“You see, Laurel, by forcing you and Thorne together, I’ve unlocked new facets of power in you both. Your power will slowly drive you insane without your mate by your side, while Thorne’s blood… Well, let’s just say it will be extremely useful to me.” My eyes meet Thorne’s and all traces of the Shining Prince are gone now, the fear and horror displayed transparently on his face. He tries to scream something to me, but Mazus wraps more shadowy ropes around his mouth. I run toward him, determined to claw him out of those ropes if I must, but the strongest barrier of air I’ve ever experienced throws me back at least ten feet. Fionn’s at my side instantly, offering his hand to help me up. He tries launching any piece of metal he can find in the room at Mazus and the barrier between us and Thorne, but they disintegrate while airborne.

“Like that little trick? Does it seem familiar? Krantz told me all about it in the letters he smuggled out with the thayar shipments,” Mazus sneers. Suddenly, Krantz sits on the throne where Mazus previously was. My eyes search the room for the Velmaran King, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Krantz laughs, an eerie and maniacal sound. “Do I look familiar? I told Hawthorne Thayaria wasn’t as inaccessible as he thought. I’ve been in and out of your kingdom countless times,” Krantz says.

“I don’t—I don’t understand,” I murmur. The eerie laugh from Krantz returns, before he somehow shifts his body back into Mazus, so quickly I almost miss it. I swear his eyes become yellow slits for a brief moment, but I’m too confused to process the information.

“I can shape shift, Laurel. It’s not that difficult to figure out. But then again, you’ve never been very bright, have you?” Mazus sneers.

“But, Krantz… I killed him,” I murmur.

“Oh, Krantz was a real person. It was him who you imprisoned, who attacked you multiple times. The only time I impersonated him was the brief little conversation I had with Hawthorne at the estate. I needed to be sure you got Nemesia’s letter, and I wanted to check in on your mating bond myself. Krantz and I had a deal that if he killed you, I’d make him ruler of Thayaria. Of course, I had no intention of getting rid of you, at least not until you accepted the bond, but it gave you and Hawthorne a common enemy. I should thank you for killing the rat. He was becoming a problem for me. Getting too wrapped up in his own ego.”