“I’ll never help you,” I slurred. “You don’t need to be compliant,” she countered. She swept her nails down the side of my cheek—not enough to break the skin, but enough to cause some discomfort. “Come now, don’t make such a horrid face. It’s not all that bad. Perhaps I’ll even let you meet your son this time.” “My . . . son?” I fumbled the words. “Mhm.” The empress smiled with her gleaming white teeth. She leaned in, whispering in my ear, “His name is Shadow.”