Saxony scoffed, like Wesley couldn’t possibly understand their ways. And she was right. Wesley didn’t get how someone like Saxony, who had fire burning in her veins and the scars of war on her fingertips, could step down and let someone else make her decisions for her.

“So what parts of Uskhanya have you set up bases in to protect?” Wesley asked. “What did the Doyen say about all of this when you spoke to her about an alliance?”

The almost chastised looks on their faces made Wesley want to go straight back into Zekia’s hold. At least she and Ashwood had a plan.

“You did speak to the Doyen, didn’t you?” he asked, already knowing he wouldn’t like the answer.

“We can’t just send a bat to a world leader,” Tavia said. “And we’ve been busy. We’ve been—”

“Sitting around sniping at each other?” Wesley asked.

Tavia gave him a familiar I’m going to punch you kind of a look. “What was your contribution to the war effort these last few weeks?”

“I didn’t die,” Wesley said. “And since you so clearly need me around, I’d say that I did you a favor by staying alive.”

Tavia didn’t argue with that, which made a change.

“We need to speak to Doyen Fenna Schulze and align with her forces,” Wesley said. “While you were building an army, did none of you think about the army that was already out there? The entire military force of Uskhanya could be on our side right now.”

“Yeah,” Saxony said, rolling her eyes. “Because what the officials want in the fight against magic is a bunch of Crafters and crooks.”

“Except that I already negotiated that deal.”

It seemed like a lifetime ago when Wesley was back in the amity precinct with Tavia, negotiating Saxony’s release with the Vice Doyen. Agreeing to kill the Kingpin in exchange for becoming the Kingpin. It didn’t seem possible that only a few months had passed, rather than years.

Wesley pictured himself then, feet kicked up on the table and his suit not pressed with blood, feeling like nothing in the world could hurt him.

“Vice Doyen Armin Krause gave us permission to go after the Kingpin and said that we’d have Schulze’s backing,” Wesley reminded them. “Since the Kingpin isn’t dead, as far as I’m concerned that deal still stands. It’s about time we collected.”

“You really think she’ll join forces with us?” Tavia asked.

“I don’t think she has a choice.”

None of them did now.