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He froze on his sip, and a victorious grin split my lips. I hadn’t been sure I wanted Vale to be one of us, but she seemed to be genuinely trying. And I thought, maybe she could be good for Cypherion.

Satisfied, I leaned back against my chair. Cyph’s gaze flicked to me from the corner of his eye, and he shook his head.

“I hate being on this end of the interrogation,” he grumbled.

A barking laugh burst from me. How often had Cypherion sat with Malakai or me, forcing us to discuss things we’d rather leave untouched? Spirits, he’d prodded me for years over my feelings for Ophelia. He’d been the one to help me navigate her relationship with Malakai, ensuring I did nothing to interfere with them or with the nature of our closely-tied group.

Not that I would have intentionally, but there were countless nights when he kicked me beneath the table for staring at her too long or offered to walk home with the two of us after a few too many drinks so we wouldn’t be alone in the quiet night. Who knows what my desperately-in-love, alcohol-ridden brain would have decided it had been an opportune moment to share.

“It was only a matter of time until you needed my sage advice,” I chirped.

“What do you have for me, Master?” he joked, but I tilted my head, liking the sound of that title.

Not now, Vincienzo, I corrected myself. Twisting my mug between my palms, I mulled over his predicament.

“We know Vale lied to us. She hid secrets that could have aided in saving Damenal, preventing the attack that killed hundreds and devastated a city that was only beginning to come back to life.”

“Not helping.” His fingers tightened on his mug.

“That anger,” I said, pointing at his white-knuckles. “What if that is misdirected?”

“I know she didn’t cause the attack, Tolek. That’s not why I’m angry.”

“But have you considered she may not have had a choice in the role she played?”

“I have.” He relaxed his grip, but tension held the rest of his body on a sword’s edge. “And I don’t know what’s worse.”

There it is. A part of Cypherion cared undeniably for Vale. If he didn’t, her confession wouldn’t have held such a sting. He’d be angry, but it wouldn’t have mattered whether her hand had been forced or if she was operating on her own motives.

Now if only we could figure out how to untangle the mess Titus had made.

“We also know Vale was enslaved to a temple.” I didn’t know the details of that history, other than its repugnant, illegal existence. From the way Cypherion mumbled beneath his breath and avoided my eye, I wondered if he knew more than we thought. “So it’s possible she’s still tied to some oaths.”

“And if she is,” Cypherion sighed, like this was painful to admit, “it’s forced.”

“It is.” I nodded.

“Lyria has not spoken directly with Titus,” Cyph said. “I wrote to her to ask after we arrived in Brontain.”

I considered. “He’s hiding from the alliance.”

“He’s hiding from something, clearly. He sent a general and soldiers, though. Your sister believes them to be well-intentioned and claims their readings have been beneficial to the war effort.”

I could not make sense of that. Sabotage us with one ally only to provide a true one. “He isn’t against the Mystique alliance,” I thought out loud. “He’s clearly got an agenda hidden somewhere, but it’s not that.”

“Unless he wants to topple our army from the inside.”

“That general would have to be an extremely talented liar to get past my sister.” Even as I said it, though, nerves twisted my gut. “And any idea why Vale’s readings aren’t working?”

The mention of it had CK curling his hands into fists. “No, but she can’t keep reading if it’s going to end in her seizing.”

I’d barely been aware of what was happening during the Angellight test, too focused on Ophelia, but the glimpses I’d caught of Vale within the fog had chilled me.

I scrubbed my hand down my face, dragging it across the stubble of my jaw. “I wish I could return to centuries ago and ask Annellius Alabath what this is all about.”

“Me, too.” With a sigh, Cypherion drained the rest of his ale.

“You know, you’re good at this,” I said. “The information. Balancing it all.”