“Well, all of this really just makes me want to help you,” I tell him, glad my voice doesn’t wobble when I reply. I’m terrified, though. I don’t know what to think of this guy—he’s polite one moment and coolly cruel the next.

“I don’t care what you want. You are simply a tool. I want your dragon to come here and give himself over to me. If he wants you to live, he will do so before the sun rises tomorrow.” Azar points a finger at the tabletop. “If he does not, I will start by cutting your limbs off. First your hands. Then your feet. Then I will move up your arms, slicing my way as I go and cauterizing the wound each time so you do not bleed out. Then we’ll move on to your legs and keep cutting upward. It is a very long, very painful way to die, and he’s going to experience every moment of it with you. Do you understand me?”

Frightened, I nod. My body is cold with sweat.

“Good.” He sits back in his chair. “Eat your food. Supplies are harder to come by every year.” He grins at me, showing those oddly square teeth. “That’s a human saying I’ve picked up. Quite effective, don’t you think? I say that and they all think I’m one of them.” He chuckles. “It’s almost too easy.”

I just stare at him. Wordlessly, I pick up a pancake and take a bite out of it, chewing. My mind is racing. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to think.

We have to figure out a way out of this, Dakh.

There is a simple answer—I will come for you.

No! I won’t have you risk your life for mine! That’s craziness! I fight back a surge of exhaustion. I can’t let you.

All he wants is for me to fly to the Rift in exchange for your safety. I can do so.

And what if you’re fried the moment you get close? What if you can’t come back? What if he decides that he doesn’t want just that? What if he decides he wants you to be his pet murdering dragon? He’ll keep using me as leverage against you. There’s no winning this.

I won’t leave you, Sasha. The thought is unbearable. His mind is full of anguish and rage. Ravens flutter blackly in his thoughts, so loud I can hear them cawing.

We have to think of something. I continue shoving pancake in my face so I don’t have to talk to Azar, who’s watching me closely as I eat. We just need time. God, I’m so tired, but there’s no time for that. I have to focus. My thoughts feel strained with exhaustion.

I must be there before the sun rises. You heard him. I cannot risk you, my Sasha. You are my heart. You know this. I will connect my mind to his—

No! Babe, don’t. For me. Please. I don’t trust him not to have some crazy juju that will take you over. We’re going to figure a way out of this, I promise. Just give me a few hours to think of a plan. Maybe Emma will come back and we can work something out—

“My,” Azar drawls. “You certainly are thinking hard, my little Sasha.”

I hate this man. I hate everything that he is and everything that he stands for. “Not your little Sasha.”

“No? I suppose not. It’s clear you’re holding the reins when it comes to your dragon, though. Your silence tells me a lot, you know. It tells me that you’re frantically trying to think of a plan.” His brows go up, as if challenging me. “Am I wrong?”

I’m silent. I hate that he’s able to read me so easily. I tear off another piece of pancake and chew angrily.

“Given a full day, perhaps you would have time to form a good plan.” Azar relaxes in his seat and picks at another piece of fruit cocktail. “Which is why I’ve drugged your breakfast.”

I stop chewing immediately. “What?”

“You’re going to be falling asleep very soon, and I imagine you’ll sleep right on through until morning. This is so you can’t convince your poor, crazed drakoni that my plan is a bad one.” He gestures at the half-eaten pancake in my hands. “Might as well finish that, you know. The damage is already done.”

“You bastard.” I fling it down on the plate, mentally testing myself. I feel sluggish, but I thought that was because I hadn’t slept well.

“Remember.” Azar points his fork at me. “Your dragon has until morning or you die in pieces.”

Dakh’s growl of frustration in my head is overwhelming. I am coming for you.

No! Please don’t. He can’t kill me—he needs leverage.

He threatens your life. I will not sit and watch! You are my mate! Mine to protect! I can feel his rage. I feel his anger and frustration. I feel…

Sleepy.

No no no. Dakh, please. Love, do as I say. Stay away. We’ll think of something. Just don’t give yourself up. Don’t—

My thoughts grow fuzzy, and I weave in my chair.

“Mmm, that was faster than anticipated.” Azar leans back and studies me. “When your dragon gets here, I’ll tell him he made the right decision.”

I manage to shove my middle finger into the air before I slump over.

48

SASHA

Sasha…

Wake up Sasha…

Something cold splashes on my face. “Wake up, Sasha!”

I rouse with a sputtering gasp.

“Thank God,” Emma breathes, putting aside a bucket. “That’s the third dunking I’ve given you.”

Even now, my eyelids threaten to slide back shut again. “Drugged,” I manage thickly.

“I know. I found out afterwards.” She grabs me under one arm. “Come on. Sit upright. You need to walk this shit off.”

It feels like monumental effort to get to my feet. I stagger, leaning heavily on her. “Wh…what are you doing here?” Even my mouth feels tired.

“Brought you food. We have to break you out, though. Shit’s going down.”

Shit? I blink at her.

Sasha! Dakh’s voice feels very close, which is odd. My mate! You are awake!

Dakh! I’m so relieved to hear him, though I’m a little worried about how near his mental voice seems. I’m sort of awake, I reassure him. I glance around, trying to figure out my surroundings. I’m back in the hotel room, and the cardboard is hanging off the side of the window. It’s dark outside. Shit. How long have I been asleep?

A long, long time. I get an impression of smoke and ash, just as the sound of someone screaming touches my ears.