Tamsin pondered the word trust. A word that experience had taught her not to put much stock into. Coercion worked just fine and if she had to tell a little white lie to gain a certain Dark Mesmer’s cooperation—as well as his blood oath, well then, it will be done. She had her reasons to get Kenzi back as well; she missed her. The spiral into misery that she witnessed from Bo left its mark on Tamsin, too, and she felt her own mind might be in danger if she were to lose not just one friend but also two.

”There are knickers on the floor, are you aware of that?” Vex pointed toward the trail of underthings in the main hall. ”And what’s this?” he bent over to retrieve a kewpie doll with one eye open, the other permanently shut before tossing it back over his shoulder. He entered the grand apartment stepping gingerly through Bo’s obstacle course of junk.

Tamsin could see sheen of perspiration on his forehead. ”Calm down!”

”It’s disgusting in here,” he made his way into the one clean room, the kitchen. ”She’s the Queen. Get a housekeeper!”

”And you keep your voice down,” Tamsin poked him hard to the chest with her fist. She leaned in close for a second and sniffed. ”You stink.”

”You said come straight away, so I did. I was hoping to take a bath here but this place is vile,” Vex’s eyes were ablaze with disgust. Then he puffed out his chest like a peacock and strutted a few steps. ”And I know vile.”

”Spare me the details of your sex life, Vex. Just tell me you found Kenzi.”

Vex hopped onto the granite counter. ”I did,” he said plainly, admiring his cuticles.

”Vex,” Tamsin rested on the opposite counter and crossed her arms. ”You either spill what you know or I spill it to the Elders that a certain lecherous Mesmer is back in town. Your choice. I have my way with you, or they do. Which is it?” she fumed.

”I thought you said you’d guarantee my freedom!”

”After you find Kenzi,” she lied to him, knowing full well that Trick had already negotiated a pardon for him, and that he was free to go.

Before Vex could argue back, the sound of heavy boots stomping down the hall claimed their attention, as did a high-pitched string of giggles that got louder as Bo came into view. Vex watched her intensely as she was clearly talking to someone visible only to her eyes, for Bo paid neither him nor Tamsin any mind.