I touched my wrist and took a breath.
“A stable hand. Silas Flume. He’s mentioned in Octavia’s journal, and he is on Melissande’s list.”
“How do you know she wrote down every name? She hardly seems the type to do something so foolhardy,” Lucian said.
“Like Octavia and Anastasia, she likes to keep track. But we don’t have to believe the list she drew. There was a book on her desk with names, dates, and details. I let her believe I hadn’t seen it when I was searching, but I will return tomorrow for it, if Flume proves innocent today.”
“You think she will let you have a look, just by asking?” Gabriel’s father asked skeptically. “She’ll have had the household spells modified against you by now—you’ll have to try other tricks.”
“I hope she tries. They have never been her strong suit. House spells have memory, and she would have been uncovered long ago, if she had used them for anything other than routine domestic punishment. I’ll dream up a good story. Play on what she wants. She will either let me see it or I will take it by force. Ruin Steelcrest’s wards. Give the book to Dresden to end this.”
“Gabriel. Your name will beruined. They’ll throw you inprison,” Alcroft emphasized. “What if Dresden frames you for it?”
Gabriel nodded. “Yes. I know.”
Alcroft slowly nodded back. “Very well. I will always support you, you know that.”
“Yes.” Gabriel’s voice was soft. “I know you will.”
“As will I,” I said.
All eyes turned to me.
“I will go with you to the estate tomorrow,” I said.
Gabriel nodded slowly.
“We all will,” Gabriel’s father said. “If we don’t find Silas Flume guilty today.”
Lucian and Alcroft nodded decisively, and it was done. The date was set.
~*~
Gabriel had been watching the clock closely for the past ten minutes. It had been no more than that since the other men had left—Gabriel speaking to each individually and alone, while I gathered papers. He hadn’t stopped shifting and tapping at the kitchen table since, papers scattered across the top.
I practiced lifting a walnut instead of staring at his lips, his hands. The way that Gabriel had me use magic—intimacy and connection equaling power, whether that was in myself or with someone else—was exhilarating. And real.
I could feel the power connect. I didn’t have totakeit, but I could direct it, join it,rideit.
And maybe walnut the next person who held a knife to my neck.
He rose as soon as the time ticked to clear fifteen. “I need to go to the Steelcrest estate.”
My practice walnut dropped to the floor. “Now?”
“Now.”
I was quiet for a second, plans to seduce the anxiety from him vanishing under the weight of the moment. “You think there will be an attempt made? That we can’t wait for tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
I nodded. “I’m coming with you.”
He shook his head. “Beyond the physical danger, if the high lady sees us together, she’ll make it her mission to destroy you.” He looked away.
“I will deal with it. I’m coming.” I laughed. “You can’t get rid of me so easily now.”
I just hoped that was true.
