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I wait for his laughter to trail off.

“Is that the only way?” I ask.

He hesitates.

“Is it?” I press.

The hateful look is back. I watch as he holds out against my glamour for one—two—three—four—five seconds.

“No,” he eventually grits out.

My pulse begins to race.

I was right. There is another way in.

“Tell me everything you know about this other entrance to the Land of Death and Deep Earth.”

Galleghar’s lips twitch as he fights my compulsion. For once, it isn’t satisfying to watch him resist. Every second he holds out answering feels like an eternity.

Impatient, I unleash a little more of my power. “Youwantto answer me,” I say, my voice hypnotic. “Now,tell me.”

The mean look in his eyes dissolves away; he stares at me like I’m some rare treasure. “In the Land of Nightmares, there’s a forest,” he says.

The Land of Nightmares …

Why does that sound familiar?

Memnos, I remember. The Land of Nightmares was another name for Memnos, one of the floating islands of the Night Kingdom. It was the only island Des didn’t take me to—and for good reason. It was where the creatures of nightmares lived.

“Deep in this forest, there is the Pit.” Galleghar’s gaze never wavers from mine. “Go to the Pit and travel as deep as you dare, and there you will find the Kingdom of Death and Deep Earth and Thief himself.”

I exhale.

There it is, my long sought-after answer. My heart shudders to life. I want to laugh at all the hope I feel.

I will drag Des back up to the land of the living, and no one can stop me. Not even the Thief himself. For once, I will save the mate who’s saved me over and over again.

I glance over at Temper. Like the fairies in the room, she’s caught by the coils of my glamour, her eyes bright. Still, she manages a predatory smile.

Turning back to Galleghar, I shutter the full force of my power.

It’s the most natural thing in the world, strengthening and weakening my magic. And here I’d thought I had poor control over my siren. I’d never realized that I’d kept such a tight leash on my power this entire time, even when I had used it. At least, I hadn’t realized that until now, when I no longer cared about reining my alluring, destructive nature.

Galleghar’s expression flickers, then shifts, as my hold on him lessens. His features contort with his fury. I doubt anyone has treated him like this.

I study the former king, who’s still on his knees. Despite being a prisoner, he’s still dressed in fine linen, and he wears several rings.

“Let me see your hands.”

He fights my glamour, his hands trembling, but eventually he extends them out to me. Galleghar wears three bronze rings, one masterfully crafted to depict a crescent moon and stars, another one inset with a black stone, and the last one a simple band with a crudely carved face of a woman with wild hair, her mouth open in a scream.

My fingers land on that ring.

Beneath my touch, Galleghar’s skin jumps. Ignoring his reaction, I slip the ring off.

“What are you doing?” he demands.

“Isn’t it obvious?” I say, my voice lilting. “I’m taking your jewelry.” A memento to remember him by—the king I brought to his knees with a look alone. The man who abused his power in so many horrific ways. He’s powerless now, perhaps for the first time in his unnaturally long life.