Sel stares straight ahead, jaw tight in what I can only interpret as resignation. He’s not fighting this, and that sends fear rippling through me. Sel doesn’t just give up. Sel doesn’t just… stop. For the first time, I get a good look at him. Deep shadows have settled in under his eyes, the skin there thin.

The Merlin who had the box, Ramirez, approaches Erebus with two black iron handcuffs, heavy and wide. Erebus takes them from him. “What are those for?” I ask. “What are you doing—”

Sel lets the Seneschal lift his left hand, snapping the first iron cuff around his wrist. The loud click finishes with a silent pop in my ears, the pressure changed. Sel winces, like he’d just been dealt some invisible blow.

“Selwyn Emrys Kane,” Erebus says, “you are now under arrest for six counts of negligence to the Southern chapter, one count each of gross negligence to your charge and to the crown, and one count of attempted murder of the Scion of Arthur. You will be detained until the date of your trial is determined.”

“No!” I step in front of Erebus. “Aldrich said you and Cestra wanted to interrogate him about the Gates. What are these other charges?”

“The Gates?” Amusement and disdain color Sel’s voice equally. He doesn’t even address the other accusations. “Is that the story you’re telling the Order? That I opened the Gates instead of Lord Davis?” He releases a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “Of course it is. Now you can use me as a scapegoat, and you’ll not only bury the war, but you’ll bury the betrayal of the Order’s most visible and loyal servant. Lies and—”

“And misdirection, yes.” Erebus dips his chin in acknowledgment.

Bury the war. I’d seen that one. Misdirection. William’s words. But we were only half-right. Sel saw the rest right away; the Regents don’t just intend to bury the war, they want to bury the betrayal, too. And arresting Sel for these other unannounced crimes? Not just a distraction.

They mean to put him away for real.

My still bruised, aching chest tightens painfully, like the air has been knocked out of me all over again. This can’t be happening.

“What will the Council say to the Legendborn families and Scions and Squires about why I opened those Gates, I wonder?” Sel sneers. “Let me guess: ‘The too powerful Kingsmage sadly succumbed to his blood. Just like his mother.’ ”

Erebus lifts a brow. “And how would you know about what happened to your mother?”

Sel laughs. “Secrets don’t stay buried forever, old man.”

“Some do. And some should.”

“I don’t accept this!” I spit.