The eyes from the greenhouse felt even more judgmental as I followed Fredrik down a row of snap peas to the tunnel entrance. Despite my anxiety about climbing back into the belly of the beast, I was grateful to be given the chance to speak for Christoph. The situation could have been worse, like being turned away. Now, all I had to do was to keep both our asses out of the arena.

At the base of the staircase, Fredrik and I were met by another familiar face. Fortunately, this one did not wear a scowl. Austin had arrived to escort us to Hadria's chamber. His hair stood barely an inch above his scalp, just like I remembered, and his smile felt genuine.

"It's good to see you again, Reese," he said. "You're looking well."

"How is Christoph? Have you spoken to him since he was brought in?"

Austin didn't seem to mind that I had sidestepped his compliment to ask about Christoph. Anxiety was overriding my manners, at the moment. "We've talked, but not much. I'm sure he'll be glad to see you."

If I were the type to overanalyze everything, I might construe his comment to mean he believed I had put Christoph in his predicament. Had I? All I remembered was Christoph calling from Istanbul asking if we wanted him to steal the amulet.

Uncomfortable memories flooded back as we arrived at the entrance to the queen's chamber. Like before, the eternal flame flickered through the honeycomb wall, sparking and dancing inside glass globes. The orange orbs had a mesmerizing effect, which I figured was the purpose, since I felt a little dazed when my escorts nudged me through the arched entryway.

Nothing had changed as far as I could tell. The pale, stone floor was polished to a blinding sheen, and colorful beanbags were scattered around like a recent pillow fight had taken place. More likely, it was some kind of orgy. Hadria waited at the back of the room, reclined on her futon-style throne. She was dressed in a blue sheath that barely concealed her assets, and her rose-tinted glasses accented a severe expression.

But she didn't appear to be watching us. Her attention was drawn to something behind our heads. When I risked a glance over my shoulder, I nearly stumbled when I saw Christoph being brought in by a pair of super-sized demons. They carried him by his armpits, while his legs dragged behind him like dead weight.

I realized I had begun to turn toward him when Fredrik grabbed my arm and set me back on track. "Don't, Reese."

His words were low but carried enough warning that I obeyed without question. No sense pissing-off the queen too soon. There'd be plenty of time for that. When we arrived at the foot of Hadria's bed, Fredrik and Austin took several steps back, leaving me there. Experience told me this was the part where I kneeled and pretended to show respect for the spiteful witch.

Christoph was dumped unceremoniously beside me, and he collapsed onto his knees, smearing blood across the pristine floor. Without a second thought, I reached for his hand. I didn't care if I was breaking protocol or that his skin was covered in open wounds.

The gesture didn't register with him at first. Then it seemed to dawn on him that someone else was there, and he lifted his head to look at me, although I had my doubts whether he really saw me. Both eyes were nearly swollen shut. His nose also appeared to have been broken, and his lips could have doubled as sausages. "Reese?"

Okay, so he could see me.

"Reese, is that you? My vision is shit right now, but my sinuses aren't too fucked-up."

Yikes.

Was he recognizing me by scent? "Yes, it's Reese. I came to tell Hadria the truth. You just sit there looking pretty."

A weak chuckle escaped his bruised lips, but he quickly fell silent when Hadria shushed us.

"Enough! I have only given you audience because I hate waste. And it seems a waste to put one of my best guards through hell if someone else is to blame for his indiscretions. Speak girl. I want to know everything."

I saw my pink reflection through Hadria's shades, so I pretended to talk to myself to keep from growling at her. "First of all, I only just heard about Christoph being accused of treason. I wasn't even told why. I would like to at least know that much before I present my side of the story."

Hadria sneered, and I did my best not to flinch. She was very good at it. "I assume you know why, or you would not be here."

"Yes, but I would like to hear it from you. I want to make sure we're on the same page."

Another sneer, but I could tell her curiosity had been piqued by the way she cocked her head ever so slightly. "He stole an amulet that I obtained from your gollum mate. Now, tell me why Christoph would steal from his queen if not at the request of someone who has even more power over him than I do."

Her eyebrows rose above her frames, challenging me to deny the accusation that Christoph cared about me more than her. I couldn't deny it. "You're right. I asked him to take the amulet. I needed it to protect myself while I attempted to destroy the necromancer. It was an insurance policy. Otherwise, Vincent would never have let me try."

That got her attention, and she slowly uncurled from her reclined position to draw closer, piercing me with those colorless eyes through a layer of pale glass. "Are you claiming to be the one who destroyed Zenthophelius? The most powerful necromancer of our age?"

