Lucius leaned back against the banister, arms folded, his smile a sliver of mischief and malice both. His voice carried an ease that made the words land all the sharper.

"Well," he began, "they said that you have the drugs. You stole their drug, actually. And they are here to get it from you and kill you after you have given it back to them. So, I saved your life. You can thank me later, though."

His eyes slid from Valerius to Chloe, lingering just a fraction too long, the way a cat toys with ...