Kai’s return to the hub after her weekend in Tennga had been uneventful—at least at first. She slipped back into her routine easily. Her quiet nature ensuring that no one asked too many questions about where she’d been or what she’d done. But something had shifted.

  Her time in that magical town had changed how she saw the world. Before, the little oddities of her surroundings had passed unnoticed or were easily dismissed. Now, they stood out in sharp detail, like a hidden pattern she could suddenly see.

  Take Marta, for instance.

  Kai had always thought her supervisor was just eccentric. She never ate with the other employees, always wore that knit beanie no matter the weather, and seemed to instinctively know when someone was lying. But after Tennga, Kai began to notice things she hadn’t before. The way Marta avoided mirrors, how her hands trembled on particularly stressful days, and the way her dark eyes glinted like polished stone under the right light.

  Kai couldn’t shake the feeling that Marta wasn’t quite normal.

  It took weeks of observation—and quiet curiosity—before Kai finally found her answer.

  One day, she caught Marta rushing down the hallway, clutching at her hat as though her life depended on it. Her panicked movements set off alarm bells in Kai’s head. Without thinking, she followed, staying far enough behind to remain unnoticed.

  Marta ducked into the restroom, the door swinging shut behind her. Kai paused for a moment, then pushed it open and stepped inside.

  What she saw made her freeze.

  Marta was standing at the sink, her hands trembling as she held her knit hat. Her usual neat braids were gone. In their place was a writhing, hissing mass of snakes.

  “Gorgon,” Kai whispered, the word slipping out before she could stop herself.

  Marta’s head snapped up, her wide eyes locking on Kai’s reflection in the mirror. She turned, her expression one of pure terror.

  Kai spun around, slammed the bathroom door shut in the face of an approaching coworker, and quickly locked it.

  Marta stood there, her shoulders shaking as tears welled in her eyes. The snakes on her head recoiled and hissed in agitation, their movements frantic.

  Kai raised her hands, palms out, her voice calm. “Hey, hey. It’s alright. You’re safe with me. I promise.”

  It took several minutes of soft reassurances before Marta’s breathing evened out and the snakes began to settle.

  “What happened to your glamour?” Kai asked gently. Marta hesitated before answering. “Something startled them,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “They broke through the spell.”

  Then she went quiet as she looked up at the taller woman. “You’re taking this awfully well,” Marta added after a pause, her eyes narrowing slightly. Then her snakes shifted, their tongues flicking the air as if to taste. Marta’s expression changed, her eyes widening in shock. “Wait—you too?”

  Kai groaned, running a hand through her hair. “No, no, not me,” she said quickly.

  “But—”

  “I know, okay? I know. It’s… complicated.”

  Marta didn’t look convinced, but she let it drop for the moment.

  Before she could say anything else, Kai stepped closer. She reached out—ignoring Marta’s alarmed gasp—and gently began untangling the snakes. They hissed at first, but Kai’s calm presence seemed to soothe them. One by one, they relaxed under her touch, their movements becoming slow and docile.

  “I’ve always liked snakes,” Kai said with a shrug, glancing down at the shorter woman’s stunned expression.

  The snakes, now neatly rearranged, blurred and shifted back into the illusion of braids.

  “Well, that’s neat,” Kai said surprised, stepping back.

  Marta stared at her for a long moment before shaking her head and pulling her beanie back on. She washed her face at the sink, erasing any evidence of her earlier distress.

  And just like that, a quiet understanding formed between them. Marta didn’t ask too many questions about Kai’s past, and Kai didn’t pry into Marta’s.

  Weeks passed since that encounter, and the memory of Marta’s snakes faded into the background of Kai’s routine. But the quiet bond they’d formed remained, unspoken but present.

  It had been a few weeks since Kai’s time in Tennga, and she was beginning to feel like she might slip back into her old rhythm but she couldn’t stop thinking about the town and its strange, beautiful inhabitants. About Shae’s watery smile, Rina’s fierce hug, and the way Toby’s floppy ears had drooped when he begged her to stay. It wasn’t like her to get attached. The last couple of years, she’d kept people at arm’s length—never staying in one place long enough to put down roots. But Tennga had been… different.

  Shaking her head, Kai focused on the road ahead. She needed to get back to reality, back to her routine. The company truck was due for a check-in, and she had a backlog of deliveries to make. There was no time to dwell on feelings she didn’t understand. Her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Dispatch.

