Obviously it’s by design. The full smile of straight white teeth and the jolly demeanor are meant to open doors and lull people into the sense that Kellan is just a normal guy instead of the head of the city guard with a manipulation blessing from the Divine of Malice.

That type of magic is frightening to even the strongest of men because it’s about strength of mind and how easily you can be influenced.

“Can I help you with something? Harlow is still asleep,” I say.

“She’s feeling better?” Kellan asks.

I wave a hand. “She’s feeling surly and her countenance is biting. So yes, I’d say she’s well on her way back to herself.”

Kellan laughs in surprise. “It’s good that you’re not afraid of her.” He studies me for a quiet moment. “I was surprised that you kissed her.”

So this is why he’s here. Kellan is trying to figure out how I survived and if Harlow is safe. At least someone in her family has their priorities straight.

“So was she,” I say.

“How did you survive?”

“The magic of true love.”

He frowns.

“I’m kidding,” I say. “I’m not susceptible to poison.”

He doesn’t look fully satisfied with the answer. “I have many siblings, Henry, but Harlow is my favorite. She has done more for this family than should have ever been expected of her. I’m a reasonable man, and sometimes other men look at me and assume that because I’m calm and thoughtful that I won’t react to being fucked with. So, please believe me when I say that if you hurt my sister, I will find a way to hurt you back so much worse. I have a long memory and a lot of resources and the ability to make something look like an accident.” He pats me on the shoulder. “Act accordingly and you’ll never have to find out for yourself.”

“You don’t have to trust me,” I say flatly. “You’ll see who I am eventually.”

It feels good to say something true. When this plan fully plays out, he’ll know for sure, and then it will be too late. For now, though, I need him to look for a problem anywhere else.

“Well water kills them.” This is a risk, but I’m betting that Harlow already shared about the Mountain Well and her father knew about it years ago.

Kellan’s gaze snaps to mine. “What?”

“Well water kills the Drained, just like holy fire. We told your father that. Ten years ago. A month before the fort fell.”

It takes a full breath for my words to sink in. He shakes his head in disbelief. “He would have told me. He would have told us how to defend the city. He would have⁠—”

“Told you how not to need him? I don’t suppose he would have. But whatever you think, the facts are facts. We told him in person, and a month later, Mountain Haven fell. Given the recent breach and the fact that I haven’t seen anyone using well water, I thought the captain of the city guard would want to know.”

I watch the reality of it dawn for him—shock, anger, and finally resignation registering in his eyes.

Kellan brushes by me and walks back down the hall. I have no doubt that he will do everything he’s promised when I hurt his sister. Lots of men make noise and try to seem intimidating. Kellan is the kind of quiet calm that I need to worry about. Only the Divine know what sort of messes he’s covered up for his family and how many “accidents” he’s manufactured. I respect that at least someone is looking out for Harlow.

When we execute the last step of this plan, he will be the first consequence I’ll be prepared for.

OceanofPDF.com

45HARLOW

The trip back through the Drained Wood was less tense than stepping into the Havenwood House dining room for my first public dinner since the wedding.

At least in the woods, the Drained are straightforward about being out for blood.

Everyone here is smiling, but their whispers stop when we walk by. They’re still hung up on the rumors about me and Stefan and the evolved Drained that attacked his two friends.

While I’m relieved that the damage to my reputation is the greatest casualty of that incident, I’m still a little alarmed by my blackout violence. It’s not the guilt of killing a man to defend myself that troubles me. It’s the fear that this is a hint of the same madness my father and brother have.

I’m already stiff from three days spent in bed and the ride back to the fort yesterday morning, but their assessment winds my muscles even tighter. We walk past a table of women who say my name just loud enough for us to hear before whispering again.

Henry ignores them as he guides me into the warm, candlelit room.

It was harder to leave Lunameade a second time. Harder to ride away from my sister and her bruised face and half-broken soul.

Maybe it’s the emotional hangover from my episode and I’m just raw from the pain, but I feel so heavy with dread, it’s like I’m moving in slow motion. Aidia is running out of time. If I don’t get her out soon, there might be nothing left of the sister I love.

I’m still shocked that Henry took me back to Lunameade to check on her when it would have been wiser and safer to stay put. But I’m more uneasy that he spent three full days tending to me. He lay in bed beside me and read, changing my ice when it melted, making innuendos to the servants about why I needed so much refreshment, gently annoying me every time I woke up.

I know what he was doing in those moments—trying to remind me that nothing had changed between us.

It’s a kindness I don’t deserve from him and, therefore, don’t trust. I’m beginning to worry that I don’t dislike him as much as I thought I did. This feels something like begrudging affection, and that is a truly dangerous thing.

Fiddlers are already playing lively folk music on a small, raised dais by the fireplace, and I try to pay attention to that instead of the urgency pounding in my blood and the steady murmur of gossip.

I’m not surprised that they’re eager to judge me. I’m a city girl in an elevated position in the fort, and the one thing that permeates their culture as much as society in Lunameade is the fact that women are always held to a higher level of scrutiny than men.

I’m less offended by their judgment than I am that they believe I’d actually sneak off with Stefan.

“They seem to have taken the news about the Breeder in stride,” I whisper.

Henry gives me an indulgent smile and leans in to whisper in my ear. “Yes, well, these are all the most powerful magical families. They want to know what we’re dealing with.”

He pulls me closer to his side, his hand hot through the thin silk of my dress. Silk is so impractical with the cold here, but Henry is still picking out my clothing. I think he likes that I let him stand closer when I’m cold. I only allow it because I’m mildly entertained by distracting him.

I study him out of the corner of my eye as we cross the room. Everyone looks to him with respect—everyone but Stefan, who looks at the two of us like he’s trying to set us on fire with his eyes. He’s going to need to be dealt with soon. If Henry doesn’t do it his way, I’ll have to do it mine.

Henry keeps glancing over his shoulder at Gaven. Truthfully, I’ve become so good at ignoring my bodyguard over the years that I hardly notice him anymore. But Henry is forever irritated by his presence. Despite my scolding, the two of them have not made peace.

The feast room is set up so unlike the dining room at Carrenwell House. Instead of one long dining table covered in brand-new taper candles and floral bouquets with the ruling family at the head, there are eleven smaller tables decorated with small vases of wildflowers and half-burned pillar candles in glass cases. They’re set up in a U-shape, with a four-person table in front of the large glass windows on the far side of the room and five tables running down each side.