A Little Night Muse(68)

                His jaw worked, and she knew he was torn. But of course he                     would not sacrifice others for himself. “You can’t tell me the Queen sprouts                     mushrooms from her dustbin every time she wants to mess with us humans.”

                She flushed at the note of exasperation in his voice. “She has                     her own rings, but of course those may not be used upon pain of death.”

                “Pain of death? I think we’re well past that risk, don’t                     you?”

                She turned at the next corridor and sped into the darkness. A                     few wisps had caught up with them while they debated; a bad sign, since the                     black dogs would be following the same trail. But the faint light let them move                     faster.

                “There are places in the phaedrealii that remain the same no matter how the illusions of the                     court change,” she told him. “One of those will be a permanent gate, our way                     out.”

                “Find the closest.”

                The featureless hallway turned sinuous, curving so that they                     could see neither far ahead nor far behind. The gray walls echoed with their                     footsteps.

                From behind, the hounds bayed again, an eager note that                     threaded through the curves to taunt them.

                Josh grimaced. “Not good.”

                “We’re almost there.” Adelyn pulled them around another                     curve.

                Raze the Ruiner stood in the way, almost—but not                     quite—invisible in his gray robes.

                Adelyn gasped. “No.”

                Josh sprang ahead, spear raised.

                The vizier slashed out. The wide-bladed athame shone in his                     hand and knocked the spear aside.

                Josh staggered toward the wall but instantly whirled, the                     pistol in his hand. “Back off,” he snapped. “Unless fairies fly faster than iron                     bullets.”

                The vizier paused, hand still raised with the dagger exposed.                     “I am not here to fight you.”

                “Really?” Josh challenged. “The knife must have confused                     me.”