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“It’s not funny,” she hissed. “You do not know what kind of damage the people Moira associates herself with can do.”

The vampire shrugged. “Perhaps not, but you are a powerful witch in your own right, no? I don’t understand why you’re so nervous.”

Was Evie coming? Cernunnos, maybe?

“She has gods on her side,” my mother snapped. “I am no goddess.”

“Not yet,” Liaza said.

The look she gave him could have curdled milk. “Liaza.” Her tone held a warning.

He shook his head. “Your little vampire is weak as a mewling kitten. She couldn’t escape even if she wanted to. And if she did make it outside, where would she go without freezing to death the first night?”

“Your arrogance will condemn you,” Minka said softly. “I’ve stayed alive because I’m careful, Liaza. My power is there as a backup. Nothing ever surpasses cleverness and wit, not even the most powerful magic.”

Liaza’s eyes narrowed. “Leave if you want. I will not go with you.”

Mom’s hands went still. “Oh? And why not?”

The vampire sat up straight and watched my mother, his eyes glowing a deep crimson. “Because I’ve become more of a pack mule than your partner. If you wish to control Moira, you’ll do it on your own.”

“Then our deal is off.”

Liaza snorted. “You think I want a wasted sack of bones?” he said, waving a dismissive hand at my cell.

Horror bloomed in my veins. She couldn’t have…

No. She would. I swallowed and tried to make myself small.

“When we break her, she will be as pliable as a doll.”

Liaza sighed. “You don’t know me at all if you think I prefer a vacant bed partner.”

I closed my eyes.

“There needs to be some fight left to make this worth it.”

She clinked the edge of the spoon against the pot. I opened my eyes and tugged my blanket closer. Minka was staring right at me. “If she knows what’s good for her, she’ll give in and soon.”

Liaza turned to look at me, distaste written all over his face. “She smells like a garbage truck, even with us emptying her pot.

I kept my face carefully blank. There’d been no change in the dirt pile, but I was still hoping for a miracle. I watered as best I could, but there was never enough liquid for me, and the few drops I’d managed to funnel into the hole were probably not enough.

I hadn’t seen the fox again, but I hadn’t had the strength to move the bed back over to the wall.

“Two days,” Minka said. “If she hasn’t broken in two days, we’ll end this.”

I swallowed hard.

Liaza tilted his head. “You’ll end her life?” He clicked his tongue. “Seems like such a waste.”

Mom chuckled. “I have no plans to kill my precious daughter.” Her eyes crinkled at the edges as she caught my gaze. “I’ll drain every drop of her magic and leave her worse than a human.”

“A vegetable, then.”

Dare I detect a note of disapproval in his voice? “And what about my end of the deal?”

“You’ve already said you won’t travel with me. As far as I’m concerned, the deal is off.”