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“We can figure that out when we’ve slept more than three hours,” Damian said.

“It still doesn’t fix the issue of getting murdered,” Callie said.

“We’re not going to let it come to that,” Damian said.

Kai fidgeted with the string of his hoodie, his forehead creased. He hesitated before saying what was on his mind.

“What if one of us screws up again?” he said quietly, glancing at me and Callie.

I went cold. I thought of Clemency telling me, in her clipped Victorian English, that one of us was flinching and didn’t know it.

“They won’t,” I said quickly. “Priya and Jess are terrified. They’re not going to tell.”

“Good,” Kai said. “I mean that’s not good. That’s not good at all. But it’s good they’re not telling.”

“But I guess we should have a contingency plan anyway,” I said. “Since we’re talking about bodies being dumped.”

Damian looked at Kai.

“You stay with her until the night of the retreat. Don’t let them get near her,” he said, glancing at Callie. “And I’ll do the same with Marlowe.”

That was the only thing about the plan that warmed me.

Kai scooted onto the sofa and pulled Callie close. “I wasn’t planning on leaving her alone.”

“Can you take time off work?” Damian said.

“I’ll call in sick,” Kai said. “I’ve sold enough board wax to earn one fake flu.”

“And what about on the night? What if our cover gets blown right before?” Callie said.

Damian looked at Kai.

“Then I slash their tires, while you distract them,” Damian said.

“Another thing they’ll kill you for.”

“They’ve been killing me slowly since I was thirteen,” Damian said.

Kai looked at Callie, then me. “Your friends can’t know about this. Not until the night of.”

“Okay,” Callie said.

“Babe, you swear?”

“I swear.”

“Marlowe?”

I nodded.

The room fell into a heavy silence, then Kai looked at Damian.

“The Mothers are already getting nasty about the fact that none of them have signed up for the next retreat. We’re running out of excuses.”

I told him about the recruitment plan. The plan to negotiate with the coven, which now felt more terrifying than ever.

He laughed dryly. “That’s insane. Vivienne Blaire?” He looked at me. “Am I supposed to help with that?”