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“Keep both of them safe,” Kronk started, then hesitated. “Or bad things will happen. To you.” He punched his palm, the warning nowhere near as terrifying as he’d intended. Discoveringour former captive was the lost king of Carcerem and a divine entity had taken the steam out of my brother’s threats.

Custodis nodded, and I was relieved when he didn’t smirk…much. “I promise to treat Yaga and your sister with the utmost respect.”

I resisted an eyeroll. Yeah, right. Like that would happen.

Since the Blood River Bandits were easy to recognize when we were together, my brothers would linger at Copia for a bit. Not that this was a hardship to stay in an enchanted castle with fat larders and bottomless casks of honeyed ale.

I locked eyes with Custodis. “Guess it’s time to activate the enchantments.” Around both our necks were silver chains with smoky crystals attached—gifts from the queen for our journey. My illusions would prove too tiring to maintain for the whole trip. Burning through that quantity of power would have my flesh blackened from fingertip to shoulder before we were done.

I grasped the crystal, uttering the magical phrase. Sparks skittered over my body. Victor and I studied each other as the glamour took effect.

Victor’s striking silver mane turned a greasy brown, and his gray eyes faded to something more akin to swamp water. On the bridge of his nose, a crooked bump formed. His noble chin rounded, his jaw turning jowly.

I picked up a hank of my own violet hair, finding the lavender ends now a dirty blonde from roots to tips. I touched my face, discovering that my nose was misshapen and my high cheekbones sagged.

“Wow.” Drazen grunted. “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d think you were a stranger.”

“Good,” I stated with a firm nod. If my own brothers didn’t recognize me, then it was unlikely anyone else would.

“Well, what are ya waiting for?” Yaga bellowed. “I ain’t getting any younger. Onward, into the great unknown!” She cracked the reins over the back of her bula, and the bovinelurched forward with an irritatedmerrr. Yaga’s cart, loaded with bula dung, rocked on its axle, expelling a noxious odor.

“Right.” I grimaced and swung my leg over my worn saddle. Not wanting to ruin Yaga’s adventure, I didn’t comment on the fact that the “great unknown” wasn’t an unknown at all, but a well-traveled path to a popular village.

“Wagon ho!” Yaga cackled, throwing her fist in the air as if she led a fierce army.

“On…ward,” I mumbled, urging my mount forward with a kick of my heels.

In response, my mighty steed peered over her bony shoulder at me.

I made a kissing noise to my aged beast. “Go on now. Carrots if you’re a good girl.”

My nag answered with a whinny at the promise of treats and thrust one gnarled hoof before the other.

Victor also mounted his nag, trailing at the rear as if loath to be seen with our ragtag band.

I had no such qualms, holding my head high. I guided the lost king toward a secret temple that would ignite his magic. At my side was a notorious soothsayer of unfathomable power. Together, the three of us were Carcerem’s last hope—whether Victor knew it or not.

Fates save us.

Many miles later, my enthusiasm for our quest ran thin.

“This lumbering beast is chafing my nether regions,” the vampire griped, his voice like claws raking my spine. “This is no way to treat a king,” he repeated for what might have been the hundredth time. For a guy who didn’t plan on sticking around, he was really enjoying his royal status.

Yaga trailed behind us so the odors rising from her cart wouldn’t make our eyes water. “What’s that?” she bellowed over her rattling wheels.

“Nothing, Yaga,” I shouted.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Yes. I agree. Let’s stop for a moment.” She hauled back on the reins, bringing the cart to a stop.

Custodis cast me a dark glare. “Again? At this rate, it will take a week to reach the village.”

“You are welcome to convey your concerns to her yourself.”

At my suggestion, the vampire blanched. The last time he complained to Yaga that she was taking too long, she’d popped off her boots and proceeded to take her time, trimming her gnarly toenails with a small knife.