I rake my hand through my hair and scrub my face, the iron chain stings cold against my skin. I feel like I’ve woken into a bloody fairy tale.

Laasya still watches me with that gentle frown.

“So, I’ve been a bit on the crazy side these last few days, huh?” I say.

She laughs. This time it’s a breathy sound. “I think that might be the understatement of the year.”

We both glance down at the heavy wrist manacles. “I don’t remember any of it, you know.”

“I know.”

“I didn’t hurt you, did I? Flanagan said I put a few of his guards in hospital.”

“You’re unlikely to hurt me. You did knock out four guards, though. It was in the first two lockdowns. You threw one across the cage after snapping his crossbow in half, fried two of the others with waves of Flame. And the third fell and hit his head as he tried to run away.”

The two front guards turn to throw me a quick glare as she says that. I get the impression I’m not Mr. Popular with the Keep Guardians.

“It’s why the commander and I looked after you,” Laasya continues. “And obviously why you gained the collar. I think something unusual must have been happening. People aren’t usually violent when gripped by a Haze. Quite the opposite.”

“A Haze is that sexual trance thing?”

“Yes, it happens when a Channeler is overwhelmed by too much Flame.”

My brow knots as I try to imagine what that might have looked like. Overwhelmed by a need to spank one out while Flanagan and Laasya looked on. Did I beg for help or jack off while they watched? I’m not sure I want to know. “It was definitely me who hurt those guards? It sounds like some crazy doppelgänger.”

Laasya laughs. “Yeah. You’re really strong. But nobody’s stronger than the commander. And I can take care of myself.”

Yes, she certainly can. I’ve seen it. And there’s more to the Scandinavian Hulk than meets the eye.

We leave the corridor, climb a ridiculous number of stairs—not easy with heavy irons cuffing my ankles—and enter another long corridor. This one has a thick red carpet and vases as well as more of the paintings.

Only a few doors down, Laasya calls a halt and dismisses the guards. They obey her command without question and march away.