Dark Swan Bundle by Richelle Mead

horrifically if he ever broke free.
    He didn’t respond to my last comment. He simply stared. He was only obligated to answer direct questions.
    â€œI need some advice.”
    â€œI do as my mistress commands.” There was an implied until I can choke the breath from her body at the end of that seemingly subservient statement.
    â€œI’m going to be crossing over into the Otherworld soon. Physically.”
    That almost surprised him. Almost. “My mistress is foolish.”
    â€œThanks. I have to find a human girl that some horny gentry abducted.”
    He reconsidered. “My mistress is brave and foolish.”
    â€œShe was taken by a guy named Aeson. Do you know him?”
    â€œHe is king of the Alder Land. Powerful. Very powerful.”
    â€œStronger than me?”
    Volusian stayed silent, thinking. “Your powers do not diminish in the Otherworld, as some humans’ do. Even so, he will still be at his full strength. It would be a close battle. Were you to fight him in this world, there would be no contest. He would be weaker by far.”
    â€œI don’t think I can manage that. What about you guys? I’m going to bring you along. Will it help?”
    â€œI feared my mistress would say that. Yes, of course it will help. You know my binds force me to protect you, no matter how much angst it causes me.”
    â€œAw, don’t sound so glum. Think of it as job security.”
    â€œMake no mistake, mistress. I may protect you now, but as soon as I have the chance, I will rip the flesh from your body and tear your bones apart. I will ensure you suffer so gravely that you will beg me for death. Yet, even then, your soul will not find relief. I will torture it for all eternity.”
    He spoke in a flat tone, not as a threat, but simply as a statement of fact. Honestly, after my week of propositions, statements about my impending death were kind of a refreshing return to normality.
    â€œLooking forward to it, Volusian.” I yawned and sat on the bed. “Anything else constructive you’ve got to offer? In rescuing the girl, I mean.”
    â€œI suspect my mistress is too…set in her ways for my advice, but you could solicit help.”
    â€œSolicit it from whom? I don’t have anyone else to go to.”
    â€œNot in this world you don’t.”
    It took me a moment to get what he was saying. “No. No way. I’m not going to some gentry or spirit for help. Not like they’d give it anyway.”
    â€œI would not be so certain of that, mistress.”
    Gentry were petty and dishonest. They had no regard for anyone but themselves. No way would I appeal to one. No way would I trust one.
    Volusian watched me. When he saw I would not respond, he said: “It is as I thought. My mistress will not hear anything she doesn’t want to. She is too stubborn.”
    â€œNo, I’m not. I’m always open to things.”
    â€œAs you say, mistress.”
    The look on his face somehow managed to be angelic and scream you fucking hypocrite all at the same time. “All right,” I said impatiently, “let’s hear it.”
    â€œThere is another king, Dorian, who rules the Oak Land. He and Aeson hate each other—in a polite-faced, political manner, of course.”
    â€œNo surprise there. I’m surprised they aren’t all turning on each other. That doesn’t mean he’d help me.”
    â€œI believe Dorian would be very happy to see someone come and kill off Aeson. Especially if he did not have to actually do it himself. He might offer a great deal of assistance to see you do it.”
    â€œâ€˜Might’ being the operative word. So you’re suggesting I just show up at his door and ask for help?”
    Volusian inclined his head in the affirmative.
    â€œHave I ever killed or cast out any of his people?”
    â€œLikely.”
    â€œThen I think it’s ‘likely’ he’d kill me the