“When I entered and shut the door, the Darkling gave me a small bow. “How are you, Alina?”

“I’m fine,” I managed.

“She’s fine!” hooted Baghra. “She’s fine! She cannot light a hallway, but she’s fine.”

I winced and wished I could disappear into my boots.

To my surprise, the Darkling said, “Leave her be.”

Baghra’s eyes narrowed. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

The Darkling sighed and ran his hands through his dark hair in exasperation. When he looked at me, there was a rueful smile on his lips, and his hair was going every which way. “Baghra has her own way of doing things,” he said.

“Don’t patronize me, boy!” Her voice cracked out like a whip. To my amazement, I saw the Darkling stand up straighter and then scowl as if he’d caught himself.

“Don’t chide me, old woman,” he said in a low, dangerous voice.”