  “This is Kai,” she answered, her voice even

  “Kai, it’s Marta. I need you to come back to the hub ASAP,” Marta said, her tone brisk. “We’ve got a priority job waiting for you.”

  Kai frowned. “I’m still a couple of hours out. Can it wait?”

  “No,” Marta said firmly. Then, after a pause, “The client specifically requested you. By name.”

  That gave Kai pause. She leaned back in her seat, her eyes narrowing slightly. “By name?”

  “Yes,” Marta said, her voice unusually tight. “They’re Fae, aren’t they.” Kai hedged. Marta sighed. “Just get back here, alright? We’ll talk when you do”

  Kai hung up and stared at the road ahead, unease curling in her chest. A priority job was one thing, but being requested by name? That was something else entirely. She rarely got asked for personally, but now, having given Mayor Elarin those cards, she would bet it was a Fae requested delivery. She’d only done two so far. Though both had been relatively simple.

  When she arrived at the hub later that day, Marta pulled her into her office and closed the door for privacy.

  “The delivery,” Marta began, her voice low, “is to a hidden compound. Only Fae can access it.”

  Kai arched a brow. “I got to Tennga just fine. I’ll manage.”

  Marta gave her a long, searching look, then nodded. “Alright. Just… be careful. This one’s from some Highborn, I think. It’s not like those other drop offs. It’s a handoff. Make sure you get a signature too!”

  Kai inclined her head, the quiet power she carried with her filling the space. Whatever this job was, she would handle it.

  She always did.

  Kai’s truck hummed steadily as it tore down the highway toward Providence Canyon, though the electronics inside were far from steady. The package sitting in the passenger seat was the clear culprit. At first, she’d dismissed the dashboard clock resetting itself as a random glitch. But when her phone vibrated, then died completely despite being fully charged, and the radio sputtered into static even when switched off, she started to get irritated.

  She glanced at the package—a small, unassuming wooden box with intricate carvings and a faintly warm surface. “What the hell are you carrying?” she muttered.

  The faint hum coming from the box seemed to answer her.

  Her trip was meant to take about three hours and forty-three minutes, but between the toll booth fiasco and the creeping dread of getting pulled over, it felt like an eternity. At the toll, the scanner at the gate froze the moment her truck rolled up, blinking red and refusing to register her payment.

  The attendant, a middle-aged man chewing on the stub of a pen, squinted at her through the window. “You might want to check your RFID or something,” he said.

  Kai handed over cash instead, avoiding the glowing package in the passenger seat as she did so. The man gave her a long, suspicious look, his eyes flicking toward the odd hum he clearly couldn’t place. She fought the urge to snap at him, keeping her face neutral as he finally waved her through.

  By the time she hit the next stretch of highway, the hum from the package had started to intensify. Worse, a faint green glow leaked out from between the carvings.

  “Oh, come on,” she hissed, pulling off the road. She reached under the seat for the thick tarp she always carried, wrapping the box tightly before tucking it beneath the passenger seat. Whatever this thing was, it wasn’t going to get her arrested.

  Her paranoia wasn’t misplaced. About twenty minutes later, she rolled through a police checkpoint just outside Lumpkin. Two officers waved her to slow down, one shining a flashlight across her windshield. She kept her hands on the wheel and her expression calm, even as the hum of the package grew faintly audible beneath the tarp.

  The officer stared at her for a long moment before finally nodding her through. As soon as she was out of sight, she exhaled and muttered, “Me and my big mouth!!Next time, someone else takes this run.”

  By the time she reached Providence Canyon, the sun had set, and the air felt heavy and charged, like the moment before a thunderstorm. She parked in the gravel lot and grabbed the package, ignoring the way it pulsed faintly in her grip. The path down into the canyon was dark, the trees overhead forming a thick canopy that blocked out the moonlight.

  She didn’t need a flashlight. The pull in her chest guided her as surely as a compass. She knew where she was going—she always did.

  When she reached the cedar tree with the split trunk, she stopped. Her eyes immediately locked onto the shimmer in the air beside it. There was no hesitation, no searching. She simply knew. “They need a better hiding place! Seriously, how am I Not supposed to see that!” She scoffed mentally to herself. As usual, unaware of just how strange it should have been for her to be able to see it.

