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“No shit,” I snapped.

His lips thinned as traces of gold swirled across his cheeks. “Do you want to know what is more troubling? How disturbing yet fascinating it is to watch someone find pleasure as they sleep.”

Find pleasure? A chill of revulsion went through me, curling my upper lip as anger boiled. “What are you even talking about?”

“You were smiling,” he said. “I saw your breath catch.”

Dear gods, exactly how long had he been watching me?

“So don’t lie to me.”

Either this man had absolutely no idea what one looked like when they experienced pleasure, or he was out of his mind. “I didn’t—”

Kolis snapped forward, slamming his palms down on the divan. He leaned in and inhaled deeply. I tensed.

The false King drew back with a frown. “Mountain air and citrus.”

My heart may have stopped as I stared at him. Did he scent Ash on me? Because that’s how Ash smelled to me. Like fresh air and citrus. But that was impossible, wasn’t it? Thoughts collided with one another like ships tossed about at sea. How could I smell like Ash? The dream… I couldn’t smell like him because I’d only dreamt of him.

“I will ask you one more time,” Kolis said, snapping me from my thoughts. “Who were you dreaming of?”

Oh, a huge, irresponsible, and petty part of me wanted to scream Ash’s name in Kolis’s face. However, I knew better. “I don’t know.” I tensed as the gold flecks faded from his eyes but still pulsed under his flesh. “I don’t remember my dreams. I don’t even know what I was dreaming about.”

Kolis fell silent while I hoped my years of lying were paying off.

Finally, the traces of eather slowed in his flesh and then disappeared. He rocked back and stood. “I’ve…upset you.”

I said nothing as I gripped the edge of the divan. His gaze flickered to my throat where the puncture wounds were a faded pink.

“That is not what I intended to do. I just…” Trailing off, he closed his eyes. “We’ve made a promise to one another. A vow to start anew.”

I didn’t quite recall stating it like that.

“We will start fresh,” Kolis said, opening his eyes. “We will.”

His words made me think of what I’d dreamt. I will fight for you. I will free you. But that wasn’t all I’d dreamt Ash saying. There was something about the embers and telling Kolis the truth.

“How can I make this happen?”

I frowned, refocusing on him. “Make what happen?”

His head tilted. “Make it easier for us to start anew.”

Had he not asked me a similar question before, and had I not told him I needed time? Though it wasn’t like I believed he would actually give me that. “I… I’m not sure—”

“Anything. There is no limit to what I will do for you.”

Nausea churned in my stomach.

“Would you like a new gown? A necklace made of rubies instead of silver? I could have dazzling rings fashioned from any jewel you want,” he offered. “Is there something else you desire? I can have books brought in from any kingdom. Would you like a pet? I can—”

“I would like to leave here,” I blurted, my mind fully waking up.

His eyes narrowed.

“You asked,” I said, struggling to keep the frustration from my voice. Getting out of the damn cage and seeing exactly where I was in the City of the Gods would be excellent. “I would like to see something other than this space.”

Kolis’s expression smoothed. “I assumed—never mind.” He cleared his throat and then gave me an uneven smile. “You would like to spend time with me.”