Page 106 of Down Comes the Night

The inside of Wren’s mouth tasted like ash.

“I didn’t think you had it in you. I was wrong to doubt you,” Isabel said. “I’m reinstating you to the Guard under Una’s command. You’ll resume your duties as soon as we return to Knockaine.”

Wren opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She waited for the excitement. The thrill. Therelief.After everything she’d endured these past few weeks, she had what she wanted. But all she could see was Hal, blindfolded, his head hung low.

She’d spent so many years chasing her aunt’s approval. So many years searching for a way to prove that she could be rational. That she could be ruthless. Now she’d done it. So wherewas it,that spark of joy? The sudden burst of self-love? The fulfillment she’d always imagined? Her whole life, she’d been accused of feeling too much.

Now she felt nothing at all.

All her life, she had thought she would be loved if she managed her emotions. That she would be worthy if she became impressive, indispensable. Now, she saw it for the lie it was. Earning Isabel’s love would mean becoming the girl Isabel wanted her to be. It would mean taking a knife to her bleeding heart once and for all.

Approval meant nothing if Isabel didn’t loveher. It certainly didn’t mean a damn thing if Hal was going to hang.

Wren shook her head. “Your Majesty, I’m incredibly grateful. But I have a few things to say first, if you’d allow me to speak freely about the matter of Hal Cavendish.”

“Spare no details.”

Wren reached into her bag and pulled out a file. “This contains everything you need to know.”

Isabel’s rare jovial mood shattered beneath her confusion. “What is that?”

Inside were three vital things. A vial full of goddessblood poison. Blood samples, the DNA of which would exactly match the Guard’s records on Jacob Byers. A lengthy list of shipping records that began a few months before the first soldier went missing.

It was enough to save Hal. Ithadto be enough to save him.

“This,” Wren said, “is evidence that will indict Lord Alistair Lowry in the disappearance of our soldiers.”

Surprise flickered across Una’s face. Anger—then impatience—reddened Isabel’s.

“I see.” The queen turned to the window again, the whip of her skirts washing the air cold. “Burn it.”

All Wren’s confident composure split like a dropped plate. “Your Majesty?”

“I’m well aware of Alistair Lowry’spredilections.” Wren watched the reflection of Isabel’s face in the window freeze over. “He gave me his solemn word that he would touch none of my subjects—only Vesria’s. The snake.”

“You knew?” Una asked, a quiet fury creeping into her voice. “What she claims is true?”

“Yes.” The admission came freely, easily. “It’s true.”

Una’s gloved fists trembled. “For how long?”

“I knew from the first, as soon as Vesria’s soldiers began disappearing,” Isabel said. “I had my suspicions when the first of the Guard vanished, but their deaths are sacrifices to preserve this alliance.”

“When you sent us to look for signs of them, it was all a charade,” Una said hollowly, almost to herself. “You dismissed Wren for nothing.”

Wren didn’t understand. Shecouldn’tunderstand. “But if you were working together, why didn’t you let me accept his offer in the first place? He requested my services specifically.”

“I didn’t trust you to carry out this mission,” Isabel said. “I knew well what he wanted, and I suspected your feelings would get in the way of your duty. You have one last chance to prove me wrong.”

Wren knew a warning when she heard one, but she couldn’t bring herself to heed it. “Tell me where exactly I’ve failed to carry out my duty as a soldier. With all due respect, Your Majesty, it seems to me that I’ve done better on this mission than you ever could have hoped. I’ve given you all the evidence you need to stopa war and punish Lowry for his crimes against Danu. If you’d justlook—”

Isabel rounded on her. “I thought I made myself clear. I have no interest in your evidence. I don’t expect a child like you to understand.”

“There’s nothing to understand! If you pursue this case against Lowry, there will be no war to fight. You won’t need him anymore,” Wren pressed. “We can prove that we’ve committed no acts of war against Vesria. How can you turn your back on that?”

“Because this was our agreement.” Isabel lifted her chin, deepening the shadows on her face. “Lowry would orchestrate a break in the armistice. And with Cernos’s support, we’ll win once and for all.”

It was exactly as Lowry had said. Their evidence meant nothing. And if she executed Hal, it would be the final straw. The war Isabel wanted would finally come.