Page 163 of The Fifth Heir

“Yes.”

“And you said nothing.”

That was the injury beneath all the others. I had not merely shared information. I had decided which risks she was permitted to know about her own examination, then allowed her to enter the circle without the full truth.

“I believed it would be controlled.”

“I told Malcolm the return channel was wrong.”

“So did I.”

“After we arrived.”

“I should have warned you sooner.”

“You should never have given them information about me without telling me.”

“The council was pursuing a lawful review.”

“Your family was trying to remove me.”

“They told me the petition would identify your power.”

“And you believed them because that was the answer you wanted too.”

I did not deny it.

Talia’s anger would have been easier to face if she had raised her voice. Instead, she stood behind the desk with one hand wrapped around her glowing wrist.

“You defended me today,” she said.

“Yes.”

“I’m grateful.”

The word sounded nothing like forgiveness.

“I didn’t do it to earn gratitude.”

“Good.”

“I did it because the suspension was wrong.”

“And giving them information was right?”

“At the time, I believed it was.”

“What do you believe now?”

“That I gave them the conditions used to build that platform.”

The admission remained between us.

The wall runes shifted from white to red.

Not desire.

Anger.