It was late at night and, as he often did, Dion stood outside his bedchamber, on the tallest balcony of his palace, looking out at the distant horizon. A stiff breeze blew a chill wind against his face and snaking clouds passed across the moon, interspersing the ocean with moonlight and shadow. Down below, he could see one of the guards standing outside the palace walls; he waved, but the man didn’t wave back.

Leaning forward on the rail, his thoughts turned once again to Chloe and then to the woman he would soon marry. Chloe was alive, and he felt like a black hole in his heart had been replaced with sunlight. But he was having a child with Isobel. In time, he would come to love her. And the idea of having a son or daughter brought him more pleasure than he’d ever thought it would.

Lost in thought, he heard a throat clear behind him.

Dion whirled. A brawny man with a strangely stooped posture stood on the balcony, just a few feet away, regarding him with a cold stare.

Seeing the hunched shoulders and thick black hair, the dark eyes and grim expression, Dion was shocked to recognize Kyphos from his visit to Malakai. Like Dion, he was unarmed, but though shorter, the hunchback was by far the bigger man.

Dion’s eyes narrowed. ‘How did you get in here?’ He swiftly turned and leaned forward over the balcony rail. ‘Guard!’ he called out.

‘He can’t hear you,’ Kyphos said.

The clouds crossed over the moon and in the sudden light Dion saw that the guard was leaning awkwardly against the wall, his dead body propped up by his spear. The sight sent a chill down Dion’s spine. He spun again to face the man who’d accosted him in his private quarters.

‘Don’t worry,’ Kyphos growled. ‘If I wanted you dead, you would be.’

‘What do you want?’

Kyphos reached into a pocket and took out something long and golden, a piece of jewelry. He spread it on his meaty palm for Dion to see, displaying the length of delicate chain and the beautifully crafted dolphin, rotating it.

‘We have your young bride. She tells me she is with child. Your child.’

Dion’s heart beat out of time. ‘If you harm her . . .’

‘Listen carefully, Dion of Xanthos. You belong to King Palemon now. You and I . . . We are going to travel together. You are going to change your shape . . . and you are going to carry me to Malakai.’

Dion clenched his fists. A stone was plummeting through his chest, sinking heavily into his stomach. Rage and fear swamped him in equal parts. But he knew he couldn’t fight the hunchback. He had to think about Isobel. Lifting his chin, he took a step forward, looming over Kyphos and staring him down. He pointedly touched the silver necklace at his throat. ‘I cannot control my changing.’