  “I know you’re there,” she said, her voice calm and steady as she stared directly at the figure concealed in the veil.

  The shimmer rippled, and a Seelie noble stepped forward. They were impossibly tall, their golden hair cascading like molten sunlight over their shoulders. Slit-pupil eyes gleamed, catching the faint glow of the moon. The noble radiated power, an aura that should have felt like it was pressing her to the ground—but Kai stood tall, unbothered.

  “You are perceptive,” they said, their voice like a melody laced with something sharper.

  Kai shrugged, holding the package up slightly. “Comes with the territory.”

  The noble’s gaze flicked to the box, then back to her. “Do you know what you carry?”

  “Nope,” she said flatly. “Don’t care either.”

  A faint smile tugged at their lips, though it didn’t reach their eyes. “Wise.”

  They reached for the package, but paused, their expression sharpening as their gaze roved over her. “What are you?” they asked, the question edged with curiosity and suspicion.

  “Just the delivery driver,” Kai replied, her tone neutral.

  The noble’s smile deepened, but their eyes narrowed. “I think not.”

  The air around her shifted, the weight of magic crashing against her like a wave. Though all Kai felt was a faint tickle across her skin, like static electricity brushing against her arms, but she dismissed it as nerves.

  The noble, however, froze. Their expression faltered for the briefest moment before they regained their composure. “Interesting,” they murmured.

  Kai raised an eyebrow. “You done?”

  The noble’s smile returned, though it was tinged with wariness. “You are full of surprises, delivery driver.”

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  Kai tilted her head. “Not the first time I’ve heard that.”

  She handed over the package, her face unreadable as the noble took it. The moment their fingers brushed the box, the air shimmered with power. Faint runes lit up along the canyon walls, casting strange shadows over the noble’s face.

  “You’ll find your way out unimpeded,” they said, their voice cool but edged with something that sounded like a warning. “For now.”

  Kai smirked faintly. “I don’t remember being impeded to begin with.”

  The noble’s eyes narrowed, but they said nothing. After a moment, they began to turn away.

  Kai pulled out a clipboard from her satchel and flipped it around, holding it out to them. “Signature first.”

  The noble blinked, clearly caught off guard. “What?”

  “You paid for direct hand delivery,” she said, holding out the pen. “Company policy. No exceptions.”

  The noble stared at her, their expression unreadable. Slowly, they took the pen and signed their name in an elegant, swirling script.

  Kai tucked the clipboard away and gave them a curt nod. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

  The noble’s gaze lingered on her as she turned and walked back up the trail, their curiosity palpable. “You are…unexpected,” they said softly, more to themselves than to her.

  Kai didn’t bother looking back. “So I’ve been told,” she called over her shoulder, disappearing into the shadows.

  After the delivery to the Seelie Noble, things took an unexpected turn. Marta’s office was suddenly inundated with calls and emails from clients requesting Kai specifically for their deliveries. Word of the quiet, unflappable courier had spread like wildfire among the Fae in Georgia, all thanks to the loose tongue of a certain Seelie Noble. Kai didn’t think much of it at first. A few odd requests here and there were manageable. But soon, it wasn’t just isolated locations like Providence Canyon. She found herself delivering to cities, neighborhoods, and even highly trafficked areas.

  There was the bridge in downtown Atlanta. At first, Kai had thought the delivery location was a prank. But standing beneath the overpass, holding a box wrapped in burlap and twine, she quickly learned otherwise. She nearly dropped the package when an honest-to-God Bridge Troll the size of a small house peeled itself away from the concrete foundation.

  Kai tilted her head, amazed. “That’s some serious camouflage.”

  The troll, who introduced himself as Paul, beamed at her compliment, his craggy face breaking into an unexpectedly kind smile. “Why, thank you! I take pride in my work.”

  Paul explained that the package contained a magical brick enchanted by a sorceress on the outskirts of the city. Bridge trolls like him relied on rune magic to protect their domains, and while they couldn’t produce the magic themselves, enchanted bricks or stones kept their bridges safe.

  When he placed the brick into an empty slot in the wall, the bridge hummed faintly before glowing with renewed wards. Paul sighed in relief, his gratitude palpable.

  “Thanks to you, my bridge is safe again,” he said, bowing his massive head. “If you ever need safe passage, just find me.”

