A serving girl waited in the receiving room. Tohon ordered her to fetch us some tea. Then he circled the room, examining the decor. “Not bad if you like gold and gaudy. Good thing we won’t be here long.”

“Where are you going?” I asked.

He ignored my implication. “I need to establish my rule in all the towns that have been previously occupied by Estrid, set up my people and soldiers to keep them in line. I also need to find Jael. That little whore will kneel before me and acknowledge me as her king.”

Good luck with that, I thought, knowing better than to say it aloud.

When the girl returned with a tray, Tohon waved me into one of the armchairs. “Sit and relax, my dear.” He waited until the tea was served before dismissing the girl.

I perched on the edge of the chair, holding my tea. Tohon’s mood could change in an instant. In my experience, his friendly act wouldn’t last long.

Tohon lounged in the chair opposite mine, sipping his tea. A brief hope that someone might have poisoned his drink died when I remembered his life magic kept him healthy, counteracting poisons, plagues and other sicknesses.

“So, my dear. What did you think of my little trick?”

“With your dead soldiers surrounding the camp?”

He nodded.

Best to stick to the truth. For now. “It was brilliant.”

“It was,” he agreed. “But you figured it out before I could spring it, didn’t you?”

“I...” I considered.

“Be honest, my dear.” A hard edge sharpened his tone.

“I found the clues, but Ryne put them together in time to escape your trap.”

“And he left you behind.” He tsked. “The woman who saved his life.”

If he was hoping to hurt me, it wouldn’t work. I shrugged.

“Just how did you survive the plague?” Tohon leaned forward.

Time for some creative stretching of the truth. “I didn’t. I died and Kerrick brought me back.”

His body tensed at Kerrick’s name. “Impossible.”

“You need to change your definition of impossible. I once thought that about your dead soldiers. Yet they’re here.”

“My magic—”

“Keeps them from rotting, but you inject something into them that animates them. What is it? Death Lily toxin?” It was the wrong guess, but I wanted to see his reaction.

His teacup clattered when he placed it back in the saucer. “I’m impressed by your effort to trick the answer from me. No one knows the substance, and that’s the way I intend to keep it.” Tohon relaxed back. “And you managed to change the subject. I believe you were going to tell me the real reason you survived the plague.”

“Does it matter? The plague is gone.”

“No more stalling.”

“A Death Lily saved me.” I explained how I’d been in excruciating pain and sought the release only the Death Lily’s toxin could give me. All true, except I failed to mention the Lily had spat me out within seconds, and a Peace Lily took me. “I died inside its petals. When it ejected me, I woke in Kerrick’s arms.”

“That’s more believable than Kerrick saving you. I’m sure he was happy about your recovery.” He crinkled his nose. “I can smell his scent on you. Good thing he’s dead. Otherwise, I’d be jealous.”

Without thought, I brought my arm up to my nose, hoping to catch a whiff of spring sunshine and living green. Nothing. Fresh grief tore through me.

Tohon paused with his teacup inches from his lips, which curled into a smile. “Too bad the ufas ripped him to pieces. I would have liked to display his body in one of my glass coffins.”

I stared at my hands, struggling to keep the burning tears locked tight.

Sensing my emotions, Tohon kept going. “Handy creatures, those ufas. Alive, I can only control one, but dead...they’re so much easier to work with. Cellina has been training them to track by scent. Kerrick was their first kill.”

The desire to run away pulsed in my chest. I glanced at the door. Two of Tohon’s bodyguards blocked the exit. Perhaps I could zap them before Tohon reached me.

“You won’t get far, my dear.”

Sagging back in the chair, I acted as if defeated. But I plotted in my mind. Too bad all my ideas for escape ended the same way—recaptured. I needed to keep him talking. Plus, there was a question I had to know the answer to. “Did you send your ufa pack after Belen?”

Tohon laughed. “No. That big oaf stumbled onto them on his own.”

“Did he... Did they...” The words clung to my tongue, refusing to be spoken.

“Belen is in one piece.”

I straightened as hope sprang inside my chest. “Then he’s—”

“Dead.”

Shocked, I gaped.

“It’s not all bad news, my dear. I rather liked Belen, so he’s still lumbering around. Once he’s finished with his training, I can have him be one of your...escorts. How’s that?”

Worse than death! I jumped to my feet and lunged at him, intent on wrapping my hands around his throat. He caught my wrists. But instead of pushing me away, he pulled me closer as heat raced across my arms and through my body, liquefying my muscles.

I sank to my knees before his chair, leaning over his lap. His face was inches from mine. An intense expression—cruel and mocking—darkened his gaze. His magic pulsed through me. The sensation teetered between pain and pleasure, robbing me of speech.