Page 20 of This Vicious Dream

“You’d be surprised what I can help you with,” he says. I roll my eyes, and he laughs at me, folding his arms. “I know this city. I know the people in it, and I’m relatively confident I know what you’re planning.”

I tense and he waves an elegant hand. “I want you to succeed. So I can go home.”

“Home?”

One side of his mouth curves. “I’m from…elsewhere. When Regner’s little barrier went up, it trapped me on this continent.”

Of course. Of course there were people here who became stuck, unable to get home. Curiosity slides through me despite myself. If I’d known this man, I might’ve asked him to tell me of his homeland. And any other places he’d seen.

“Why were you in Regner’s dungeon?”

Calysian just shakes his head. “Irrelevant. Just tell me what you want.”

What if he could help me? I’d be an idiot to turn him away.

“What kinds of people did you say you know?”

“All kinds of people.”

“Get me a meeting with Caddaril the Cleaver.”

Surprise flashes across his face. “You continue to surprise me.”

I shrugged. “Can you do it?”

“Yes. You’re sure this is what you want to use your life debt for?”

“I’m sure.”

“In that case, I’ll find you when I’ve arranged the meeting.”

He gets to his feet, towering over me. “Be careful.”

I keep my expression cool, blank. He angles his head, curiosity glinting in his eyes.

“Prickly. I like that.”

“Come closer,” I say. “And you’ll see just how prickly.”

He lets out a laugh. “I’ll see you soon, Madinia Farrow.”

I wave my hand, a clear demand for him to leave.

“What did you see?” Calysian is tense, his fingers digging into my upper arms. When I glance pointedly down at them, he loosens them. But he doesn’t release me.

“A meeting. You were going to get me a meeting with someone called Caddaril the Cleaver.” I pause, attempting to understand everything I’ve just remembered. “Who is Regner?”

Calysian angles his head. “I’ll answer your question if you answer one of mine.”

“Fine.”

He releases me, stalking away to stare at the bubbling water. “Have you seen it?”

“Have I seen what?”

“Have you seen what it is that your instincts are pulling you towards?”

Sudden realization hits me like a splash of water to the face.

---