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front of her, and the first flashes of panic stabbed at her mind. Forcing her eyes open, she peered around her. She recognized the place immediately; she was back in the clearing where she had met Tallon.
    One pair of long boots came back into view and one foot came forward and nudged her again, harder this time. She gritted her teeth together, holding back the words. Her big mouth had gotten her into trouble in the past; she was determined to keep quiet until she knew what was going on.
    “She’s awake,” a man said. Shayla didn’t recognize the voice.
    Not Tallon after all. The foot kicked her this time, in the ribs, and the air left her lungs in a whoosh. “Get up.” Shayla swallowed down the pain and lifted her head. “I would, but it’s a little difficult tied like this.”
    “Try harder,” the man said silkily.
    She heard the threat implicit in the words, and she wriggled around, finally managing to push herself upright and lean her back against the rough bark of the tree behind her. She winced as she opened her eyes fully. Tallon’s blow hadn’t been particularly hard, but she could feel the bruise forming on the side of her chin.
    She shook her head to clear the last of the darkness from her mind then raised her gaze to the man who stood in front of her. He was tall and lean, dressed in black pants and shirt, with a fur-trimmed cloak over the top. At first glance, his face was handsome, but a shudder of revulsion ran through her as she studied him. Something was wrong with this man; some evil lurked behind his dark eyes.He held her gaze for long moments, and then turned to speak to someone who stood beside him. “She doesn’t look like much, does she? Hard to believe her kind could destroy a world. Or evade my Enforcer for nearly a week.”
    “Hmm, she’s somewhat stunted, a scrawny, little thing. But sometimes they’re the hardest type to catch—they can scurry into holes too small for normal people.” Shayla’s eyes narrowed at the comment, and she twisted her head to glare at the other man. She’d known as soon as he spoke that it was Tallon. She kept her expression blank as her hungry gaze ate him up, and her whole being yearned toward him.
    Mine.
    The word whispered through her mind, hovered on the tip of her tongue, but something flashed in Tallon’s eyes, some warning perhaps, and she bit her lip to keep the word inside.
    He took a step back, so he stood slightly behind the other man.
    Staring at her intently, he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. She had no clue what was going on here, but she had to trust Tallon. The alternative—that he had betrayed her—was too hard to bear.
    He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. It seemed to her that she had loved him forever. His long, midnight-dark hair hung to his shoulders. His eyes were the purple of the skies above Arroway, sharp cheekbones, a large nose, and a wide mouth. She had a flashback to the feel of that mouth on her body and heat uncoiled in the pit of her stomach “She doesn’t appear particularly bright.” The stranger nudged her again with the toe of his boot, and she snarled. He laughed and she ground her teeth together.
    “Maybe ask her an easy question,” Tallon said, and she heard the feigned amusement in his voice. At least, it had better be feigned.
    “What’s your name, girl?” She glanced briefly at Tallon while the other man’s concentration was on her, hoping for another sign, but his face remained impassive.
    Glancing around the clearing, she realized there were other men present, and knew he wouldn’t risk giving them away a second time. Whoever these people were, and she had her suspicions, Tallon didn’t want them to know they had already met. Her best bet was to at least give the appearance of cooperation, though she hated the idea. She had to keep her temper in line. If she lost it, who knew what she might give away? She didn’t function well when she was in a temper.
    She tried to