I thought of Ceri advising me against this, of Jenks ready to risk his life on a run we couldn’t win, and of Ivy knowing I was the only one who could get myself out and dying inside as she forced herself to let me do it. I thought about all the times I had brought in black witches, pitying them for their foolishness, telling myself demons were dangerous, manipulating bastards who you couldn’t beat. But I wasn’t trying to beat them, I was trying to join them…apparently. I took a steadying breath. “This is what I want.”

Al made a rude noise. As if for a nonexistent audience, he threw a lace-cuffed hand in the air. A hint of burnt amber tickled my nose, and I wondered if it was real or simply my memory inventing the scent.

“I want you to leave the people I love alone, especially my mother. I want Trent, unharmed and free from persecution for stealing the elven sample,” I said, voice low. “You are all collectively to leave him alone.”

His head moved back and forth, and he eyed me over his smoked glasses. “I’ll say it again. You are not shy about asking for things. I can’t bind anyone’s actions but my own.”

I nodded, expecting this. “I want that same amnesty for stealing your sample.”

“And I want to rip your bloody fucking head off, but it looks like we’re both going to be disappointed, now aren’t we?” he mockingly crooned.

My breath shook as I exhaled. I glanced at the east, and my pulse quickened. He had tortured my mom, not in anger but to get to me. Never again. “What is it worth to you if I can not only get you out of jail, but have the person who put you there apologize?”

Al sneered. “If you don’t have anything constructive to say, you should let me go back to the ever-after and my cell. I had everything under control until you demonstrated to Minias that you could spindle line energy.”

“That’s what’s going to save your ass,” I shot back, belligerent. “I have an idea to benefit both of us. You wanna hear it?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, the lace fluttering. “And what is that? Buy a trip in to rescue Trent with your soul?” It was mocking, and my face burned. “It’s not worth it,” he added. “In a few hours, I’m going to be banished to the surface, my belongings raffled off as novelty items and my living space given to someone else—my reputation destroyed. I’d rather have your head than your soul at this point in my illustrious career.”