I shake my head. “I couldn’t ask that of you, considering the risk and his history of violence.”
I glance in Rafe’s direction. He’s speaking with Liza and Harrick, but he seems to have noticed our larger group.
Colleen pats my arm. “We protect our people here.”
I press a fist over my heart and nod solemnly. “Thank you, but we should probably spread out so he doesn’t get suspicious. I don’t want to pull his attention again,” I whisper. “And please, be discreet about who you share all of this with. Only those you trust. I wouldn’t want this to cause a scene during the festival.”
They all nod, and I know I’ve just ensured that these rumors will spread like wildfire. They turn and split off into smaller groups, wandering toward the refreshments.
When I turn, Kellan Carrenwell is watching me intently.
I am completely fucked. I did not mean to do all of that in front of him, but he’s looking at me like he knows exactly what I am—a liar through and through.
He waits for my audience to wander away, murmuring their own suspicions amongst their small group. By tomorrow morning, those suspicions and my story will be all over town. A wave of nausea rolls through me as Kellan saunters over.
“I couldn’t figure it out before. Everyone has hooks eventually. Even Low.” He shakes his head and laughs. “But not you. Because you’re twice-blessed. You hide Polm’s blessing well, under the purple of Elvodeen—the problem is I just watched you work that crowd and your orange was sneaking through.”
I’ve worked so hard to hide this part of myself, to always make sure that I’m using my healing magic at the same time I use any manipulationmagic so that Harlow won’t see. Several times, I was afraid she did, especially once I realized Gaven had sensed it. Certainly, if he could sense it, she would see it. But somehow she still hasn’t noticed. The moment that I tell her, she will stop trusting me. Weathering that kind of fallout when I need her on my side for this next critical part of the plan would ruin everything.
“Have you used it on Harlow?” Kellan asks.
“Not how you’re thinking,” I say.
He frowns. “She’s a tough hook. I’m quite blessed by Polm, and at this point, I don’t need to know someone intimately. Even strangers are easy for me. But Harlow is my sister, and it’s been years since I could snag her enough to compel her. If you got to her, it’s because she trusts you—that is a rare thing.” He sighs and looks back at the party. “You need to tell her how and when. Whatever your reason may be.”
I wait for Kellan to say more. It’s more unnerving that he doesn’t. But Kellan is the captain of the city guard and a seasoned interrogator. This is probably part of the play.
“Don’t look so shocked. You know as well as I do part of this gift is understanding who will abuse it.” He crosses his arms and sighs. “I looked into what you said about the well water.”
“And?”
“And you were right. Thank you. It’s going to make a big difference for the men who guard our gates.” He rubs the back of his neck and casts a glance behind him.
Harlow is speaking with his wife, Libby, across the courtyard, the two of them with their heads bent close together over their steaming cups of mulled wine.
“I also looked into some old records and found the log entry of you and your father meeting with mine, but what was discussed was conveniently left out.” Kellan shakes his head. “I’m sorry. If I had known what you shared, so much would be different now.” He sounds so genuine, but it’s hard to believe anything he says when I’m waiting for him to rat me out to his sister.
I thought I was prepared for city politics, but everyone here has an angle. Kellan could be working me.
He looks at Harlow and Libby again. “Harlow seems calm—almost happy. Can’t say I’ve ever seen that.”
“Happy might be a stretch.” I try to sound light, but I am braced for a fight.
Kellan smirks. “Tonight is hard for her. I think there was some old stuff coming up and there are some things you should know.” He looks out at the party. “That storytelling you did was impressive. Very compelling stuff. But this is a tale better shared in private.” He nods toward the garden entrance at the end of the stone patio. “Walk with me? I want to show you something in the garden.”
I know I’m probably about to be thrown in some Carrenwell dungeon, but when I look across the patio, Harlow is smiling at me. I gesture to Kellan to let her know where I’m going so at least someone I almost trust knows who I’m with.
I follow Kellan into the dark garden, not because I trust that he won’t try to kill me, but because I’m confident it won’t work.
It took every semblance of self-control not to show Kellan my fury as he pulled apart Harlow’s sob story piece by piece. He was so earnest—so concerned for the sister that very much does not need his protection.
My wife is such a talented storyteller.
“I can’t believe I fell for her stories when I knew she was a liar,” I say.
I have been fuming ever since I left the Carrenwell House garden after my talk with Kellan.
Fresh off of lying to half the high magical houses in the city to convince them to blame someone else for the Carrenwells’ sins, I found out what an unbelievable sucker I’ve been, and I’m livid.
