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‘‘This is a problem.’’ The secretary frowned again, shuffling some paperwork on her desk. ‘‘I’m afraid I can’t disburse the reward if it is being contested. Both your claims will have to go before the committee for settling.’’

Porter swore loudly and extremely profanely, sending me a look that, by rights, should have struck me dead.

‘‘There’s nothing to be settled,’’ Savian started to say, but the secretary cut him off by a lengthy recitation of the rules regarding claims.

Porter swore again and started stomping his way from the room. I moved quickly to intercept him, speaking in a tone low enough that it couldn’t be overheard by the others. ‘‘Just exactly what game are you playing at?’’

His eyes were hooded and wary. ‘‘What’re you talking about?’

‘‘Let’s try the fact that you blackmailed me into taking a dragon’s amulet, and yet you’re supposed to be upholding the laws of the L’au-delà. You’re a thief taker, but at the same time you’re working for a demon lord stealing who knows what.’’

For a moment, his eyes held a startled look. ‘‘You’re crazy.’’

I leaned closer, tamping down the sick feeling in my gut that being so near him generated. ‘‘It wouldn’t be that hard, you know, to ask around and find out which demon lord you work for. I can’t imagine whoever it is would be happy to know you hold a position in the L’au-delà. Nor would the committee be happy to find out one of their own works for a prince of Abaddon.’’

To my surprise, a slow, ugly smile split his face. He grabbed my arm in a grip that made me yelp, pulling me up against his body until his breath stung my face. ‘‘You think you’re so smart, but you’re not even close. You breathe one word about that amulet to anyone, and you’re dead. You got that? If I don’t kill you myself, the dreadlord will.’’

‘‘If you kill me, you won’t get the amulet,’’ I pointed out, keeping mum about the fact that I already had the item in question.

He snarled something anatomically impossible. ‘‘You’ll get it.’’

‘‘And if I don’t?’’ I asked. ‘‘You can hardly expect me to steal something for someone who treats me this way. Frankly, at this point, I’d almost rather deal with the repercussions if you exposed Cyrene’s actions in Nova Scotia.’’

His breath was foul. ‘‘Get the amulet back, or you won’t have a twin to protect.’’

I stared at him in openmouthed horror, but before I could rally a response to his threat, he pushed me away, storming out of the room. Savian reached my side, frowning after Porter. ‘‘Are you all right? I saw him grab you. Are you hurt?’’

‘‘I’m fine,’’ I said, rubbing my arm. ‘‘Just a little confused.’’

He gave me a long, considering look. ‘‘I suspect you’re not the only one in that state. I don’t suppose you’d like to tell me what all that was about?’’

I shook my head and returned to the desk where Tej stood watching with bright, interested eyes. ‘‘Exactly who am I supposed to be calling?’’

The young man looked vaguely surprised. ‘‘You are to make a call. It is the rules.’’

‘‘The rules? What rules?’’

The woman at the desk behind me dropped a couple of sheets of paper on the desk before me. ‘‘Would you mind signing this receipt for your personal effects, Miss Ling? You were unconscious during the sentencing, or I would have had you sign it then.’’

I stared down at a piece of paper listing the items I’d had on my person: wallet, three passports, cell phone, assorted money, cinnamon gum, two keys, and a small golden figurine.

The last object leaped to mind as I hurriedly checked the inner pocket of my bodice. The lumpy gold dragon amulet was gone. I thought it was odd they got that and not the small knife I wore strapped to my ankle, but I wasn’t about to point out their omission.

‘‘Where are my things being kept?’’ I asked the secretary, worried that Porter might have figured out I was bluffing and was even now on the way to get the amulet.

‘‘All effects of prisoners are kept in the vault, naturally,’’ she answered, twitching the paper at me.