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“Kronk. Athos.” Her partner jabbed a finger into his chest with a hollow thud. Given the stony texture of his flesh when he’d almost crushed me to death, I’d suspected as much. Athos were a formidable race, possessing an ability to turn to stone. The indestructible nature of their bodies, combined with their unmatched strength, was admirable. To have even one in my army would be an incredible advantage.

Runa confirmed my suspicions. “Kronk is the brawn in ourlittle group. And very much likes to pound soft, frail things. Almost as much as he enjoys giving hugs.”

Kronk offered a broad grin in response, and I nodded, warning received. I was all too familiar with the athos’s hugs.

The muscular male with the black horns and the ability to throw fire was likely an infernus. In my world, they were known as fire demons and forced to shear their horns to walk among the humans. Here, not even the smoke rolling from the male’s nostrils would raise an eyebrow.

“Drazen,” the horned demon offered from where he lounged against a fallen log.

Before him was a small stack of branches. He blew into his fist, setting his hand on fire, then tossed the fireball into the kindling. Flames exploded, igniting the wood.

“How’s that for an introduction?” Drazen said, a cocky sneer on his face.

I’d seen better but didn’t dare voice that opinion. “So, sorcery, brawn, and fire. What, exactly, ismyrole here?”

“Your job is the easiest of all,” the infernus sneered, holding up his flaming index finger then snuffing it out in his fist. “You’re our prisoner.”

“We’re selling you to Vex,” the athos volunteered.

“Kronk,” Runa groaned.

“What?” The block-headed giant raised his hands. “It’s not as if a puny male like him can best us. What does it matter if he knows?”

“And who is this Vex?” I asked.

“He’s a vicious gang leader and a collector of the rare and unusual,” Runa said, her voice oddly appealing, rolling through my ears. “Word on the street is you’re a hot commodity, despite your apparent weakness. Rumor is you’ve sent many of the mortal world’s criminals here. There are some who took it personally. Vex, for instance.”

I pondered the odd name. “Doesn’t sound familiar. Perhaps you have mistaken me for someone else.”

“You’d better hope not,” Drazen snorted, puffing smoke. “If you’re of no value to Vex, you’re of no value to us, and that would make my friend Kronk very angry.”

“So, you’re flesh peddlers. Slavers.” Proving once again that this female wasn’t my mate. The fates wouldn’t have bound me to a creature so far beneath my station.

Kronk stiffened his spine. “Are not. You are our first.”

“Common thieves then.” Like every other bottom-dweller in this disgusting kingdom.

“Not common.” Kronk took a menacing step that had me drawing up my legs.

Runa placed a placating hand on the athos’s thick arm, saying, “In Carcerem, we’re more like royalty, as far as our fellow thieves are concerned. Not that you are one to judge, Victor Custodis.”

Ha. My crimes were exemplary compared to theirs.

She lowered to her knees beside me, close enough I could once again pick up her delightful—no, annoying—scent.

Freckles spilled across the bridge of her nose. The flaw was strangely endearing, despite her being a common criminal.

Her violet eyes took me in, scanning my features in a disturbingly intimate way. “I must confess to being curious about you.” She canted her head, lavender tendrils tumbling over her shoulders. “Yaga claims you’re a vampire, hundreds of spans old. Says you’re from the mortal realm. That you were once a great leader there, although a deceitful one.”

This Yaga person wasn’t wrong. It was about time Runa and her crew showed me a bit of respect.

When she raised her hand, I forced myself to remain still, to allow her touch. Instead of striking me, she brushed my silver-white hair back from my forehead, leaning closer, whispering ina way that made goosebumps dance down my arms. “I bet there are all kinds of secrets stored in that pretty head of yours.”

She had no idea.

“What do you think, boys?” Runa asked.

“Do it,” Drazen encouraged, an evil smirk twisting his mouth. “Could be something useful in there. Something worth a few coins.”