Koltira scowled into the drink. "You should have stayed away. You are lucky that I didn't immediately tear you apart."

Several days had passed since Ashraf's visit--and the bottle he'd brought with him. Koltira picked up his glass and knocked it back. He sighed, but his expression didn't change. "I was able to restrain myself, to ... slow down the proceedings, I suppose, from my subconscious. But you should have just left me there."