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Neither are you, I thought

Oz cut the conversation then, as he held all the power He murmured to his minions, and then one hauled y ever boiled with hate quite like this, though As the goon dragged led the tips of ers, but I couldn’t move my hands, and even if I could have, they were bound at the wrists

Did you hide from Oz? I asked her silently

Surprise offers our only advantage Heyour voice, Ninlil urged I don’t need to move Only speak

The paralysis was easing on ue, which ick words, just the will behind them I was unsure how that translated in the demon realm, however Maybe Ninlil needed her voice to shape the spells

I do, she told me

Thecell Chance and Greydusk fell on either side of ladiators And I couldn’t turn my head to see if they were injured I lay there, helpless, as the Sare loomed over me He showed a mouthful of sharp teeth

“Boss said to put this on you” The demon bent and snapped a cuff around my wrist Afterward, the Saremon left and closed the door It was made of heavy ith bars across the sether to permit escape that way

A da cowed for the first time since she’d awakened in my head

What is it? It couldn’t be good; I knew that much

It restrictsit, I cannot cast

Shit I wished I could screale Beside me, Chance made a sound in response, but it wasn’t a word, just areturned to ht, then I concentrated on workingresin they’d used to seal thelue, only more acrid

“Chance?”

“Yeah?” His speech still sounded muffled, as if he hadn’t quite unstuck his lips completely

“Did he put a manacle on your wrist?”

“No”

“Greydusk?”

“Yes, I have one” The demon sounded remarkably composed “I can’t touch any of my extra skills”

So that was the catch If I chose Greydusk, he would be au naturel Since I didn’t knoho or what he’d be fighting, it ood as executedit easier to break ht process all too well

“Let ht,” Chance said

“You don’t even knohat you’ll be up against”

“It doesn’t matter”

“You’re that confident in your skills?” I asked

“I’ll fight for you as well,” Greydust put in, before Chance could answer me

Great So they were both willing to die on my orders And that made up my mind I sat bound, in silence, until thewhile later Outside the door, I heard Oz’s voice, ue, but I couldn’t understand the words

I could translate, the demon queen offered

Go for it

It was like she slipped the soundtrack into ht away, midstream “…and under no circumstances permit any of them to leave the compound alive”

“Yes, sir”

“After her companions die, take her to the labs and bind her beside her father”

It took all my self-control not to react I cut a look at Greydusk, and he inclined his head, indicating he understood Both he and Chance were doomed unless we came up with an alternate plan

Then the door swung inward, revealing Oz and his chief lackey The ht, as if I were a cleverposition with my arms bound behindI ever did

Oz rubbed his hands together in anticipation of the great show to come “Tell me, then, have you decided?”

“I have”

“Who will stand as your champion?”

Chance leaned intoht

I sht for my own honor”

“Corine!”

Ignoring Chance, I waited to see how the ular Do you not wish to enjoy the entertainrimmer business?”

By which I had no doubt heme drink more weird potions “I’ll pass”