  This was only one of many encounters. From delivering enchanted clothing to a Dryad living in a suburban neighbourhood in Savannah to handing over a vial of moonlight to a Werewolf Alpha outside of Athens, the requests kept piling up. The Fae were everywhere, blending seamlessly into the human world, and Kai quickly learned that many human myths and fairy tales were shockingly accurate.

  But the influx of Fae deliveries didn’t go unnoticed by other drivers under Marta’s supervision. Jealousy brewed, complaints were filed, and soon Marta was faced with questions she couldn’t answer without breaking the trust of their Fae clients.

  That was when she called Kai into her office.

  “You’re going to quit?” Kai asked, raising an eyebrow as she leaned against Marta’s desk. Marta smirked, arms crossed. “We’re going to quit. You’re coming with me.”

  Kai frowned. “Why do I feel like I’m not going to like this?”

  “I’ve been thinking,” Marta began, pacing the small office. “We’re in over our heads here. Regular drivers can’t handle Fae deliveries. They don’t know the rules, they’re not ready for the… quirks of our clients, and frankly, they’d get themselves killed. So why not start our own delivery service? A private one. Human and Fae clients, but by request only.”

  Kai’s frown deepened. “And who’s going to run this little operation of yours?”

  “We are,” Marta said simply. “I’ll handle logistics and the drivers for human deliveries. You’ll handle all Fae-related deliveries and pickups.”Kai straightened, crossing her arms. “Why me?”

  “Because you’re a mystery to them,” Marta replied, giving her a pointed look. “You’re unaffiliated and not beholden to any Fae clans, and no matter who—or what—you deliver to, you don’t cause trouble. You don’t seem to trigger their territorial instincts or historical grudges. That’s rare, Kai. Do you know how unusual it is for someone to handle both Seelie and Unseelie deliveries without issues? Or werewolves and Cobalts? Or me,” she added, gesturing to herself, “and any Fae with feathers? It’s not normal.”

  Kai sighed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, here we go again. I’m not Fae, Marta. I don’t know why they think I am, but I’m not.”

  Marta gave her a sardonic smile. “Uh-huh. Sure you’re not. But let me know when you admit it to yourself. Maybe then I can help you figure out what kind of Fae you really are.”

  Kai shook her head. “You’re impossible.”

  “And you’re stubborn,” Marta shot back. “But think about it. You’re perfect for this, Kai. And I promise, I’ll handle everything else. I’ll find drivers for the human clients. You just have to do what you’re already doing.”

  After a lot of back and forth, Kai finally agreed—on one condition. “I’m bankrolling this,” she said firmly. “If I’m putting my name on this, I’m making sure we do it right.”

  Marta blinked in surprise. “You’re going to fund the start-up?”

  “Why not? I can afford it,” Kai said with a shrug. That was when Marta learned about the settlement money. Kai had been quiet about her past, but as she explained the tragic plane crash that had taken her family, Marta finally understood why her friend was so guarded.

  Marta placed a hand on Kai’s shoulder. “You’re stronger than you realise, you know that?”

  Kai shrugged again, uncomfortable with the praise. “I’m just doing what I can.”

  Unbeknownst to Kai, Marta saw her in a new light that day. She admired her tall friend’s quiet strength and kind nature, vowing to make their new venture a success—not just for herself, but for Kai as well. With Kai’s funding and Marta’s organisational skills, the new delivery service quickly gained traction. Marta contacted their previous clients, providing new contact information, and recruited a small team of human drivers, all of whom signed strict non-disclosure agreements.

  The Fae clients, however, remained exclusively Kai’s responsibility. Though she still insisted she was human, Marta knew better. She couldn’t see the aura of power Kai exuded, but she felt it. And as Kai continued to deliver to Fae across Georgia, it became clear that the human world wasn’t the only one recognising her potential.

  Their delivery service wasn’t just a business—it was a bridge between two worlds. And Kai, whether she liked it or not, was at the center of it all.

  Marta stood in front of the whiteboard, tapping the marker rhythmically against her palm. The office, small but cozy, was cluttered with sketches of logos, half-finished marketing ideas, and the faint scent of coffee and lemon polish. Her snakes peeked out from under her knit cap, hissing softly as if they, too, were debating.“So,” Marta said, her sharp eyes fixed on Kai, who sat quietly at the desk. “What do you think? The serpent and the river?” She gestured toward the bold image pinned to the board.

