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My prosthesis is on the bedside table; I do not wear it when I am alone Quite oftenI have all ten fingers The demon Kur’s venom that I took intoht has taken practice, but increasingly I am satisfied with my sketches

A sto my latest subject The Sisterhood temple, under construction in the city, will soon house the sisters and wards froone, as is my dearest friend Jaya was murdered by Rajah Tarek in an act of pure rew up in was deh Jaya’s death still haunts ives ain

I set aside the charcoal stick and rise, stretching to stay alert A figure stirs in the darkness near the hearth

“Kali”

I blow out the laged him down into the under realm His revival was a ht hours He follows ht and has done so for three moons

“You took so long” He has been co later and later

“I’lad I made it” Deven presses his lips to the side of ainst ht”

He just smells The muskiness of the Void has masked his sandalwood scent

Deven tilts my chin, and his lips take mine His touch sparks an instant reaction My hand rakes through his hair, and his fingers knead my hips We stand in one place until our kisses seek out more contact

We walk, our bodies locked together at several pressure points, to ht sturdy Small silk pillows crowd around us Deven lobs them off one by one Once we have ertips trace the curves of his back and clutch him close

His cheek drops against h s His deep, calm voice resonates in my ear “Someday you need to explain to me why you have so many pillows”

I chuckle hts when he has a sense of humor are seldom Thesehis rare peace, but dawn looms I smooth down his beard “Would you like me to fetch your brother?”

“Not tonight”

He has not asked for his family in many days I assume he does not want them to see him this way He is thinner and sallower than even yesterday “Are you hungry?”

“Yes” He nuzzles the tender spot beneath my chin I dare not shut my eyes or I will lose my ability to think

I fetch the tray on the bedside table He wipes his hands clean on the napery and eats the aromatic rice He does not have access to food or water in the under realm I have tried to send rations and a lantern, but they disappear once he leaves Nor can I enter the labyrinth of shadoith him

“How are you?” he asks

Deven does not need to hear aboutevery book in the city We’ll find so soon” None of us knohether our research will lead to a solution, yet I have faith “We’ll find a way to release you”

“You cannot be certain” Deven sets the unfinished plate aside He“We have to accept our fate”

At my lowest moments, I have al I pray for the gods to free Deven His inner light is dilory of the sun I sit on his lap and pull his wooden arms around me “Fate is ours to decide”

“You cannot feel what I feel” His tor here is a risk So me”

“Who?”

“I don’t know I haven’t seen anyone, but I’ve felt them”

I restcloser We’ll get you out of there Pro” I could not bear for him to disappear

“For you,” Deven says, hisaround me

Outside, the heavens have lightened Sunrise will soon reach the golden dos tothe same burden of time I tuck into him and shut my eyes so hard they ache

Please, Anu Let him stay

Deven’s solid form dissolves aroundon the sheets

Someone touches my shoulder My face is buried in a pillow, but I sense Brac A Burner’s soul-fire radiates strongest, and only he dares to enter

“Deven’s gone” My bleak voice nearly pushes me to tears

The mattress shifts I look up at Brac seated beside me His coppery hair sweeps across brows knit over honey-colored eyes “We’ll find him”

“I should go after hio”

“Then you’d also be trapped in the Void, and I’d have to free you both”