“He is not yourpet,” Father jumps in. “He’s our tool. As far as I’m concerned, he’s our property. He has chosen to reject our kindness. It’s time we do things another way.”
My hands lift just to slowly curl as I let out a breath. “Weneedhim.”
“Do we?” Thorne asks. Even when I glare, he doesn’t back down—which speaks to his hatred for Sawyer. “Now we know how he trains women. Can’t we just copy him?”
I try not to explode. Thisagain.
The information we have is important. It was worth the effort.
But it isn’t enough.
“You can’t justcopya craftsman. If you watched Juniper’s fingers while she played the harp, could you take her place?”
“Luna,” Raven groans. “Just listen to us.”
I stomp my foot once like a small child not getting their way… I really am losing it.
I need my bed. My books. Mylife.
Soon. I can have it all soon.
“All of you complain about having to deal with Mr. Hansley, butIam the one who has invested the most into this project, and I will not let you all ruin the progress I’ve made. My three weeks in hell will not be for nothing because none of you are capable of patience!”
The room goes quiet. No one says anything for several seconds. They just stare, transfixed by my unraveling.
“Luna’s right,” Thorne says in his defeated puppy dog way. “She’s invested the most in this.”
“I’m sorry, are you on the council?” Father asks.
Thorne hesitates, but then shakes his head.
Father points to the door and doesn’t need to say the words for Thorne to obey. He looks at me for a moment, just barely a pause—gracing me with the opportunity to defend him. Advocate for his presence, his importance.
I don’t. There are only so many battles I can win, and Thorne’s pride isn’t my priority.
He sulks as he leaves. No one says goodbye.
“I’m tired of this conversation,” Father says, massaging his temples. He drops his hand and it dramatically slaps his side. “You have until tomorrow. If you haven’t found the traitor before then, we’re doing things my way.”
Thorne’s way, you mean.
He wanders toward the exit. “Go get some rest. And take that crap off your face… You look like a whore.”
I stare at his back as he leaves Raven and I alone.
“I’m sorry he made you…” She twirls a finger at her face, lips sunk in a frown. “Do that.”
“Yes, it was real torture.”
“It’s sexist and degrading… As if you weren’t beautifulbefore.”
Her pitch catchesever so slightly, and it’s paired with the gentlest cringe. The face you make when you lie to a mother about the adoring face of an ugly child.
“He was trying to help me look presentable. In his culture, this is part of that.”
“Are you really defending him?”
“No.” My eyes close as I take a deep breath. I open them on the exhale. “I’m tired. I’m going to my room… I want you to keep security on Sawyer at a distance and work on sorting out who he spoke to at the ceremony. You might start with Zephyr. I think I saw her near him.”