  Kai, calmly studied the design for a moment before nodding. “It works. It represents the both of us. You’re the serpent, obviously.” Her quiet voice touched with a bit of humor. “And the river… I suppose that’s me.” The Gorgon gaffawed. “Damn right, it’s you! I swear the world could be ending and you’d just go with flow!” Marta said with a smirk, placing her hands on her hips. “As for ‘our company name, ‘Aegis Delivery Logistics’, or ‘A.D.L’. Aegis in honor of my heritage. How about this for our catch phrase? ‘By Your Request, We Deliver.” She said the motto with the kind of flair that only Marta could muster. Kai inclined her head slightly. “It’s good.” A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “And the passphrase?” Marta asked. Kai’s tone was steady. “For those who know, the way is clear.” Marta huffed. “Pretentious, but I guess that’s the point. Fae love their cryptic nonsense.” Kai didn’t respond, merely returning to sipping her tea. Marta took the silence as agreement.

  Over the following months, A.D.L. took off. Fae from as far as neighboring states began requesting their services. Kai tried keeping her routes close to home, though. She had no interest in venturing far—at least, not at first.

  Her favorite request was a delivery to a herd of Centaurs just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee. They’d requested a shipment of rare enchanted grains. The herd had been gracious and curious, offering her stories of their long history in the region. Afterward, Kai made a detour to Dollywood, where she ended up seeing Dolly Parton herself at a parade. It had been the highlight of her week.

  A sharp knock echoed through the office one brisk afternoon. Marta glanced at Kai, who was quietly sorting through invoices at her desk. “You expecting anyone?” Marta asked, suspicious. Kai shook her head. Marta opened the door cautiously. A man stood there, pale and immaculate in a tailored black suit. He had the air of someone important—or someone who worked for someone important. His eyes were sharp and unblinking, his demeanour cold.

  “May I come in?” he asked, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth. Marta hesitated, then waved him in. “Who are you, and what do you want?” The man inclined his head. “I am a messenger, here on behalf of Lady Sumila in New York. My Mistress has a request for your services.” Kai set her papers aside, her expression calm but attentive. “What’s the request?” The man stepped forward, placing a sealed envelope on the desk in front of Kai. “She requires the retrieval and delivery of a highly valuable item: The Blood Poison cure. It must be delivered to New York City on New Year’s Eve at midnight.” Marta’s snakes hissed softly under her cap as her eyes narrowed. “Blood poison cure? That’s… specific. What’s it for?” The messenger nodded. “For many years, there has been unrest between the two largest Vampire covens in the country.” Kai interrupted. “You mean war.” She stated emphatically. The man nodded slowly, then continued. “My Mistress is hosting a Conclave to broker peace. The cure is part of the Treaty Agreement. Its delivery is crucial. ”Marta crossed her arms. “And why us?” He replied. “My Mistress values discretion, and you have come very highly recommended.”He gave them a slight acknowledging bow. “Your reputation precedes you.” Kai studied the man. “What’s the catch?” Her eyes narrowed slightly “There are factions within the covens who oppose peace,” the man said plainly. “They may attempt to intercept the package. My Mistress is prepared to compensate you handsomely for the risks involved.” Marta scoffed. “No way! Absolutely not!” She turned to Kai, gesturing wildly. “You hear this, right? Vampires, Kai! Vampires! That is suicide.” Kai’s expression didn’t change. “Will it stop the war?” she asked the messenger. “Kai!” Marta exclaimed.The man’s tone was firm. “Yes.” Kai fell silent, her gaze dropping as she considered the request. Marta’s snakes hissed louder, echoing her frustration. “You can’t seriously be contemplating this,” she said, exasperated. Kai met Marta’s eyes. “Others are sure to die if we don’t, Mar,” she said softly. Marta clenched her fists, then sighed in defeat. “Fine. Let’s talk about it.” She gestured for the messenger to step outside. They spent the next thirty minutes debating. Marta listing every possible reason to refuse, while Kai countered with quiet, unwavering logic. Finally, Marta threw her hands in the air. “Fine! But only because you’re impossible to argue with. If you die, I’m going to haunt you, Kai!” Kai smiled down at her faintly. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She reached over, gently soothing Marta’s snakes back under her cap. Marta grumbled but gave her friend a fond look. “Only you, Kai. Only you.” When the messenger re-entered the office, Kai asked, “What is the other coven offering?”“The return of a prisoner,” the man replied. Kai raised an eyebrow. “And who’s handling that delivery?” She asked. “Their leader’s personal bodyguards,” the messenger said. Marta shot Kai a sharp look but didn’t say anything. Kai nodded. “We’ll take the job. Give us the details.” The messenger handed her a slip of paper with the pickup location. “Once you have the package, you will receive the coordinates for the Conclave. Midnight, New Year’s Eve. The barriers will be weak enough for a binding magical treaty.” Kai slipped the paper into her pocket, her quiet confidence unshaken. Marta sighed heavily, muttering to herself, but there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.“Let’s get to work,” Kai said softly.

