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“Emrys,” I say. “Return to the keep tonight.”
He walks away, cracking his knuckles, pretending not to hear.
“You fool no one,”I whisper into his mind.“We know you are at the palace, so we are not.”
He sends back,“Give my share to the wildling.”
“Let him go,” Cait grumbles. “Let him play with his toys. You have other problems to deal with.”
She glances at the silhouette of Willow crouching, her head hanging low. I touch her mind with mine, checking her well-being. She is intoxicated and about to pass out. I should go to her.
“Fox.” Cait stops me, a palm to my chest. She gives my bloody hands a pointed look. “This is the last time I cover for you.”
“I know.”
She drops her hand and glances to where Emrys stalks stragglers. Once he is out of earshot, she asks, “Do you have the payment?”
“Nowhere near five hundred.” I think about the lives I took. I went as far as Wulfenite, and still, not a single body erupted with wisps at the time of death. “They are not abundant here like in Elphyne.”
“Then perhaps you should return there.”
“I can’t.” The hive suffers if we separate for long.
This is probably Titania’s plan—anything to stop Oberon’s reclamation of us.
“I’ve known you long,” Cait says, “but I won’t endanger my crew unless you pay us.”
“I know.”
“If you can’t get it to me soon, you’re out of options.”
“I know.”
She sighs. “Fine. Then you know what to do. Take her memories.”
The idea of violating Willow’s mind sickens me. “No.”
“Is this how you want her to remember you?” She gestures at my bloody body. “You were the one who sat in here, night after night, bemoaning how she rejected you with that word. And now you want her to remember it?”
I grind my teeth. It is the last thing I want. “I need her trust more.”
“If you don’t, I will,” she warns.
“Touch her,” I snarl, my voice turning guttural, “and our deal is off.”
A hissing feline growl erupts from her throat. “This whole place hinges on that deal. Theresistancehinges on that deal.”
In return for letting me feed here, I allow her to tap my aura when I erase memories. She distills her memory-burning enchantment from this. If I have to give up my anonymity to protect Willow, I will.
I meet Cait’s unwavering stare until she curses under her breath and jabs a finger at me. “This is thelasttime I clean up your mess.”
I gather Willow into my arms. She stirs, furrowing her brow.Flickeringmight make her ill again, but I have no choice.
“Fox, a word of caution.” Cait plucks a flow charm from Milford’s sash and puts it in Willow’s pocket. “Go straight to the keep. Don’t let anyone see you. The last thing you want is for Sylvanar to find out you killed his son.”
“Understood.”
Chapter
