Trusting me,” Teren murmurs, “is a dangerous game, mi Adelinetta.”“I’m doing more than that,” I reply. “For the rest of this journey, you will be my personal guard.”At that, Teren’s eyes flare with surprise and anger. “I’m not your lackey, Your Majesty.”“And I’m not Giulietta,” I fire back.

Let go of me,” I choke out, clawing blindly at Teren. The sharp tang of blood suddenly fills my nostrils, and I realize that it is from his wrists, spreading a film of scarlet around us. Somewhere ahead, the silhouette of our ship looms. We are getting closer.“I wish I could,” Teren spits, dripping venom. “There’s nothing I’d like to see more than you in the Underworld, Adelina.”His words spark my fury. He never intended to finish this journey with you. Teren grips my arm again so hard that I scream in pain. He is pulling us both toward the ship, his face set in grim determination.Then I hear him shout, “But I won’t.”But I won’t. My fury wavers, turning into bewilderment.

I stare at him, trying to comprehend what he’s done. He saved Magiano from falling overboard. He saved me. He is taking this mission seriously, however much he loathes us.“Maybe next time,” he says to me with that smile, “you won’t be so lucky.