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He pushes himself up on shaky feet. When he takes me and Temper in, he lets out a cry that’s somewhere between feral anger and blinding fear.

The sorceress assesses him. “You never thought two slaves would fuck your life to shit, now, did you?”

Not just two slaves, twowomen, which for Galleghar is somehow worse.

“I will kill you,” he says, staggering forward.

“No, you won’t,” I say calmly. “What youwilldo is receive a shower, get some new clothes and help us.”

“You crazy bitch—”

“Idon’tneed your tongue, so unless you want to lose it, you will continue to speak to me and my sorceress friend here in the most reverential of ways.”

“I want him to call me ‘Great Goddess.’ Can you make that happen?” Temper says to me.

Staring at Galleghar, I say, “You will refer to the sorceress from here on out as ‘My Great Goddess of Fuckery and Other Magical Things.’ Understood?”

If Galleghar could spit fire right now, he would. Instead, he nods sharply, his nostrils flaring.

“Good,” I say. I motion to the soldiers standing post nearby. “Please get the traitor a bath and fresh clothing—and something to eat. He’ll need his strength for what’s to come.”

“What’s to come?” he echoes, a spark of fear lighting his eyes.

“Did I not tell you?” I say. “You’re taking us to Memnos.”

Memnos is supposedto be a frightening place, but when I catch sight of the dark island on the horizon, all I feel is a cold thrill.

Getting close now.

Des’s aides and his soldiers had all been reluctant to let me come here with nothing but a human and a traitor. They’d wanted to send in the last of their army, uncaring that the Thief of Souls could put them all to sleep in an instant if it pleased them.

So I ignored their advice. In the end, they couldn’t do much about it—not when I had glamour working for me.

The three of us close in on the island, Temper cradled in Galleghar’s arms. The once mighty king is now nothing more than our errand boy. He wears a venomous look, but he’s magically enslaved to my orders. And so he obediently leads us forward, towards the floating island.

When we reach it, we pass over a small city. The lights below us are muted, the smell of blood and corrupted magic tinges the air. I can practically feel the danger radiating off the land.

The buildings give away to thick, blighted forests with shadowy trees and strange light glittering from within their depths. The woods are only broken up by the odd fortress or cottage, the structures looking downright nefarious.

The trees thin out, and those that remain look weak and warped. It’s amongst these trees that we land.

I drop to my feet, folding my wings up as Galleghar lands ahead of me.

His arms shake as he gently releases Temper. I can tell he badly wants to throw my friend to the ground, but my glamour forbids him from harming the sorceress.

“Where’s the Pit?” Temper asks, looking around.

“Up ahead … My Great Goddess of Fuckery and Other Magical Things.” He mumbles the last part.

“Speak up,” I command.

His eyes shoot daggers at me. “I said, it’s up ahead … Oh Dark Queen Who Thinks I’m a Douchebucket of the Most Epic Proportions.”

Temper smirks. “What is your name again?” she asks him.

He curls his lip at her.

“Callie?” Temper says, calling for a little assistance.