Tam was going to run toward it; I could see it in his eyes. And if he got the chance, Rudra Muralin was going to do the exact same thing.

And I was hanging there like a side of beef, smack dab in the middle of the room, with Piaras sprawled in a corner, out cold.

Like I’d said, things were going to get ugly.

“I offered you a place of honor among my new disciples.” Muralin’s voice was ominously quiet. “You scorned my gift.”

I blinked. So the petulant punk was going to slaughter Talon out of spite?

Tam looked past Rudra Muralin to me.

“Did he harm you?”

“Just my dignity for now, but I don’t like his plans for later.”

“Plans can change.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” I tilted my head to the right. “Piaras is on the floor over there. Please get him out of here.”

Tam’s eyes went back to Muralin. “Done.”

Muralin actually made tsking sounds. “You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep, Tamnais. Your spawn means nothing to me; I have other sacrifices. But your elf whore is mine.”

Whore?

Chain me, steal my magic, slaughter kids on me, kill me, and call me a whore? I flexed my feet. There’s payback due on that one.

Rudra Muralin took the curved knife away from Talon’s throat and, with a disdainful smile, shoved him to the floor. Talon’s hands were still bound behind him and he landed hard on his shoulder. A muffled sound of pain came from behind his gag, but when he looked up at Rudra Muralin, his aqua eyes were crystal clear and blazing with hatred.

“There’s your filthy bastard,” Muralin purred. “Come and get it.”

Tam did.

Now I don’t mind all hell breaking loose. My family loves a good fight. But a torture chamber full of leather-clad goblin dark mages, and me dangling from the ceiling like a party favor? No, thanks.

Fortunately, most of the spellslinging was aimed elsewhere. One of Tam’s men dragged Piaras clear and took up a defensive stance in front of him. Good. Piaras looked like he was starting to come around. Even better. Hopefully he’d realize that the goblins were divided into “us” and “them,” and that the goblin standing guard over him was one of us.

Talon was on his feet and was looking for a way out when a Khrynsani with a wicked-looking dagger locked his arm around Talon’s throat and pulled him in tight for the kill. Bad move. Talon’s hands were tied behind his back and they were perfectly aligned with their intended target. The guard’s shriek confirmed it. The kid traded his death grip on the Khrynsani’s dangly bits for a sharp twist, and didn’t let go until the guard’s knees buckled. Having been a man myself for several hours this evening, I knew firsthand that there was no pain like man pain.

“Talon!” I yelled.

The kid turned. He was gagged and tied; I was chained to a hook. We were quite a pair.

“Swing me!”

The kid looked baffled for a split second; then he grinned.

I narrowed my eyes. “Not that kind of swing. Get behind me and push.”

He did, and I got the intense satisfaction of kicking a Khrynsani in the back of the head.

I was on the backswing when I saw Rudra Muralin coming for me, curved dagger held low.

He wanted control of the Saghred—and if he killed me, he had it. I could not believe this. My life’s goal was to get rid of the Saghred. Now to keep my life, I had to fight for the rock. Irony sucked.

Rudra Muralin ran straight at me and I used the only weapons I had. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pinned his arms to his side, and squeezed my thighs together. I felt his power building, so I twisted sharply, squeezed harder, and screamed right in his face.

Tam’s blackjack came down on the back of his head. Rudra Muralin went limp between my legs and I let him go before his weight dislocated my shoulders.

“No spells?” I gasped.

“No need.” Tam grinned and tucked the blackjack back in his belt.

He bent and wrapped his arms around my hips and lifted me straight up. I unhooked the chain and lowered my arms, my shoulders screaming in protest.

I grimaced. “I am going to be so sore in the morning.”

Tam loosened his hold enough that I slowly slid down the length of him until my feet were on the floor. Tam didn’t let go. I’d kind of thought and hoped he wouldn’t.

“Nice work,” he murmured.

I shrugged as much as my aching shoulders would let me. “If you can’t fight, distract.”

I looked around the room and swallowed. Tam’s black-magic hit squad didn’t believe in taking prisoners. If it was Khrynsani, it was dead.

Piaras was on his feet and mostly conscious. Talon was untied and ungagged.

“Garai?” Tam never took his dark eyes from mine.

One of the goblins approached. “Your will, my primaru?”

“Find the keys.”

“At once.”

I stopped and my eyes went wide. With all the black magic flying around the room, the Saghred should have been trying to burn a hole in my chest. It wasn’t.

Oh yeah. The manacles.

Tam knew. He grinned slowly, then bent his head and kissed me even slower. One arm pulled me tight against him; his free hand cradled my face and one finger lightly traced the tip of my ear.

I told myself that my legs were still weak from hanging; Tam’s kiss and nibbling fangs had nothing to do with it.

Tam raised his head and looked down at me; his dark eyes had gotten even darker.

“See, no Saghred kickback,” he murmured.

“Not a peep,” I managed.

His smile turned seven ways wicked. “Maybe we should keep the manacles.”

I met his smile and raised him a grin. “They could come in handy. And you’re very bad.”

His smile faded. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

Garai brought the keys and Tam unlocked the manacles. He pocketed the key, then held out the manacles to Talon.

“Would you care to do the honors?” Tam asked his son, indicating the still-unconscious Rudra Muralin.

Talon bared his fangs in a ferocious smile. “I’d love to.”

Tam’s expression went solemn. “We should talk later.”

The kid snorted. “Damned right we should.” He stopped and thought. “Sir,” he added.

I took a couple of quick steps back from Tam. The second those manacles came off, the burn was back. With the room full of black magic—and especially Tam’s proximity—the Saghred was looking for a piece of the action. It felt like it was going to take the first piece out of me.

“Raine, are you—” Tam took a concerned step toward me.

I held out my hand to stop him. He understood and didn’t come any closer.

I took slow, measured breaths. “Maybe we should have left the manacles on me.” I tried a grin; it didn’t quite make it.

Rudra Muralin chuckled dryly. He was on the floor, he was manacled—and he was smiling. That didn’t bode well.

He looked around at his dead Khrynsani guards. “Bravo, Tamnais. You’ve always been the thorough type. Very neat, very meticulous work. My temple guards were here with me.” His black eyes were shining. “My shamans are with the spellsingers. And if I didn’t return within the half hour… Well, let’s just say they had their orders.” He smiled, slow and horrible. “Time’s up, Tamnais. The harvest has begun.”