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“Do you feel that?” he asks.

For a moment, I assume he’s talking about the pressure on my wrist. But then there’s a stirring in my chest, and what is happening? My hand moves over my heart, then my back bows as a rush of magic floods my connection to Des.

For an instant, it feels like the bond we share is coming back to life. On the slab, Des stirs.

As quickly as the sensation comes, it passes, settling back down to the dying embers it’s been. My soulmate goes still again.

“That’s what’s at stake for you,” the Thief says.

I hate him. Christ, do I hate him.

He holds Des’s life in the palm of his hand, and while he might not outright kill my mate, he’ll dangle our bond in front of me. That’s all he needs to do to get my compliance.

“This is what’s going to happen,” the Thief says, “you’re going to do everything I tell you. Otherwise, you lose Des, piece by piece.” To emphasize his point, dark magic thickens the air, and Des’s back arches again. Like some sick dream, my mate begins to cry out again.

“Stop—stop!” I’m shouting, and my glamour is everywhere and in everything, burning so brightly. It doesn’t make any sort of difference.

“Understood?” the Thief says calmly, Des bellowing between us as pain continues to rack his body.

My wrath gathers in my veins, but those shouts—it’s as though a part of me is dying.

“Understood,” I say, my voice raw.

Des shudders, his body falling limp on the stone slab.

“You’re going to regret doing that,” I say, blazing with barely contained rage.

“No, enchantress, it’s you who will be regretful, should you defy me again.”

Chapter 42

The Thief leadsme out of the room and through his castle, showing me this or that, all while wearing a triumphant smile on his lips. We both know he doesn’t give a shit about anything in this stolen castle of his, save for the wretched souls he gets to torment. Right now he’s just savoring my pain.

We’ll stab out his eyes and cut out his tongue—

Ever since the Thief started leading us through the palace, my siren has been whispering all the ways he will pay for his crimes.

We’ll bring him to the point of pleasure and then we’ll destroy him as we havealwaysdestroyed our enemies.

Eventually, the Thief leads me out onto a balcony. From where we stand I can see the vast ocean. Under the cover of night it looks like spilled ink, stretching out as far as the eye can see.

Next to me, I sense the Thief about to speak.

“Why am I here?” I ask, swiveling to him. “Why not just kill me or incapacitate me like all the other fairies you’ve come across?”

That would’ve been easier.

The Thief pauses, assessing me.

“Why?” he finally says. “Why, why,why? You creatures and your need to have orderly, logical answers. When someone falls in love, is it logical? And when they blindly hate, is that logical either? Your deepest drives are based onnothing. What you’re asking for is an explanation for the unexplainable.”

I didn’t expect that answer. The Thief of Souls went and got philosophical on me.

He steps in close. “Stop trying to understand me. You willneverfathom my motives. I am not like you or anyone else.”

I study him. “What do you intend to do with me?”

Now that sinister smile is back. A minute ago, I could almost pretend he was civilized. I can’t now.