If he wasn’t lying, it meant my father stopped that entire undead mob with a single effort of his will. The scope of that power was staggering. Curran and I wouldn’t get out alive.

“Tell me why I should trust you.”

“A fair question.” Landon tilted his head. “If your father simply wanted to capture or kill you, he could’ve done it a number of times. That is one of the reasons d’Ambray is out of favor. Teleportation is too unpredictable for anything but escape from certain death. He took an unnecessary risk with his life and with yours. The relevant question is why d’Ambray did it. Why imprison you inside Mishmar when he could’ve simply teleported you to Jester Park or dragged you there in handcuffs? The instruction given to d’Ambray was exactly the same as the one given to me.”

“And that is?”

“Persuade you to come to Jester Park of your own free will.”

“Why?”

“Your father has his reasons. He chose not to share them with me. But you should know that when he gives his word, he doesn’t lie.”

I laughed under my breath. Walk into my parlor, said the spider to the fly.

“Yes or no?” Landon asked quietly.

If I went, Curran would try to come with me and we both would probably die. If I told Curran no, we would be over and I would probably die. If I told Landon no, everybody would die. No good choices.

It was my turn to make sure the person I loved made it out of Mishmar alive. I could just sneak out in the middle of the night. Or lock Curran in a blood ward as soon as the magic wave came. Even if he broke through the ward, it would take the wind out of his sails and he couldn’t follow me.

Except I loved him. After our last fight, he promised me he would always be honest with me. I had promised him the same thing, and now I had to play by the rules.

“I’ll tell you in the morning.”

“I need an answer,” Landon said.

I stared at him. He didn’t look fazed.

It took me a full ten seconds to realize he couldn’t see my psycho stare through the vampire’s eyes. Nice going there, champ. “You’ll get your answer in the morning. If you did your homework, you know that I think logic and restraint are overrated. If you push me, I’ll get my people and see how many of this famed Golden Legion I can kill.”

“You’ll lose,” Landon said.