Colleen clicks her tongue, her eyes lit with anger. “This makes more sense than I care to admit. We already know discreet violence is a method he likes. How many times did we see that wife of his in long-sleeved dresses out of season?”

“I saw her fixing the glamour around a black eye once in the ladies’ washroom at a North Hold party—back when he used to throw parties up there,” Annie says, shaking her head. “It’s a wonder he’s still mayor.”

“It’s the common people,” I say. “It’s easy to see the sway he has on them—of course, that could just be that manipulation magic at work.”

The revelation dawns on their faces in a wave. I’m just planting seeds, but I can tell they’re taking root already.

“I can’t believe I’ve never even considered it,” Patrick says. “He could be doing it to any of us who don’t have Polm’s blessing.”

I step closer to and drop my voice lower. “This is why I didn’t want to say anything. We should all be very careful with him and very skeptical. We have it on good authority that Rafe sent the horde away. While it might have been done for the sake of the city, he could have just sent them off into the forest. He didn’t have to direct them at the fort. Anyone who can do that is powerful, and that kind of power would make them unstoppable. I would like to hold him accountable when the moment presents itself. Do you think—” I look down and blow out a breath. “No. I couldn’t ask that of you.”

“Couldn’t ask what?” Patrick asks.

I look up and meet their eyes one by one. “I know things are different in the city and you all survive on alliances with other houses. But if the moment came when I could finally hold him accountable—would you stand behind me, given all you know personally? I have tried to make peace with this knowledge for ten years. I have offered it up to the Seven Divine. But I couldn’t rest knowing he might be here doing the same or worse in Lunameade. It’s clear he’ll do anything to hold on to power, but after the breach at North Hold last week, I couldn’t hold my tongue anymore.” I wave a hand. “Maybe it’s just my old memories coming to haunt me, but it feels frighteningly familiar.”

Their faces are grave, and while I know I’m lying about the subject matter, I am confident about the implications I’m making. Rafe is dangerous, and if they didn’t know it before, they do now—and everyone will be better off for it.

Annie and Colleen are both already nodding.

Patrick steps closer. “You have my support,” he says as he claps me on the back. “If there’s one thing we loathe in this circle, it’s a grifter. I think we’ve all seen hints of it over the years, but this brought all these puzzle pieces together. You can count on our support for whatever you need.”

The rest of the group murmurs their agreement.

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 manipulation magic 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.