I laughed suddenly. This situation wasn’t unique at all. I had thought of the same solution half a year ago on the northern ice sheet when I told Kade to use the blizzard’s energy to rip the station to shreds, killing everyone in it, including me. He should have heeded my advice.

Really. What did I do in the past three seasons? Craft messengers. Sitia could survive without my messengers, but not without Yelena and the Master Magicians.

A couple days, weeks or seasons passed—hard to tell when trapped in the dark. The opening door remained the only break in the constant blackness. Usually it was Len or Boar, bringing food, water and a few moments of exercise. Each time, I squinted into the bright lantern light unable to see who held the lantern at first.

When Devlen arrived, I smiled, knowing he brought a change of pace.

“Not the reception I expected,” he said as he closed the door and set the lantern on the floor.

“Your presence is another step toward the end point.”

“The end point as in you will agree to all of Ulrick’s demands?”

“Yep.”

“Then why not skip this?” He flourished the clamps in his hand.

“Pride.”

He shook his head. “I warned you about Gressa.”

“Yes, you did. Why?”

“You said you would not believe me.”

“Then. Now you don’t have a reason to lie,” I said.

“What if you escape?”

“Has Janco escaped?” According to Len, Janco tried three times without success. The only reason they kept him alive was for the information in his head.

“Point,” he said. “I warned you because I knew it would come down to this. Me, you and the clamps, torturing you to obey us. Tama and Gressa have been plotting to lure you to Fulgor. Gressa paid for the mock-assassination attempt. All part of the plan.”

“The attempt seemed rather extreme.”

“It worked. Tama convinced all the Councilors you were in danger. They ordered you home and assigned a guard to watch you at all times.”

“I didn’t see—”

“You were not supposed to.”

Information swirled around my head until I felt dizzy. He might have no reason to lie, but it didn’t mean he told the truth, either.

Sensing my disbelief, Devlen rolled up his sleeves and showed me his bare arms. “No tattoos. See? Tricky offered me a vial of your blood to regain my magic and protect myself from you. I turned him down.”

“There are other places to put tattoos.”

He stripped off his shirt and yanked his pants down, leaving his undershorts on. He spun around. “Should I take everything off?”

“No. I believe you.” No ink stained his skin. I glanced away as memories of lying with him bubbled to the surface of my mind. He kept in shape. Not an ounce of fat clung to his well-defined muscles.

“I thought you wanted your magic back,” I said. My voice rasped. Embarrassed, I cleared my throat.

“At first, I did and I do miss the magic. But I do not miss the obsession. The craving for more power that dominates every thought and action. I would rather be without the addiction.”

“Why are you still working for Gressa?”

“To protect you.”

I laughed. Who was going to protect me from him?

Offended by my outburst, he said in his defense, “I did rescue you from the Councilor’s Hall.”

I sobered. “Are you here to rescue me again?”

His shoulders sagged. “I cannot. Ulrick and Tricky have too much power. They will detect us before we leave the building.” He sounded upset.

I bit my lip, hoping the pain would zap a measure of sense into me. Devlen was a master manipulator. He had a plan. It involved using me. I needed to remember that. “Whatever. Let’s get on with the torture, then.”

“No. I am not going to hurt you.”

“What?”

“I will not torture you.”

He was a master liar. This was a trick. He hadn’t put his clothes back on. Perhaps he thought I would be so relieved I would sleep with him.

“What game are you playing now?” I asked.

“No games.”

Yeah, right. “What do you want?”

“Nothing.”

Hard to believe. I thought about the implications if he failed to follow orders. “If Ulrick and Tricky find out, they’ll kill you. Or use you as a sacrifice.”

“Probably.”

“You don’t seem very upset.”

“I do not have any control over what they do, so why should I worry about it?” He pulled his pants back on and found his shirt.

“Maybe they won’t find out.” I snapped my mouth shut, clicking my teeth. Why had I spoken aloud? Because I was an idiot.

“What do you mean?”

I figured out his plan. It was official. I was an idiot. “You know exactly what I mean. You’re being lazy. You know I’ll give in after a few days, so you’re saving yourself time by playing this I-won’t-hurt-you card. I’m supposed to fall for it and be concerned you’ll be killed. Then I’ll offer to pretend to be tortured and give in so you aren’t hurt.” And why was I distressed? I had been planning to break anyway. At least this way I would avoid days of pain.

His eyebrows shot up in amazement. “You still do not trust me.”

“And you’re surprised?”

“I have not lied to you or done anything to hurt you since we left Ixia. I told you Ulrick agreed to switch bodies—you know that is true. I helped you escape Gressa, and I am trying to help you now.”