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As I healed him, my mind flashed back to the last time I had used magic against an army. In my memory, I could see each of their faces, and my memory gave me the time to look at the horror I’d wrought and their expressions as they panicked against a force beyond their ken.

Tallu reached up, covering my hand with his own. “You are mine.”

I jerked back, my eyes going wide. He grabbed my wrist, his fingers tight against the delicate bones there.

“I am not sure what memory has you in its grips, but you are mine. Do you understand?” Tallu’s voice was the unrelenting pull of the moon on the ocean. “Everything about you is precious and my only regret is that I have dragged you into this mess because I was not capable enough to end it before it started. If it were within my abilities, your life would be nothing but luxury.”

“How long would that last for either of us?” I pointed out. “A few weeks of being waited on hand and foot and one of us would be desperate to find an empire worth breaking.”

“Maybe,” Tallu agreed. “Are you done?”

I refocused on the work, and when Tallu was breathing normally again, his chest rising and falling under my hands, I sat back. Tallu took the opportunity to follow me, sitting up and putting both hands on either side of my face, kissing me hard.

“If you grew bored of luxury, I would build you an empire to destroy at your leisure,” he said.

“At my leisure? Why stop at one? Build me a thousand.” I kissed his lips, speaking against the soft flesh. “I would destroy any number of empires for you.”

Tallu was still laughing when someone knocked on the door, their hand heavy. “Emperor Tallu?”

“Come in, General Saxu,” Tallu said.

The general opened the door, and I saw one of Tallu’s servants behind him, hesitating. “Pehine’s men have returned earlier than expected. They might have seen something that made them rush back. They are just outside the compound.”

“Are there so many of them that we are unable to defeat them?” Tallu asked, something cold entering his voice.

“We can defeat them. But unfortunately, it may take more time than expected. They have brought elephants with them,” General Saxu said.

“Elephants,” Tallu said thoughtfully, his eyes turning toward me.

I raised both eyebrows. “That was one time.”

Speaking with Eldest in her cage had been one thing, and speaking with an elephant in the middle of a battle would be entirely different. Tallu almost looked disappointed but turned back to General Saxu. “Can the elephants break the walls of the estate?”

“They might be able to, but our plan now hinges on Your Imperial Majesty’s desires. Do you wish to win the battle, even if it costs you the elephants?” Saxu asked.

Tallu straightened, putting his feet flat on the floor and pushing himself up to standing. General Saxu still stood just barely inside the door, and two of the Dogs had entered when he did. I recognized one as Asahi and wished for a simpler time when Sagam would have been the other.

Pulling on his robe, Tallu straightened his crown. “You are right, the elephants are an opportunity. If we capture them, we can safely travel into the desert. Open negotiations with Lord Pehine’s people and take Airón with you in disguise.”

General Saxu bowed, indicating he would do as Tallu asked. “We are now very far from Tavornai; I am not sure any forest magic would be successful.”

“Take him anyway,” Tallu said. Raising his chin, he let his eyes cut to Asahi. “His safety is your only priority.”

Asahi bowed low, saying nothing, but I could see the agreement in the movement. When Asahi didn’t agree with something, he definitely made it known.

“We will follow your orders,” General Saxu said.

He turned, motioning with his hand for me to follow, but before I could, Tallu caught hold of my hand, bringing it to his lips. His eyes glittered.

Slowly, I reached up to stroke his clenched jaw, rubbing slightly until he was forced to relax it. Tallu looked down at my fingers, kissing each one in turn.

“Return to me, safe and whole,” he said.

“I will,” I promised.

Tallu pulled back, and I turned, following General Saxu. We could have sent Iradîo. That may have even been the smarter move, but I knew my cousin and I had no desire to see what a raging elephant looked like if it turned out they didn’t like her speech any better than most mammals.

In the courtyard, Saxu ordered his men into movement. The goblin slaves were taken back inside in case Pehine’s men attacked. Commander Rede found me a military uniform and wrapped my face partially in gauze to make it look as though I was injured.