“I know that Thisbe betrayed our people,” he said, tight-lipped.

Thisbe’s brain was frozen. She shrugged, hardly able to feel the movement. She still couldn’t meet his gaze. “I’m doing what’s best for me,” she said. “You’ll benefit in the long run, when you don’t have to fear being kept a slave anymore. I’m sorry if you can’t see that, but it’s obvious to me.”

“Oh, Thisbe,” Rohan said.

His voice dripped with disappointment so thick that Thisbe could hardly stand it. She lifted her cup and took a long sip, hardly able to taste anything but needing the distraction. What was she supposed to do now? What was the Revinir going to do to him?

The Revinir kept a close eye on both of them, realizing that this was a pivotal moment in her ability to trust Thisbe as a partner. So far she was passing every test, and the Revinir was admiring her quite a lot. But there was one more test she needed to pass.

“More sugar, Rohan?” the Revinir asked. “Too hot? Perhaps some cream?”

Rohan’s eyes were crazy with emotion, and he could hardly think straight. “No,” he said dully, then sipped his tea, trying to buy time and figure out what was going to happen next. Imprisonment?

The tea was soothing, and he drank the rest, worried that in the dungeon he might not get a meal for a while. A strange warm feeling came over him. When he set his cup down it bobbled in the saucer, and the table wavered in front of him. He sank back in the chair.

Thisbe looked up at the sound and saw the Revinir staring intently at Rohan with a small smile on her snout. Thisbe glanced at Rohan and gasped. Scales sprouted on his arms. And his eyes glazed over. Confused, Thisbe stood up and looked at the sideboard where the kettle of hot water still steamed. Beside it sat two empty vials.

Changing Plans

Thisbe turned to the Revinir, failing to mask how desolate she was feeling. “What have you done to him?”

The Revinir tilted her head. “Are you upset? I thought this would be a much easier way to find out the truth about… things.”

Thisbe narrowed her eyes. “Things? What things?”

“And it’s nice having him as a backup in case the agreement with you doesn’t work out.”

“In his right mind, he’d never agree to what I will do for you,” Thisbe retorted. “And both the dragon and black-eyed ruler have to be of sound mind in order to make an agreement.”

“Oh really?” The Revinir tapped her chin with a talon. “I thought you didn’t know how this worked.”

“You’re the one who told me that,” said Thisbe icily. But she was rattled. And lying. She needed to pull it together if she was going to keep the ruse going.