  Later that day, Marta leaned back in her chair, glaring at the laptop screen with her snakes swaying in irritation beneath her hat. “Well, that sucks!” she groaned, clicking on another link detailing the New Orleans swamp where the cure was supposedly hidden. Kai, perched at the edge of her desk with her arms crossed, sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yep,” she said, resigned. Marta raised an eyebrow at her. “You still want to do this?” she asked sardonically, tilting her head.Kai gave a faint, humourless smile. “I promised, didn’t I?” Marta rolled her eyes, but the sharp edge of her usual sarcasm softened. She reached out, giving Kai a pat on the shoulder. “You’re insane, you know that, right?” Kai just nodded.

  With New Year’s Eve only a week away, the pair threw themselves into overdrive. The swamp mission would be delicate and dangerous, so every precaution had to be taken. For the next two days, Kai delivered every local package on their roster at a relentless pace. She drove nonstop, the A.D.L. van speeding through backroads and city streets alike. Marta coordinated from the office, taking calls, marking off deliveries, and occasionally yelling into her phone at their more eccentric Fae clients. By late Monday night, Kai parked the delivery truck for the last time that week, locking it securely. The swamp mission required subtlety, and the truck was far too obvious. Marta hadn’t been idle, either. She’d spent hours setting up decoys, booking hotel rooms in different towns and cities to throw off anyone trying to track Kai. She even hired people to stay in some of those rooms to create false leads and just confuse the hell out of anyone trying to interfere. “They’re practically ghosts,” she’d said with a smirk. “Anyone trying to follow you is gonna think you’re everywhere at once.” Kai appreciated the effort her friend was putting into it. It made her feel warm at the thought of Marta’s caring for her.

  On Monday night Marta was busy triple-checking their notes when Kai entered the office, a large black duffel bag slung over one shoulder. She dropped it on the table with a loud thud, unzipped it, and began pulling out weapons. Marta froze, her snakes snapping to attention. “What the hell is all that?” she asked, eyes wide as Kai began laying out stacks of slim knives, bullet cartridges, and other assorted gear. Kai gave her an even look. “Just because I practice Martial Arts doesn’t mean I’m invincible.” Marta made a gurgling sound in the back of her throat, her hat slipping as her snakes hissed wildly. “Kai…” she whimpered weakly. Kai paused, looking up at her friend. The sight of Marta’s worried face—her snakes twisting in agitation—made her soften. Kai walked around the table, pulling the smaller woman into her arms. Her hand instinctively reached up, soothing the snakes back into place. “I’m scared you’ll get hurt,” Marta whispered into Kai’s shirt, her voice trembling. Kai rubbed her back gently. “If things get too bad, I’ll chuck the package and come back. I promise.” She pulled back slightly, holding Marta by the shoulders so she could look her in the eye. “And I never break my promises.” Marta took a deep, shaky breath. Her snakes settled slightly, and she nodded, her expression serious. “It’s a promise.” Kai smiled faintly and stepped back to finish arming herself. Marta watched in disbelief as her friend began hiding weapon after weapon on her person. Slim knives disappeared into her boots, up her sleeves, even her ponytail. Pistols were secured in shoulder holsters, and spare magazines were tucked into a belt pouch at the small of her back. “Where on Earth did all the knives go?” Marta asked, stunned. Kai smirked. “You’d be surprised where you can hide a blade.” Marta groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I feel like I’ve been doing that a lot lately.” She thought to herself.