Phoebe looked incredible in the traditional laaka garb. It hugged her in all the right places, and while A’li-uud women typically were very muscular, she was very curvy. The silks clung to her and emphasized those curves, particularly around her hips and her breasts. The fabric was cut out on both sides, and it draped low on her chest and her back. The skirt hung all the way to the ground and even dragged a few inches, but a long slit running up to her hip revealed a supple leg at the end of which, on her foot, I could see the gold sandal.

I had never found a laaka so attractive.

She was reluctant to wear the clothing at first. I asked her the color of her choice, and she looked at me with disdain.

“I can't wear that,” she said. “I don't want people to think they can hire me.”

“I do not wish people to think they can hire you, either,” I said, “but it is imperative you blend in.”

“I won't blend in,” she protested. “All of the laaka are A’li-uud. There aren't even any humans out.”

It was true. She was the only human on the market walk at this hour, but she was drawing significant attention in her human clothing, much more than she would if she were dressed like a laaka. She would have a chance of blending in with the other females in that way. Aside from that, I was nervous about bringing her around Terrik or any of my other old associates. I hoped that, if she were adorned as a laaka, they would assume I had purchased her services for the evening and would leave her alone.

After a lot of argument, she finally settled on a subdued purple color. It brought out the boldness in her hair beautifully, and the greenness of her eyes almost exploded. She was breathtaking. If we had not been in the middle of a mission, I doubt it I would have been able to keep my hands off of her.

She dressed in the back of the merchant’s booth behind several shelves. I stood guard to make sure he wasn't looking and to make sure that no passersby happened to catch a glance. When she was finished, I paid the vendor, and we merged back onto the walk.

“What now?” she asked.

“Now, we go underground,” I said.

Her eyes widened, her lashes curling up to her brows, but she nodded with resolve and slipped her hand into mine. Regardless of what we were doing, or what we were about to do, it felt incredible to receive the gesture of trust. She was relying on me to protect her.

And protect her, I would.

We slithered between a pair of booths into the shadows. At first glance, there was nothing to be seen, merely a dark alley leading to shops that had closed for the night. I knew better, though. This was the entrance to the underground. Halfway down the alley, the trap-door came into view on the ground. Without releasing Phoebe's hand, I bent down and tugged on the loop.

“This is it?” she asked incredulously. “This is how you get into the mysterious underground? All of the guards have to know about this.”

“This is the entrance to the entrance, for lack of a better term,” I explained, flashing her a grin over my shoulder.

The trap-door opened to a set of stairs descending deep into the earth. I took the lead, still holding her hand, and eased my way down step by step. She followed. The skirts of her silks brushed against me as she moved, and I felt my skin prickle with desire at the sensation. Unfortunately, now was not the time. Deeper and deeper we went into the ground, light fading and blackness swallowing us until I finally reached flatness.

“Be careful here,” I told her. “The stairs end.”

She shuffled down to my level, and I felt her sway slightly with the sudden imbalance. When she was sturdy enough, we began walking again. There were no lights, not even torches mounted to the wall or a single geode lamp hanging from the ceiling. It was just darkness. Luckily, my memories had not faded, and I knew exactly where I was going.

The tunnels were like a maze. There were intersections, lefts and rights that seemingly led somewhere only to end up nowhere. There were paths that curved into circles and rounded you back to exactly where you had been minutes before. These tunnels had never served a noble purpose; they had been built solely for the underground market and its goings-on. When I first joined the rogues, I had found myself lost more times than I could count. It took years before I fully understood how to get where I needed to go by way of those tunnels. I was concerned as we walked that I had forgotten, but the sounds of fervor started to greet my ears, and I knew we were going in the right direction.

“Is there anything more than this?” she asked softly. “Or is it just the tunnels and the trap-door?”

“Oh, there is more,” I affirmed.

As promised, the moment the first inklings of light appeared in our vision, so did the silhouettes of several very large A’li-uud. Phoebe's hand tightened around mine, and I heard her take in a sharp gasp. I did not acknowledge her nerves. I was too concerned those standing guard would overhear.

They got into formation before we even reached them. Two stepped forward, standing side-by-side, and the other two flanked them on either side. As we drew near enough, however, I saw recognition dawn on all of their faces. I knew them, and they knew me.

“Zuran!” said Faja, the oldest of the group. “It has been a long time.”

I realized he was speaking A’li-uud, and I knew Phoebe could not understand him, but I did not ask him to use English. I wanted to keep as much attention off of her as I could.

“It has, indeed,” I agreed, inclining my head respectfully. “I hope you have been well.”

“Certainly better than you,” he laughed. “I do not think I would be capable of bowing to the whims of the Council as you have.”

“I have learned more self-control than I ever thought possible,” was my reply. He chortled appreciatively and then turned his gaze to my companion. His slanted eyes widened into circles.

“You have brought a human?” His friendly overtones were gone, shredded by suspicion and anger. “Terrik will not have it.”

I felt Phoebe stiffen beside me, hardening beneath his gaze. I was surprised. I expected her to shrink back, to be fearful, but quite the contrary. She was strengthening, defiant. God, this woman would be the death of me.

“She is my laaka,” I said. “Terrik can take any issue he has up with me inside.”

“I plan to do just that.” The voice came from behind the four guards, and they stepped aside to reveal Terrik standing in an aura of blue light.