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Darrigan told them then about the future he and Esta had seen in St. Louis and the years beyond.

“In the future we saw, the Conclave is the turning point. Because of the attack on the Conclave, the entire country will turn against the old magic,” Darrigan said. “People who live far from Manhattan, people who maybe haven’t ever thought about Mageus, will learn to fear those with the old magic. The whole country will come to see the old magic as a threat, and they’ll outlaw it. The Defense Against Magic Act will make magic and anyone with a connection to it illegal. After the DAM Act, every Mageus on these shores will be in constant danger of being discovered and rounded up.

“But now we know—it isn’t Mageus who attack the Conclave.” He turned to Jianyu. “If what Jack told you is true, it’s going to be Jack himself who attacks.”

“Just as it was he who attacked the church yesterday,” Jianyu confirmed.

“That’s not surprising. He’s done this sort of thing before—or he will,” Harte told him. “He’ll use the power he’s gained from the Book to make it appear that Mageus are at fault, and then he’ll swoop in as the hero of the day.”

“We have to reveal what he’s doing,” Ruby told them. “People need to know that Jack’s the one who attacked the church and killed Theo. They need to know he’s planning another attack.”

“Who will tell them?” Viola asked.

“I can,” Ruby said. “I can go back, write article after article. Do you know how many papers my firsthand account will sell? Someone will publish it. They won’t be able to resist.”

“No one will believe it,” Viola said. “When do they ever believe a woman’s words? They won’t want to believe what you write, no matter the truth. I saw the crowd outside of St. Paul’s when Jack brought Theo’s broken body like a trophy to lay at their feet. They never questioned him because they wanted to believe the tale he told. It only confirms the hate and fear that live in their hearts about our kind.”

“Viola’s right,” Darrigan said. “It’s not enough to reveal Jack’s plan and hope the authorities step in. Hell, the authorities are probably on his side.”

“So we kill him,” Viola said, her eyes flashing.

“That will only confirm the public’s beliefs,” Jianyu told her.

“We can’t kill Jack,” Darrigan told them. “Remember? Esta tried that, and it only released the demon inside him. It made things worse.”

Jianyu believed the tale Darrigan had spun about ancient beings and cursed souls. He’d seen the living blackness take over Jack Grew, had he not? And the danger of the goddess that inhabited the Book matched too closely to what he’d overheard in Morgan’s mansion.

“Perhaps there is a way to control the danger that lives within Jack Grew’s skin so we can eliminate the threat of them both,” Jianyu told Darrigan. “We have Newton’s Sigils.”

Darrigan frowned in confusion.

“If what Morgan said is to be believed, the sigils were created to control the power in the Book—a power you say might have been this goddess, Seshat,” Jianyu explained. “Could they not also control the power in Jack?”

“But we have no idea how to use them,” Viola reminded him.

“Nibsy has Morgan’s papers, which means he has the answers we need,” Jianyu said. “If we retrieve those documents, perhaps we could use the sigils and eliminate the threat within Jack before the Conclave.”

“It’s worth a try,” Darrigan told them. “Since I never took the mark, I should be the one to go. Dolph’s cane can’t touch me.”

“You cannot go alone. You have not seen the papers we require,” Jianyu said.

“No, Jianyu,” Cela said. “I saw what that boy did to Viola. You can’t go running into danger as well. Not as long as you’re wearing the mark.”

The worry in her voice warmed him and terrified him just the same.

“I do not fear Nibsy Lorcan,” Jianyu told her. “This twist of magic around my wrist is no less dangerous than anything he can do. One way or another, my life is marked.”

“You’re talking like you’ve given up,” Cela said, her brows drawing together.

“No,” Jianyu corrected. “But fate has thrown its dagger. Perhaps if I reach for the handle, I will not be caught by the blade.”

“Or maybe you’ll be sliced to bits,” Cela said darkly.

He inclined his head, acknowledging her point. “But the danger in the Strega might prove useful in other ways,” he told her as he considered the dangerously tight cord around his wrist. “Tom Lee may have more patience if he believes I am still seeking the cane. Perhaps I might buy myself some time.”

“We need to act, and we need to do it before the Conclave.” Darrigan looked suddenly lost and unsure as he scrubbed his hand through his hair. “So much has happened, and the Conclave is only a couple of weeks away. I thought we’d have more time. We were supposed to have more time. If Esta doesn’t arrive before then—”

Darrigan stopped as though he’d said too much.