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In the morning everyone confirmed the return of the same familiar nightmares. Again Ren and Cora could feel Clyde’s presence. A shadow, always out of sight, lurking in the backdrop of their memories. For some reason, Theo hadn’t experienced anything like that yet. The inconsistency continued to nag at Ren. A riddle she couldn’t quite solve.

As Cora went to check on her traps, Theo took a seat next to Ren. His presence was enough to draw out the thoughts that had been rattling inside her mind.

“I met Timmons during our sophomore year. She was so pretty that I just kind of assumed she was one of you. Didn’t take long to figure out she was as Lower Quarter as they come.”

“Meaning?”

“She cursed the way only someone who grew up on the wharf can curse,” Ren replied, a ghost of a smile on her face. “And she possessed the only quality we value. She was steady. Folks down in the Lower Quarter could care less about flash. We want fire. We shape the stones that build the city. We forge the weapons that march to war. Timmons never flinched away from our friendship. Not once. She was steady from the very start.”

Theo was nodding. “My family didn’t want to recruit her.”

Ren looked at him in surprise. The words stung a little. What did she—or Timmons—care about the Broods and their damn interests? He saw the look on her face and smiled.

“My father interviewed Timmons himself. It went well until the end. He said she was one of the strongest enhancers he’d ever encountered. But at the end of the interview…”

Theo looked embarrassed.

“Oh, please,” Ren said, leaning in. “Please tell me what she said.”

He grinned now. “Well, he asked if she’d be willing to work with him personally. She eyed him up and down and said, ‘There’s only so much shine I can bring out in an antique.’ ”

Ren snorted at that. The idea of Timmons knocking Landwin Brood down a few pegs was the barest of silver linings. It hurt to laugh. It felt good to laugh.

“What a delight.”

And what a loss. Ren’s good humor vanished as she saw the shadow cast by their remembered light. It was her fault that Timmons was dead. If only she’d been more careful, more focused. She’d let her guard down too many times now. She’d allowed herself to enjoy the conjured fantasy that they were safe. Safe was a distraction out here. Ren knew surviving this would require everything she had. Now her mind was working double. It was time for a more aggressive approach.

“I don’t want to wait for the next attack,” she said.

Cora was circling back to camp. Theo nodded at Ren’s suggestion.

“Meaning?”

“We know what we’re up against now. We know how his magic works. Let’s set a trap for him. Meet the enemy on our own terms for once.”

He nodded again. “What’d you have in mind?”

Her answer was simple.

“Pain.”

33

A few hours later they found the perfect spot.

The valley narrowed to a single trail. It was exposed to sunlight, which meant most of the snow had melted away. Having actual, solid stones beneath their feet would be crucial. It was also slightly elevated, with a decent escape route. Ren glanced at her two accomplices.

“Are you sure you’re okay being in front?” she asked Theo.

He nodded. “Just don’t miss.”

She glanced back at Cora. “I’m sorry that you have to be the mindless goat.”

“At least I’m a cute goat.”

“That you are.”

Their plan was straightforward. Ren got the idea from an old textbook. She remembered one of the old rulers of Kathor supposedly wore a specialized ring that would prick his finger every few minutes. It was a specific, intentional design, because the best way to battle mental manipulation was a physical countermeasure. She was doing her best to ignore the part of that story where the king killed himself by accidentally poisoning his own blood.