“Relate to him,” the Mistresses of the Jade had instructed. “Form a shared commonality. Be sympathetic, but do not show pity.”

“I…I was never wanted as a child, not beyond what my mother believed I could do for her kingdom,” I said slowly, hoarsely. “You likely already know that, but I was an outcast in my own home and avoided. Some even feared me. No one wanted to touch me.”

The glass I’d given Kolis sat untouched on the table. He watched, not even blinking.

“I suppose we have that in common,” I said. “And maybe from that commonality, love can blossom.”

His head twisted sharply to the side, away from me. “But only if I first release the man you already love?”

“Yes.”

Kolis’s chin dipped an inch, his voice a whisper of nightmares. “Do you think I’m a fool?”

A niggle of fear found its way in, but I squashed it. “If you weren’t, then I’d know you’re not in love with me. Being in love with someone makes you do incredibly idiotic things.”

“Idiotic enough to forget that you tried to kill me already?” he asked.

“I’ve stabbed Nyktos,” I shared. “So…”

Kolis blinked. “You stabbed Nyktos?”

“Yep. Held a dagger to his throat, too.” I took a drink as the false King openly gaped at me. “I’ve also threatened him more times than I can even begin to recall.”

He gave a slow shake of his head. “You are…not what I expected.”

I snorted. “You aren’t the first to say that.”

His frown deepened. “What will happen exactly once I free Nyktos? What will that change?”

Hope sparked, but I would not let that little fucker grow. “I won’t fight you.”

“Explain,” he ordered impatiently.

“I won’t try to escape.” That was a lie. “I won’t run from you.”

He inhaled sharply. “You will…submit to me?”

The feeling of thorns pricking my skin went up and down my body. I tried to get my mouth to form words, but I couldn’t. Well, I’d been wrong again. My canvas wasn’t as blank as I needed it to be. Apparently, even I had my limits. “I will not fight you, Kolis.” I finished off the bubbly water. “Do we have a deal?”

The false Primal of Life studied me intently and a little warily. “We do.”

Relief almost took me to my knees—almost.

“But only if you speak the truth about Sotoria and how you feel. I will find out. All your truths.” He smiled. “And if you’re lying?” He retrieved his glass. “I believe you know what will happen.”

My throat dried. I remembered what he’d said. “There will be no end to the atrocities committed upon me and those I care about.”

Kolis’s smile spread. “In both life and for you in death,” he said. “I will take your soul, and it will be mine.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It was the following afternoon—or was it early evening? I couldn’t be sure. Sunlight had filled the windows when I fell asleep, and it was there once more upon waking.

I hadn’t dreamt of Ash again or the lake. I hadn’t dreamt at all.

Now, I was seated at the small dining table, staring at the platters of food. A bowl of soup and a heaping plate of eggs and crisp vegetables had been brought to me earlier, but an entire feast had been laid out now—beef, chicken, and roasted duck, sitting among bowls of vegetables and fruits dusted with sugar. There were also pitchers of three different types of refreshments. Another line of quiet, veiled Chosen had served the food while Callum supervised. Then, the Chosen left.

Callum did not.

He sat in the sitting area outside the cage, reading a book, and all I could think about was the Chosen he’d so callously and cruelly murdered.

My fingers tightened around my fork as I pictured myself plunging the sharp tines deep into his throat. A small smile tugged at my lips. Harming Callum wouldn’t help me gain Kolis’s trust, but I had told him I would kill him.

And I would honor that promise somehow.

As I forced my hold on the fork to loosen, I thought of what Aios had said about how Kolis’s favorites were treated. Few were allowed to interact with them. For Callum to be in here several times now—alone—it had to signify something about him. No other Revenant spent any time in here.

My gaze flicked from the Revenant to the doors. When they were open, I’d seen two guards framing the entrance. I recognized the dark-haired one.

I had no idea where Kolis had disappeared to after reiterating his promise to make my life—and apparently, my afterlife—a living nightmare.

He’d promised to take my soul, just as he’d done with Eythos.

As I shuddered, I couldn’t help but wonder where, exactly, he kept his brother’s soul. Probably somewhere disturbing.

Either way, I wasn’t foolish enough to hope he’d freed Ash while he was away. The deal only went into play once he was sure I hadn’t lied. How he planned to go about determining that was anyone’s guess.

I picked at my food, my normally voracious appetite nearly nonexistent. My stomach was still churning; and dealing with Kolis had been like messing around with a caged pit viper. It was exhausting.

As was becoming the blank canvas and staying that way. Both had played a role in how easily and deeply I’d fallen asleep again. I’d slept on the divan once more, unable to bring myself to sleep on the bed.

“You should eat,” Callum advised, breaking the silence. “It will please His Majesty.”

I rolled my eyes, wishing the meat hadn’t been precut and a knife was available. I would’ve thrown it at the Revenant.

Which was likely why there were no knives.

“This is far too much food for one person to eat,” I pointed out as I plucked a bread crumb from the lap of the ivory gown I’d found in the chest. It was constructed the same as the one I’d worn yesterday, except it included a golden rope as a belt.

“Is it?”

Eating a piece of broccoli, I looked over at him. “I think the answer to that is obvious.”

Callum only shrugged in response.

I watched him as I chewed the buttery vegetable. “Do Revenants not eat?” I frowned, remembering I’d seen no pointy teeth on the bastard. But from personal experience, I knew fangs weren’t needed to drink. “Or do you need blood?”

Callum flipped the page of his book. “That’s a rude question.”

“Is it?” I parroted his comeback from earlier.

A faint smile appeared. “Revenants do not need food or blood.”

I ate a piece of chicken seasoned with some sort of spice. “So, if you don’t need food or blood, what do Revenants need?”

“Revenants are in need of nothing.”

“Nothing? That doesn’t…” I trailed off, understanding dawning. “It’s because you’re already dead.”

“Well, that was also a rude assessment,” he responded. “Do I look deceased to you?”

He looked rather healthy. “No.”

“Then there’s your answer.” He returned to reading.

“That’s not an answer.”

He sighed heavily as he turned another page. “Are you unable to see me?”

I frowned. “That’s another question that should have an obvious answer.”

“I ask because you must be experiencing vision issues,” he replied. “Since you clearly cannot tell I’m trying to read.”

Smartass.

My fully functioning eyes narrowed. “What are you reading?”

Callum’s lips pursed as he looked up from his book, his head listing to the side.

“If you answer my questions, I’ll shut up.” I picked up a chalice full of fruity water, wondering exactly how mad he or Kolis would be if I threw it at the Revenant’s head.

“That seems highly unlikely.”

It was. “To become a Revenant, you must die—like the soul leaves the body and all that. Correct?” I pressed. “That’s why Kolis didn’t attempt to save me by turning me into a Revenant.”

“That would be correct.”

Wait. The way he’d been answering these questions… He’d only referred to himself once, asking if he looked dead, but when he answered the other questions, he never referred to the Revenants as we. “Were you once Chosen?”