"Oh, good. You heard about it."

"Of course, I heard. I have eyes and ears everywhere. But the reports spoke of a demon possessing the gifts of Isis."

I shrugged as I let a small smile slip onto my face. "Guilty as charged."

She broke into thunderous laughter that had Christoph ducking reflexively, and I stroked the back of his hand. "You cannot seriously expect me to believe it was you who destroyed him. You are nothing but a hybrid raised by humans and adopted by gollums. You are weak and sympathetic."

Apparently, it was going to take more than an argument to win this tyrant over. She needed proof. But I would have to handle it tactfully, or it would look like I was flaunting. "I can see your point. I've been accused of exhibiting flagrant compassion. So, let's do it this way. I'll tell you how it went down, and you decide if it fits the story you heard."

With a casual wave, she relaxed back into her seat. "Very well. I would love to hear how you managed this incredible feat."

Glancing around at my audience, I did what I came there to do. I told the truth, starting with the incident at the auction house when Fredrik tried to out-bid Vincent for the cube before Dmitry and Vincent went toe to toe for it. I told her about my fevers which were caused by the curse. I described our visit to Dmitry's Russian home during summer solstice and how I spoke with Isis who imbued some of her power on me. I went on to explain that I practiced with my gifts, eventually learning how to control more than just fire. I even told her about the undead demons I reduced to ash.

"It wasn't until we were sure I had a shot at taking down Dmitry that we considered using the amulet for its properties of eternal life," I said as my story winded down. "I suggested to my family that you might be willing to let me use it if it meant getting rid of the necromancer, but I was overruled. None of them believed you would be willing to part with the amulet to ensure my safety. So, Christoph stepped in to help us."

She released an impatient snort. "You still haven't told me how you supposedly defeated the necromancer."

"Well, he ended-up getting his hands on the amulet. But, with the help of Isis, I stole it back and gave it to a demon who used it to destroy the pharaoh's cube. Then I burned the pyre, which Dmitry was using as his power source. With the cube and the pyre gone, he had nowhere to transfer his essence to. After that, it was pretty easy to take him down. He basically crumbled into bits inside my hands. Then I finished him off with fire."

"And where is my amulet now? Is it still with this demon who destroyed the cube?"

"No. We have the amulet."

Her body stiffened as she leaned forward again. "Where is it?" she hissed.

"Safe. I would like to use it to bargain for Christoph's freedom." I glanced at Christoph. I could tell had been listening, since his eyes were directed at me and not at the ground. "The original plan was for me to wear the amulet for protection while I battled Dmitry. Afterwards, Christoph was going to return it to Ori. He was acting under duress. He knew I was determined to go through with this, and he didn't want me to die in the effort."

Hadria let the room fall silent, hiding whatever she didn't want us to see behind her pink peepers. She was a strange bird, but a small part of me wanted to believe she liked Christoph and didn't want him to be guilty. "Tell me this. Do you still carry the powers of Isis?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. When I had the gifts, there were marks on my palms, and my hair had turned black. But after the pyre burned, Isis was released from her tether, so I think I lost those gifts." I held out my hands, where only a hint of the tattoos remained. "The left hand had an evil eye, and the right was an ankh. Like the one around your neck."

Hadria looked down at the gold amulet that used to belong to her mother and touched it lightly. "So, you have not used your gifts since returning from the necromancer's estate?"

"No, but if you're looking for more proof, I'm happy to give it a try now. Do you have any zombies you need disposed of? Or a cardboard box?"

She looked unamused as she waved a hand at Austin. "Fetch me one of those pillows."

Austin quickly obliged her, trotting over to a pile and selecting a royal blue pillow with white piping around the edge. I stood and pointed at a spot where he could drop it, making sure it was far away from Christoph. While I didn't have much hope that I still had the powers of Isis, I did have the magic Dmitry had infected me with. So, I was pretty sure they were going to be impressed.

"Okay, I'm going to try and move it first, but I'm not promising anything too spectacular." With a deep intake of breath, I recited the mantra, which immediately ignited the flames inside my palms. "That always happens. Just ignore it."

I focused on the pillow, making wide sweeping motions, pretending to swat it away. Nothing happened, so I tried again. Still, nothing. Giving it all I had, I waved my arms wildly on the off chance it might trigger a small gust, but I just ended-up looking like a penguin trying to take flight. Hadria chuckled from her perch.

"Amusing, but I see nothing powerful here. Just a girl trying to convince me she has the gifts of a goddess."

