Luvic stared at me for a moment and then swore. “No. I didn’t. I didn’t think past you breaking the illusion on her.”
“Cora.” I held my palm next to Luvic’s. “Can she understand us?” I asked him, and when he nodded, I continued. “If Last used illusion, climb into my hand.”
The cricket didn’t move.
I nodded. “If Last used an object of power, climb into my hand.”
She still didn’t move. Her legs trembled, and she crouched low in Luvic’s palm.
“If Last forced you to drink something, climb into my hand.”
Cora sprang across the distance and landed on my palm. Her feet tickled, and I smiled as Luvic sucked in a surprised breath.
“Okay,” I said. “That narrows it down.”
“A poison?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to ask Rou. She knows more about?—”
“Primus did not ask for me, Bard!”
Luvic grabbed Cora and dropped her into his pocket, turning swiftly, right before Last descended on us.
“How dare you lie to me? How dare you play with me? All your life, people have fallen over themselves to please you. They laugh at your jokes and your games. Oh dear, Luvic is so clever. So fun. This.” She jabbed her finger into his chest. “Was.” Another jab. “Not.” Again. “Funny.”
I frowned at Last’s appearance. She was even more pale than usual. There was grime on her newly conjured dress, and the undersides of her nails were lined with dirt.
What happened?
Luvic gave her a twinkling grin. “It was a little funny.”
“No.”
He made a noise and held his fingers an inch apart. “A little.”
“You are going to learn—” She twisted her hand, opening a vault of lava beneath him. He dove to the right.
I yanked the knots free, collapsing the pit. “Last!”
Luvic jumped to the left as Last threw a dozen stone spikes at him. They smashed against the wall. She conjured a giant rock fist and slammed it at him. I pulled every knot loose. The fist disappeared an inch away from him.
He didn’t conjure back. He only stared at her, with a wrinkle between his brow. “Did he hurt you?” he asked, jumping as Last opened the ground again.
“What do you care?”
He conjured a wave to swipe aside the morningstar flying at his head.
“You’re my wife,” he said, gritting his teeth. “I have to care.”
Last blinked and dropped the magma rocks she’d conjured. They smacked the floor, and I hastily untied them.
“You care?”
Luvic’s jaw clenched. “Did he hurt you?”
“You do care.” She didn’t sound happy. Instead, she sounded appalled. Then the look on her face twisted from surprise to malicious amusement. I could see the thoughts ticking through her mind. If Luvic cared, she could use him. If he cared, she could manipulate him. If he cared, then he might eventually love. Disgust tripped over her expression. “You care.”
Luvic’s expression hardened. “Against my will.”
