We joined the others and I mounted Tea, settling in behind Belen. Even with all the weight he’d lost, he still blocked my view. Kerrick insisted we take the northeast route around Grzebien while he and Flea headed northwest and closer to Vyg’s border. Worry about Kerrick hibernating without me near him flared. Flea should be able to share energy with Kerrick and keep him awake. Should, which didn’t mean he could—hence the worry.

With a wave goodbye we set off. I wrapped my arms around Belen, glad for this time with him. Glad he forgave me for letting him think I’d died back in the spring. From enduring the burning heartache when I’d believed he’d been turned into one of Tohon’s dead, I realized how cruel it had been for me to pretend to be dead. And then with Kerrick... I shuddered. No, I wouldn’t dwell on that horrible time. Instead, I would enjoy these five days with Belen and the monkeys. And I vowed to treat each moment as a gift.

* * *

“So nice to see you again, my dear.” Tohon said, sitting across from me.

I glanced around his forever garden. Nothing was different. Greenery glowed with life and steam curled from the teacups.

Tohon gestured to the chair opposite of his. “Sit down and rest. You’ve been so busy. Tell me what you’ve been up to, my dear.”

Perching on the edge, I reached for my cup. Warmth soaked into my fingers. “Why bother? If we’re...linked as you claim, then you already know.”

He laughed. “True. Lots going on—Sepp dead, Wynn frozen, and the Skeleton King captured. Just marvelous. You saved me a lot of time and effort. Revenge can be tiring work.” He sipped his tea.

“Since I saved you time, can you tell me what happened to Zila?”

“Ah, the lovely Zila. Such a dear child, giving her life for mine.” He gazed out the window.

Ah, hell. Pain ringed my chest, squeezing tight.

“I just couldn’t watch her die,” he said.

Poor Zila, left alone in her final moments.

“Oh, my, you do have a low opinion of me, my dear. I shared my life magic with the girl. She’s alive and well and living like a princess. In fact, I’m going to adopt her so she will be a princess.”

I stared at him. Did he just say...?

“Why so shocked? You could be living like a queen right now if you hadn’t been...corrupted by nasty Kerrick and his goons.”

Recovering, I jumped on the opening he’d given me. “So you’re saying I’d be here at the castle with you instead of on the road?”

“You’re really not cut out for deception. It’s sweet that you want to know my location, my dear.”