a hand on his bare chest, pushing him back against the couch. She leaned forward against his legs until they parted around her, allowing her a little closer to him.

"I healed you with this." She revealed Steiner's partially depleted prism. He stared at it, blinking, face lacking comprehension. He really had no idea...

Warmth spread through her, instilling a sudden need to show off. She'd hidden so much from him—but no longer. Remaining on her knees, she demonstrated. She set about healing her nails first, growing them back, sighing with relief despite the hot itching that accompanied. Then she saw to her other wounds, until every bit of light disappeared from the prism, leaving behind a dull gray lump. Midnight hissed when she exposed her raw back to him, his face tight with anger, eyes flashing wildly. But he did a good job of remaining motionless, controlled. Something deep inside her purred, seeing his rare display from him. Finished, she closed her fist around the depleted prism then slipped it into her pocket.

He exhaled, letting the breath out loudly. "I'm impressed. Impressed that you managed to keep something like that hidden from me."

"I had to. You know I did. You would have reported me to the Spectrum, had me killed, or..."

"Or, what?" His jaw tensed. "You think I'm like Reaper? After all these years?"

"What?! No. You're—"

"—worth a hundred of him?" She froze. "Yes, I heard what you said."

Heat flooded her face. It wasn't often that she blushed, but she did now. She hadn't expected him to hear that. Hadn't wanted him to know exactly how she felt. She glanced down, away from the fierceness in his gaze. Quietly, she said, "I didn't know if I could trust you."

He snorted, lifting a hand to run it through his hair. "That was either very foolish or very smart. I cannot decide which."

"Well, I turned out to be right, didn't I?! You told me to leave Chroma. That you would kill me if you ever saw me again." She didn't voice the agony she'd felt at his words, the brokenness of her heart, the loss. She wasn't allowed to feel those things.

"I was angry. You betrayed me."

She swallowed, meeting his gaze. "What made you change your mind? You could have let Reaper have me. You could have killed me yourself. The Spectrum would have forgiven you after you proved your loyalty."

"Is that what you think?" He huffed, shaking his head. "That they would allow the master of a rogue Spect to walk free? Even if I killed you myself?" His gaze held hers, pinning her in place. He lifted a shoulder. "They would have killed me regardless."

"So you switched teams by default, because it was the only option left."

"There was no switching teams, Tabby. I have only ever been on your team, and you, mine. It was the decision I made taking you as my apprentice." Warmth flooded her chest, but she didn't let it show. "Now, do you trust me or not?"

"I..." She accidentally glanced at his lips before sitting back on her heels. She blew out a breath. "Yes. I trust you."

"Good. Then give me your report, and don't leave anything out this time."

This was something she could do. She nodded, made a pot of coffee, and told him everything.