While Hadria delivered her insult, smoke began rising from the piping of the pillow. Then, with an ominous pop, the fabric ignited, and the entire thing became engulfed in flames.

"I guess there's a little leftover, after all," I said, trying to keep the smug grin off my face. "I hope that wasn't your favorite."

I glanced at Austin and Fredrik, who were both stifling grins. Even Christoph seemed to be enjoying the show.

"I suppose a gift like that might be useful in certain circumstances, but you still have given me no proof you were anywhere near the necromancer when he met his end. According to my sources, the demon who took him down had white horns. Unlike anything they had seen before."

Oh, nuts.

Did this pig-headed royal really need me to go through the change to prove I was telling the truth? Apparently, the answer was yes. "Fine. You want white horns? I'll give you white horns."

Since I hadn't planned to grow wings during my visit to the hive, I didn't wear my sports bra. In fact, I was wearing an expensive nursing bra that I didn't want to ruin. So, being as discrete as possible, I unhooked my bra and pulled it off through the sleeves of my shirt. Then I handed it to Fredrik. "Hold this, will you? I don't want to ruin it."

He shrugged his indifference, and I began the transformation. It took a little longer than most veteran gollums, but I knew it was because I was still subconsciously fighting the change. I was also reminded, after the fact, that I was sporting two recently stitched wounds that stung like a son-of-a-bitch when my wings sprouted. Still, the horns had to be the worst part, and I grimaced against the pain as my audience gasped in unison. All except Christoph, of course. He already knew about them.

"Well, it appears my sources were describing a hybrid, not a demon. Come to think of it, I remember now that your mother had white horns."

I withheld my No shit, Sherlock comment, assuming it wouldn't go over well. And, based on her snide grin, I suspected she already thought it was me, she just wanted to see me go through the change. Bitch.

"Reese, your back is bleeding." Austin walked behind me and pulled away the torn section of shirt. "It looks like you've split some stitches."

"Damn. Wren is going to kill me. She worked a long time on those."

"How did you get the wound?" he asked.

"Dmitry stabbed me in the back with an adamantium blade. Can you believe that? Mr. All Powerful Necromancer had to resort to stabbing me in the back while I wasn't looking."

"Shit, Reese. You could have died." The comment didn't come from Austin but from Christoph as he strained to get a look around my wings.

"I know. But, fortunately, I had a goddess as my copilot. Isis actually possessed my body during the battle. It was pretty weird." Attempting not to slide on the blood-stained floor, I stepped back up to the throne and restated my conditions. "So, now that you have heard everything and seen the great, white horns, will you pardon Christoph?"

"Will you turn over the amulet?"

"I said I would."

Hadria pretended to give my proposition careful consideration, but I knew she was desperate to get that amulet even if it meant letting one of her best guards go free. Of course, being the nasty little witch that she was, rather than give me her answer, she turned to address Christoph.

"Christoph. You have been a worthy guard and a loyal member of this hive. While I still count your actions as rash and treasonous, I understand you were acting according to your conscience. Considering your contributions to bringing an end to the necromancer's foul reign and the atrocities he committed against demon kind, I would be willing to strike your grievous actions from the record, thus allowing you to remain in the hive if you so choose."

Well, so much for a thank you. Not that I was expecting one, but that was the closest thing to a slap in the face.

"Thank you, Hadria. You are a merciful queen." Christoph touched his forehead to the floor, smearing more blood across it.

"While you are both here, I have a question that just begs to be asked," Hadria went on, glancing between us suspiciously. "Explain this relationship the two of you have? Is it platonic? Sexual? Is there a debt that needs to be repaid?"

Lifting his forehead off the floor, Christoph looked at me. Between his swollen lids, I could see a glimmer in those hazel eyes, and I wondered what was going on inside his head. Sadly, I probably wasn't thinking the same thing.

"Christoph has become like a brother to me," I told her. "I lost my brother a couple of years ago, and Christoph has done a good job of filling his shoes."

"Hah!" Hadria snorted. "The way I've seen you two look at each other. That is not the look of siblings." While Hadria cried foul, Christoph looked like he'd been stabbed in the heart. Even I felt his pain. "Off with you, now. And give the amulet to Austin. For your sake, I hope we never have to cross paths again."

I couldn't have agreed with her more. I snagged my bra back from Fredrik, who was having a hard time keeping his eyes off my chest as it pushed the boundaries of my loose-fitting shirt, then I made the change back to my human form while the guards hauled Christoph up off the floor. He was nearly out of sight by the time I caught up with them.

"Where are you taking him?" I asked.

