Page 32 of Antiletum

Delaney did react well to me sharing a piece of my personality with her, one of my interests.

Inspiration strikes, an idea coming on how I can both confide in Delaney and prove myself as a romantic. “Would you like to hear a piece of confidential information?”

She grins wide, not at all stifling her eagerness in our conversation, excitement to hear more glowing across her skin. “Always.”

“Mallin and Selise were nearly paired to others.”

Delaney’s face falls. “What? But they’re so…”

“Perfect together? In love?” I supply.

“Yes.”

“Parliament briefly had in mind to pair Selise with Alaric, who you met earlier.”

Her eyes widen. “The cancer man?”

He knows better than to ever get anywhere near her personal space, but it was prudent to go against typical social courtesy and inform Delaney of Alaric’s gift. Warn her to never,everallow herself to even accidentally touch his skin.

I laugh loud, imagining Alaric’s scowl at being referred to as such. “You should absolutely call him that to his face. Or better yet, say it in front of Blair when you meet her.” Delaney blushes. “But yes.”

“How would that have worked?”

“Because Selise is a filter. She can absorb another’s gift and clear it out of her system like it never existed. Powerful and dangerous when properly trained. But Selise’s magic, like Alaric’s, is a blood magic. Not physical, like ours. Their showings are not usually obvious. The particulars of Selise’s gift were parsed quite late,” I explain. “Far beyond an age when she would have been able to be trained into a weapon. Still, Alaric’s unruly gift wouldn’t have affected her. She would have simply absorbed it into herself and her magic cleansed the sickness. Afilter’s gift is the only thing in this world that could counteract Alaric’s tumors, and only if shortly after receiving his touch. Filters are nearly as difficult to come by as we are.”

Delaney gnaws her lip, and I wish it was my teeth sunk into her flesh. “That does sound like a good reason to pair them. What changed Parliament’s mind?”

I respond with a sly smile.

Understanding dawns on her. I speak before Delaney has the opportunity. “Selise has not been sucked deep in the folds of doing Parliament’s dirty work. But Alaric is. In a meeting with the cabinet, I made the argument that they would have lost one of their most dangerous assets. Being a subtle assassin is much more difficult with a spouse in tow.”

“That wasn’t your true motivation for changing their mind, though.”

A single, simple, completely honest shake of my head. “No.”

Stars practically appear in her eyes, shimmering amongst all that spellbinding blue and brown. My oak tree quivers behind my ribs with disbelieving joy.

Mallin is a fucking genius.

“Selise and Mallin have been in love for a long time. They deserved to be together. They’re from the same social circles. They hadn’t done anything to piss Parliament off and receive a lifetime punishment. And Selise’s filter gift works just as well with Mallin’s magic as it would have Alaric’s.”

Delaney eyes me curiously. “I know it’s rude to ask…”

With a smile, I encourage, “Ask anyway.”

“What’s Mallin’s magic?”

“He’s venomous.”

Delaney’s mouth drops, utterly shocked, as is the general response to learning that kind, caring, rational Mallin is such a deadly weapon. “In what way?” I can see her mind working, replaying all of their previous interactions.

With a chuckle, I reassure, “You have nothing to worry about. Not unless Mallin bites you or tries to put his saliva anywhere on you. In which case, he would promptly die by my hand.”

Delaney laughs. “You would murder your best friend?”

“Without thought or remorse. But it’s of no matter. Mallin would never behave as such.”

I stride up to the stained glass, my fingers pressing softly to a barn owl. “What do you know about when theNocturnedisappeared, Delaney?”