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“He’s fine.” Kolis walked forward. “What were you saying? That you’d be willing to do anything for him?” Kolis asked quietly—too quietly. “Why?”

Staring at Rhain’s crumpled form and unable to see his chest rise or fall, I reminded myself that I would’ve felt it if he’d died. “Because…because if you kill him, there will be war. He’s important to Nyktos.” My insides burned, shriveling a little at the knowledge that Kyn was hearing this. “And as I said before, how can we start over if there’s war? I’m willing to do anything to have a chance to…” My throat thickened. “To know what love feels like.”

A small eternity passed as Kolis stared at me. “Anything?”

My heart stopped its ceaseless racing as finally, finally that veil of nothingness settled into place again. “As long as you promise that Rhain will return to the Shadowlands, no more harmed than he is now,” I said, having learned from earlier that I needed to be as clear as I could in our agreements—something I hadn’t done in our deal regarding Ash. “Anything.”

The eather calmed in Kolis. “So, another deal?”

“Yes.” I gave a half shrug, knowing how the movement pulled the gown against my chest and would draw his attention. “What can I say? I have a fondness for deals.” I smiled. “After all, everything that has led to this moment is the result of one.”

Something I’d rather not acknowledge flashed in Kolis’s stare. “Deal.”

I nodded, relieved.

“You’re no longer needed,” Kolis said to Kyn. “Rhain’s transport will be handled by another.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Kyn bowed. As he straightened, he looked at me with a blade-thin smile and a look…

A look that said exactly what he knew would happen.

Even though he was unconscious, I couldn’t look at Rhain. So, I busied myself with pouring a glass of water as Kolis called for Elias to send for Callum. They took Rhain from the chamber in silence. I didn’t know how long he’d be out, but I hoped it was long enough for him to be taken from…well, wherever I was in Dalos.

Kolis and I were alone.

He watched me. “Anything?”

I took a long drink and then faced him, but I wasn’t me. I wasn’t truly here anymore. So, it didn’t matter when I nodded.

Kolis positively glowed. “Then, tonight, we will share the same bed.”

Shortly after what I could only assume was suppertime, the Chosen once more prepared a bath for me. I didn’t think about anything as I bathed, likely on Kolis’s orders. Nor did I think about anything when I saw the slinky, ankle-length, gold nightgown on the bed.

The bed.

I hadn’t slept in it yet.

I sat on the divan and waited, hollow and blank, until Kolis returned. He was alone, dressed in those loose linen pants with damp hair. It appeared he, too, had bathed.

Kolis crossed the chamber and entered the cage, finally speaking. “If you are who you claim, you are far bolder than you were before.”

“How so?” I asked, even though I had a good idea what he meant.

“You never spoke your mind or shared your opinion, at least not at first,” he explained.

Sotoria’s presence stirred as a little surprise flickered through me. “I imagine a lot of that has to do with the times being different.”

“You imagine?” His head tilted. “But you don’t know. Because you cannot remember.”

I shook my head.

Kolis didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Is what I requested of you a surprise?”

Was it? No. Not in the way he likely meant.

“Will you not be bold now and speak your mind?” he asked.

I could be far bolder than his imagination could conjure because this wasn’t me. I looked up at him. “You offered me to Kyn, so your request was a bit surprising.”