"To the infirmary," said one of the square-jawed monsters. "If you keep to yourself, you can follow us. You'll want to have someone look at that wound."

Despite the queen's hatred for the hybrid scum, there was still valor among her guardsmen, and I did as I was instructed by the nice demon with the bulging biceps. I kept quiet and stayed close as Christoph was half-carried, half-dragged through the labyrinth. Fredrik remained hot on my heels, sticking to his agreement with Vincent that he would assure my safe return.

When we reached the infirmary, another familiar face greeted me – Neil, the hive medic. He was also Willem's grandson. So, yeah, we were related.

"Set him on that cot." Neil instructed the guards as he filled his surgical tray with sharp instruments. He didn't seem to notice me until I pulled up a chair next to Christoph's bed. "Hello, again," he said with a pleasant smile. "Reese, right?"

"You remembered."

"I always remember a pretty girl. What brings you back to the hive?"

"Christoph. I came to plead his case."

"And she was fucking awesome." Christoph's head lolled to one side as he stared at me from his cot. "You nailed Hadria to the wall. I've never seen her look surprised, but that pillow trick... and then the horns. Man..."

He grimaced, and I noticed a fresh trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. "Stop talking, you jerk. You're going bleed all over yourself."

"Too late for that," he quipped before I shot him a look that shut him up.

While my companions stood against the wall, I sat and watched as Neil performed his version of field surgery. He wasn't as skilled as Wren, but he did what needed to be done. And every time I noticed Christoph trying to hold back tears of pain, I squeezed his hand. He had done all this to protect me, and I wasn't going to let him think I didn't appreciate it.

After Christoph was all patched up and Neil started cleaning his instruments, I stopped him. "Hey, Neil. I wondered if you could take a look at my back. I tore some stitches making the change."

"Sure. Turn around for me."

I heard his sharp intake of breath as he tugged my shirt away from the dried blood. "You really did a number on this. I might have to re-stitch, but maybe I can get away with a butterfly bandage."

"I'd prefer the bandage. We're heading straight home from here, and my mother-in-law will be able to take care of it."

"Alright. How did you get this? Are you battling already? Christoph told me you only recently discovered your... unique nature."

Well handled, Neil.

"This wasn't a routine battle." I glanced at Christoph, looking to him for guidance. When he nodded his approval, I broke into my story again. Despite the fact that most of the room had already heard the details, I kept my audience riveted for the next ten minutes. Then it was time to go, but before I did, I needed to say a few things to Christoph.

"You didn't have to protect me like that, you know. You could have died, and I would have been pissed-off."

"Since you put it that way, I'll try not to die anytime soon."

"Are you going to stay at the hive, then? Or will you return to New York?"

Everyone in the room gave me that look. The one that said they believed Hadria's claim that we were more than just friends. I ignored them.

"I think I'll stick around here until I heal. By then I'll be in a better position to decide where my future lies."

"Are you sure it's safe here, though? What if your reputation has been ruined beyond repair? What if someone tries to stab you in your sleep?"

He tried to smile but it was difficult with a butterfly strip on his lower lip. "You watch too many cop shows. Hadria won't let the rumors get out of hand. She has a way with threats that keeps everyone in line."

"I believe that."

"So, I have this question that just begs to be asked," he said. "Do you really see me as a brother?"

Ugh.

I knew that comparison would come back to bite me. "It wasn't used as an insult, Christoph, although I could tell you took it that way. I was just exaggerating so Hadria wouldn't get any funny ideas."

"Ideas about what? Us hooking up?"

"I don't know, maybe. It's clear Hadria hates me, but I'm the only hybrid around with the gift. And she might need someone to keep her lights on. I just didn't want her sending a hitman to get Vincent out of the way." I shrugged because I was starting to ramble, which had Christoph attempting another smile.

"You really do love that arrogant son-of-a-bitch, don't you?"

"Of course, I love Vincent. I also love you, Christoph. The difference is, I need Vincent like a fish needs water. My survival depends on him. And vice versa. Vincent knows how I feel about you, but there's nothing he can do to change it, so he's slowly embracing it."

"Bullshit. He's going to fight it every step of the way."

I lifted my hands in surrender. "You can't change a mountain once it's formed. To change it would be to destroy it." In a moment of impulsive recklessness, I bent over Christoph's face and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his bandaged mouth. When he lifted his head to prolong the connection, I moved out of his reach. But this only seemed to encourage him as he tried to get the last word.

"I've heard dynamite is pretty effective on mountains."

"Don't get any ideas."