I remembered the community center, when the Nix had escaped from her partner’s body before Trsiel could deliver the life-ending blow. I’d seen her spirit oozing out from Lily. Only one problem with this scenario. The life-ending-blow part. For a split-second, I mentally panicked, certain I was right back where I’d started, and there was no way to catch the Nix except by killing Jaime, and if the Fates wouldn’t allow that, then how the hell—

“But the host didn’t die,” I said. “She was resuscitated, wasn’t she?”

Dachev’s jaw locked. Another opportunity to mock me lost. After a moment, he answered with a nod.

“Out loud,” I said.

“Yes,” he said through his teeth. “She was brought back to life. People were nearby. Someone found her—”

“And resuscitated her.” I walked to his side. “Where did you find out how to do this? Is there a book?”

A short laugh. “Book? Books are for those who lack the mental capacity to think for themselves. I figured it out by myself.”

His eyes darkened.

“Uh, wanna try that one again?” I asked.

He let out another stream of profanity. I paused, thinking, then laughed loud enough that the sudden noise made him jump.

“It was an accident, wasn’t it?” I said. “You were tracking the Nix. You found her, and as you were trying to figure out what to do next, her partner almost died. You saw the Nix’s spirit and you cut her a deal. Help you escape from the Fates or you’d sic an angel on her. It wasn’t planned. It was pure, dumb luck.”

Dachev snarled, then spat on the floor.

“No need to answer that one,” I said.

I untied his bindings.

“There, freed as promise—”

He lunged to his feet and hit me, knocking me back. I recovered, but before I could retaliate, he’d backed off. He crossed the room, hands clenched, then turned to face me.

“You have what you came for,” he said. “Now drink your hellsbane potion and go.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I will.”

A tiny smile tweaked his lips. “No, pretty one, I don’t think so.”

He lifted his hand, fist clenched, turning up palm up, like a magician about to reveal the hidden quarter. When he opened his hand, I knew what would be in it. I started to run even before I saw the vial of hellsbane potion. I was three-quarters of the way across the room when he turned the uncapped bottle upside down. The potion spilled onto the floorboards.

My body hit his, slamming him into the wall. I snatched the bottle from him, but it was empty.