Page 31 of Liar Witch

“Maybe she is. Maybe we’ll find Cooper and I’ll kill him to restore her honour.”

“She won’t want that.”

“If the rat sold us out…”

“The rat is a skinny inventor, living in his parents’ shed.” I snort. “I doubt Cooper sold out anyone. You’ll see when you meet him, he’s no more dangerous than she is. The enemy here is Everett Castleman. He’ll fall with the Queen.”

I take Reva’s renewed silence as an opportunity to get out of bed. There’s a little black dress laid out over the chair and I slip it on gratefully. There’s no underwear, but I don’t mind.

I’m not a prude, I’ve just had enough of being naked after my stint in prison.

“I have a request, if you’re headed to Ilyani.”

“Name it.”

“Do you know where Fort Ilya is?”

“Yeah, on the other side of the bay. It’s just another crystal mine, isn’t it?”

“It needs to be destroyed.”

Reva looks at me. “Why? What’s a mine got to do with killing the Queen?”

“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.” I’m still not certain my entire meeting with Acelin wasn’t a fever dream. “Look at it this way: how do the mages make their money?”

Her grin is pure wickedness. “Turning crystals into mage-tech.”

“You destroy it, you’ll be hitting them in the purse strings.”

“And mages love their money.” She looks truly fierce. “Just Fort Ilya?”

I shake my head. “If you can convince the other Lunars to hit other mines as well…”

“Fort Sole and Coveton are the only other major mines, but you’d need High Priestess Danika and High Priestess Rachel to approve anything of that scale close to their turf.”

“I’ll speak to Danika when I can, but destroying the mines isimportant.”

Reva nods just as Elsie wakes, staring sleepily at me from beneath her own covers.

“You’re up,” the Solar says, “How do you feel?”

“Much better, thanks to you.” I offer her a small smile. “Get some more sleep. I’m going to find Sophie.”

I have several words for the Solar high priestess, and she isn’t going anywhere until I have my answers and she apologises to Elsie.

Of course, Cas and Nos wake the instant I try to open the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Cas murmurs, voice still heavy with sleep.

“I have things to discuss with the High Priestess.” I pause, hating myself. “Things which have to remain private.”

“We’re no—” Cas begins.

“We understand,” Nos cuts across his brother. “We’ll come, but stay outside so you can keep your secrets.”

Cas glowers at his twin, but Nos is blissfully ignorant of the death glare he’s receiving as they fall into step behind me. The twins start arguing in hissed whispers only a few steps into our journey.

“We’re still fae-bound,” Nos mutters, quietly enough that I’m certain I’m not supposed to be able to hear him. “She can’t tell us everything.”