Page 44

Sarina leaned forward. “Don’t be blind ,” she growled.

“We’re responsible for the lives of three of Kalahad’s mages.

I don’t care if they betrayed us. You know the way rumors spread, Ivain.

We need to be there to control the narrative.

If we aren’t, people will speculate, and speculation will turn into facts faster than you can blink.

If we’re present, we can manage what people think.

We can show strength, gratitude, and whatever else we need them to see.

Don’t forget, this , helping us—it was always a power play for him.

Either he was the hero who brought back the Savior of Ebondrift or, barring that, the victim whose precious resources were wasted on a fool’s errand endorsed by a feckless leader. He wins either way.”

“Or maybe he was just looking for Taly,” Skye suggested.

Ivain pointed, as if to say, see . Taly got the sense they were starting to loop around in their own argument.

“I’m sorry, Sarina—I know you’ve already started plotting.

But do we really still believe that Kalahad is innocent in all this?

He sent Vaughn to capture her, and now that he’s failed, he’s stepping in himself.

If we do this, we’ll be taking her right to him. ”

“It’s a possibility,” Sarina conceded. “Probable even. And all the more reason to go. Let’s say he is a part of this.

Let’s say he’s the leader of the whole damn cabal.

That means he has information that he may or may not choose to leverage against us, depending on how willing we are to play along.

Ivain, how quickly would this city fall if it came out that you were harboring a time mage? ”

It wasn’t meant as an accusation, but the words landed like a stone in the pit of Taly’s stomach. Sarina was right. If the wrong people found out what she was, everything could fall apart.

How many lives would crumble because of her? How many innocent bystanders would pay for the crime of her existence?

“I’ll go,” she said.

“No, you won’t,” Skye countered immediately. “We’re not going to dangle you in front of the enemy just to keep up appearances.”

“Don’t tell me what to fucking do,” Taly snapped. “I’ll go.”

“Language,” Sarina murmured, defeated.

To be clear, Taly hated parties. The worst part of summer was the sudden influx of mainland nobility and the flimsy excuse for a social season Sarina had managed to scrape together over the years.

However… “If being there helps, then that’s what I’ll do. I’ll go.”

“Taly, you have to understand—” Ivain began.

“I know,” she said. “He’s going to parade me around like some new favorite toy.”

“Or kidnap you,” Skye interjected. Taly rolled her eyes. “This isn’t some clambake or beach bonfire with the Valehursts, Taly. It’s the Dawn Court. They aren’t here to drink and laugh—they’re here to watch, to calculate, to find weaknesses.”

“We’ll be in a guarded townhouse in the middle of the city with you and Ivain both in the same room,” Taly shot back. “I dare anyone to try something.”

The look on Skye’s face said he couldn’t decide between feeling flattered or irked. Ivain’s was a close mirror.

Sarina patted Taly’s arm proudly. That was the sweet spot.

Ivain dragged a hand over his face tiredly. “Shards, you’re really going to make me do this. Let’s say I did agree with your logic, Sarina, that still doesn’t solve the obvious problem.”

Taly felt every eye shift to her. “Right,” she said, tucking a piece of hair behind a pointed Fey ear. “Party in my honor, but they’re expecting a human.”

“Aimee,” Ivain said. She’d been sitting silently on the couch, half-listening as she stared into the fire. When he said her name, she inclined her head. “Where are you on Taly’s glamour?”

Taly expected Aimee to say a lot of things. That she hadn’t started, or a problem had come up, or she’d just decided not to do it. She always was the petty type, and Taly had wiped the floor with her that morning. Probably not the best move in hindsight. Not until she had a glamour in hand.

What she didn’t expect was for Aimee to pick at her nails and say nonchalantly, “It’s finished.”

Taly’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest. “You mean I can go outside?”

Aimee spared her a glance. “Once it’s fitted.”

Excitement curled in Taly’s chest, pounding harder and harder with every beat. She could feel it already, so close now— freedom .

It wasn’t a lack of gratitude. Far from it.

Ivain had turned the townhouse into a haven.

Still, safety wasn’t the same as freedom.

In the loop, she’d relived the same hours over and over, like a puppet in a script with no way out.

And after only a few days, the townhouse was beginning to feel like the same trap—a set of rooms she couldn’t leave, time slipping past while she was stuck.

She needed… she wasn’t sure what she needed. Air, space—anything but just waiting, watching the hours tick by as the world moved on without her.

“And exactly how sure are we about this?” Skye asked, always right there to burst her bubble.

“The most powerful mages in the city will all be gathered in one room, and we’re, what?

Just going to parade a time mage wearing a little bit of water magic in front of them?

