Besides the guard that brought her food, there wasn't anyone else in the dungeon. It was left over from the people that had once ruled this castle, and the Darkling seemed to have little use for people he could neither kill or persuade. The silence and the dripping water made it almost peaceful. It also made it very clear when someone entered, particularly at a non-mealtime.

"We're going to try this again," the Darkling said.

"You have an image problem," Lucy said without opening her eyes.

"Don't change the subject."

She opened her eyes and sat up. "I'm not. You clearly think that if you have Alina by your side, people will see a humanity to you to balance out their fear. Even if you could get to her wherever she is, it wouldn't matter. She seems far more like your enemy than your lover."

"What does a royal who marries for politics know about love?"

"I know that a relationship built on manipulation and lies cannot stand. I don't imagine you're capable of any actual selflessness or true feeling."

"Where is she?" he asked, enunciating every word with a barely contained fury.

"Out of your reach I imagine." Before he could respond or fully darken the dungeon, she continued, "but I do have a couple of ideas on how to fix your image problem."

"You would never help me and you must know that I'm not gullible enough to fall for any plans you have of escaping."

"You're right," she said and paused, "I wouldn't do it for you. I would; however, do it for all the collateral damage you've made around you. I would do it for the people that are sick of war and need a leader they can trust. As you've mentioned, I'm not exactly going anywhere."

"You've clearly thought this through."

"There isn't much else to do in here but think and sleep. How long has it been since there's been a person in this dungeon?"

"What is it that you think would make people trust me? otkazat'sya of the kingdoms have hated and mistrusted Grisha for centuries, until I came along to protect them." In some sort of twisted way, Lucy could tell he actually believed that, which was far more terrifying than if it was just a front he used with others.

"I have heard about the creatures in the Fold. Is it true that they used to be human?" She could feel the rage continuing to build in him, muddling his capacity for rational thought.

"What of them?" He was making such an effort not to yell that he practically growled.

"I was wondering if I could heal them. I've never tried anything like it before, so I don't know if it would work, but you would come out looking like the merciful leader either way."

"You would die."

"They are your creatures. Can't you control them?"

He read the challenge in the knowledge she wasn't supposed to have. "I'm glad you've decided that we can be useful to each other, Your Majesty. We'll leave as soon as I have made the necessary arrangements," he said, oozing the smugness of a man who knows he's won.

Maybe, Lucy thought, she did have the makings of a spy after all.