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“What about the redhead?”

“Piper?”

“No, Leif,” Hel said sarcastically and rolled his eyes.

“What about Piper?”

“Haven’t you ever thought about it? Iknowyou’ve thought about it.”

“I have not thought about her that way. She and I have only ever been friends.”

Hel laughed. “Don’t act like you’re some innocent virgin. I remember the night you had three demigoddesses in your bed at once.”

“Thatwas a very long time ago and not who I am anymore.”

“If you say so. Piper is an angry little thing. She could probably use a good lay if you’re up for the challenge. It would be less messy than with Katana.”

Thane rubbed his temples. Why was he like this? “You’re trying to get under my skin. It’s not going to work.”

He smiled, dimpling his cheek. “You’re too easy to rile up. You might as well sweet-talk Katana and get it out of your system now. If she was sitting on your lap in a scanty nightgown, Iknowyou’ve thought about her even if you aren’t interested in Piper.”

“Can you not try to play matchmaker? I wouldn’t have trouble finding someone to bed if that’s what I wanted.”

“No denial. Interesting. I hear she’s very sweet. She’d be perfect for you. You might have to”—he moved his thumb across his throat—“her husband though. I’ll help.”

Thane narrowed his eyes at him. Part of Hel must feel guilty for taking back Valeen and breaking his heart even if he’d never admit it.

“She doesn’t want to be with Atlanta anymore. He’s a prick.”

“Is he a threat?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck. Well, what’s one more enemy in the grand scheme of things? Anyways, while I was roaming around the months before I came back here, I made a quick visit to Calladira. I’ve met this new Lord Maelus from the letter. I needed to assess the threatlevel. He isn’t much of one. There was, however, something interesting about him. He has magic, and I wondered how that could be. Does the name Aldrich ring any bells?”

Thane’s spine went rigid. “Aldrich?”

“You see, when you killed your elven father, my deal passed on to the next in his bloodline, which would ordinarily be you, but you’reyouso it went somewhere else and unfortunately it wasn’t your sister. Or fortunately, depending on how you think about it. Talon is already a prissy nightmare; imagine if she had magic.”

Heat trickled up Thane’s neck and he rose to his feet. “Are you saying that Aldrich is Lord Maelus? In what world would Aldrich become the Lord of Calladira? He isn’t from there.”

“As it turns out, Tenebris had an affair with the aunt of the previous ruler of Calladira. Looks like he wanted to secure his line for both elven thrones. Can we make this work in our favor? If you can get the woodland elves to fight with us?—”

“Aldrich pretended to be my friend and then betrayed me,” he growled. “He and Tenebris kept Valeen locked in a tower with no water or food for months.”

Hel frowned, and the red of his irises seemed to fall into shadow. Thane could almost see the dark thoughts churning behind his eyes. “He did what?”

“They starved her and kept her locked in a room until she was weak enough they thought they could force her to wakeyou.”

“And you allowed him to live? I don’t care if he’s your brother. This isValeen.”

“I know,” Thane snapped. He would have hunted him down if he had the time. “He got away, Hel. And if I didn’t have a million other things I needed to deal with he’d already be dead.”

“It’s time the Black Mage made an appearance.”

Light footsteps tapped on the floor, drawing their attention. Valeen stopped in the entry to the throne room and leanedagainst the archway. “Let me negotiate with Aldrich. Katana told me you’re heading north, Thane.”

“Negotiate?” Hel narrowed his eyes. “There will be no negotiations. He dies.”