Let Aimee go in her place. If she can glamour Taly, she can glamour herself just as easily. ”

“No,” Aimee said in that same bored tone. “My name is also on the invitation, and I will be going. No offense, Talya, but you’ve already taken my time and marriage prospects. I won’t let you take my social life.”

“No offense taken,” Taly replied offhandedly, still set on the task at hand. Disarming Skye’s anxiety so they could get back to the part about her leaving the townhouse. “If we’re really worried about how it will hold up to scrutiny, let’s test it first.”

Taly reached into her memory. She remembered sneaking into a bar one night with some of the village girls. They wanted to “test” their cosmetic glamours before the upcoming dance. Something about heat, humidity, lighting… She’d gone for the danger.

“How about a bar?” she said. “If we go late enough, everyone will be drunk, and they either won’t notice, won’t remember, or nobody will believe them if they say they saw a time mage in a flickering glamour.”

It seemed like a foolproof plan.

Not that it stopped Skye from deadpanning a simple, inevitable, “No.” Taly whipped around, unable to hide her disappointment. “We start less risky and work our way up. A walk through the park or a visit to a shop.”

“The shops are closed already,” Aimee said.

“Which is why we can do it tomorrow .” Skye gave Taly a look that clearly said they already had plans for tonight.

And she liked those plans. Hell, she needed them.

But…

When was the last time she felt the thrill of being part of a crowd? How long since she smelled the sweet aroma of cheap beer, puke, and life happening all around her?

Taly shifted her gaze to Ivain and Sarina. “I’m sorry, but do we really think it’s a good idea to do our first test in broad daylight? Think about it—a crowded market, nosy neighbors, and half the city wide-awake? It just doesn’t make sense. If we go tonight, we dodge most of the gawkers.”

Skye raised a brow, giving her that long, slow stare—the one that said he was onto her.

“That’s a fair point,” Ivain admitted, frowning slightly. “I don’t love the idea of rushing into this, but… if we only have a few days before this party…”

“Less than a week,” Sarina interjected. “That’s not a lot of time to prepare. We’ll need to find you a dress, shoes, do something with those nails…”

Taly pried her hand from Sarina’s. Her nails were fine. Cut short and stained from the cigar, but otherwise fine. “We can’t do any of that until the glamour’s stable,” she said. “If it needs adjusting, we need to know now. We can’t afford to burn a night.”

They were nearly there, teetering on the edge of seeing reason. She could see it in the way Sarina stopped arguing and Ivain started thinking. They just needed one more little push.

“I second the bar,” Aimee said.

Taly’s head whipped toward her, eyes wide.

“What?” Aimee snapped, glaring back. “Don’t look at me like that.

Occasionally, you have a good idea.” She folded her arms. “Glamours are sensitive to heat and humidity, any stray bits of magic. I’ve done what I can, but the environment inside the townhouse is too controlled to get a complete picture of how it might perform in a crowd. A bar would… actually be a good test.”

It was high praise, coming from someone who usually bit her tongue bloody before agreeing with anything Taly had to say.

“Well, I guess it’s decided then,” Ivain said, and Taly let her grin stretch. “Sarina, you win. I’ll go to your stupid party. Skye, Taly—get yourselves sorted. It looks like we’re going out tonight. My vote’s for The Rusty Tankard. Cheap, loud, and everyone minds their own damn business.”

“No,” Sarina interrupted firmly, shaking her head. “You’re not going.”

“What do you mean I’m not going?”

“Exactly that,” Sarina said. “The Tankard might be your kind of place, but half the regulars know your name, and the rest would remember if you showed up with Taly. We can’t take that risk. If this goes sideways and someone connects the dots, it could lead them back here.”

He scowled, shaking his head. “This is ridiculous. We’re talking about a bar run, not a parade through town. I know how to keep my head down. Besides, what about Skye? He’s not exactly a ghost.”

“He’s also not the face of the city right now.” She had him there. Sarina turned to Skye and Taly next. “You two need to take others, though. A small group is better—easier to blend in. Take Kato, also Aiden. He should be back soon from his shift at the healing park. You too, Aimee.”

Aimee’s brows shot up. “Really? I’m going?” Something almost like a smile cracked the familiar mask of disdainful boredom. “I mean, of course, I’m going. It’s my glamour, after all. Why wouldn’t I?”

Ivain sighed deeply. “Fine,” he grumbled. “I get it. Leave the old man to guard the fort.”

“Hey,” Taly said, rising. “Every adventure needs a wise elder to stay back and lecture the youngsters when they return.”

He gave her a flat look, but his voice softened. “If anything happens— anything —you come straight back here, understand? No heroics, no risks.”

Taly nodded eagerly. Skye looked less happy about the decision, but he’d get over it.

They were going out tonight. It was time to rejoin the world.