Page 168

For one second, neither of us moved. Then his gaze flicked toward the staircase behind him, and I knew exactly what he was thinking.

“Don’t,” I said.

His eyes came back to mine. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t turn around and pretend you didn’t see me.”

His mouth tightened. “I wasn’t going to.”

“You were.”

He said nothing.

I had spent all morning deciding how I was going to do this. I had rehearsed accusations, clever traps and every piece of evidence that might force him to admit the truth.

But I hadn't come here to announce a conclusion. I had come to test one.

"What did your father threaten to do to me if you refused the Severing?"

Every bit of color left his face.

"Who told you that?"

"No one." I held his gaze. "I think he threatened you. I don't know it. That's why I'm asking."

Kaelen glanced toward the staircase behind him.

It was empty.

When he looked back, his face had gone carefully blank.

"Wren, leave this alone."

"No."

"You don't understand what you're asking."

"Then explain it."

His jaw tightened.

"What did he say?" I asked.

For several seconds, he said nothing. Then his gaze dropped to the soil clinging to his hands.

"He said that if I refused, the Council would deal with you before the Solstice."

The cold moved through me slowly. "Deal with me how?"

"He would sign a cull order himself."

There it was. Not a theory anymore. Not something I had assembled from bruises and timing and the grief coming through the bond.

A fact.

"And if you obey him?"

"No cull order."