“I want to speak with you, Sera, and Zara,” Mirae continued. “Just the three of you. Alone.”
I didn’t answer immediately.
She met my gaze, reading the hesitation. “This isn’t a test.”
“And what about my pack?” I asked.
“They’ll be safe,” she said. “I have rooms prepared for them. Food. Guards who know better than to ask questions. Theyshould rest. You’ll need everyone clearheaded for your journey tomorrow.”
I considered it, then nodded. “All right.”
I turned to Elias. “Get settled. We’ll regroup in the morning.”
He searched my face briefly, then inclined his head. “We’ll be close.”
“I know.”
Griff gave me a look that said, ‘don’t get clever without us,’ then followed Elias toward the door with the others. Nox lingered half a second longer, mouth twitching.
“Try not to agree to anything too expensive,” he said.
“No promises,” I replied with a smirk.
When the room had quieted again, Mirae gestured to the inked girl at the door. “Fetch Zara and Sera.”
Off she went again to do as she was bid.
Mirae poured fresh tea into three cups, the gesture unhurried. “You don’t often see women like you survive this long,” she offered, handing me one. “Not without becoming something unpleasant.”
“I try to be efficient instead,” I said.
She smiled faintly and didn’t say anything in return.
Zara arrived first. Sera followed, her gaze already assessing the room.
Sera crossed her arms. “I’m guessing we didn’t get invited here for compliments.”
“No,” Mirae said. “You’re here because what comes next requires a plan.”
“A plan for what?” Sera asked suspiciously.
“To expose London for what they’re really doing,” Mirae said plainly.
Zara glanced at me. “And we’re going to plan that with her?”
“Yes,” I said. “Mirae has information we don’t.”
Mirae leaned back against the table. “Information is only as useful as what you do with it. London thrives on plausible deniability. They don’t care what’s true. They only care about what they can make appear to be true.”
“So we need something they can’t dismiss,” Sera said.
“Exactly,” Mirae replied. “You need faces. Names. Stories the city already knows.”
Zara’s eyes narrowed. “You’re talking about people.”
“More specifically, wolves,” Mirae corrected. “Wolves who were once human enough for London to mourn. Or fear. Or exploit.”
I felt the shape of the idea settle. “You’re talking about retrieving some of the wolves that went feral.”
