“I felt he had information pertinent to the case.” I shifted in my chair under the weight of her consideration. “Since native species are hesitant to trust fae, it seemed like a good opportunity to learn what they knew.”

Vause let that statement hang suspended between us. “Yet you made no attempt to share this information with the conclave.”

“He took my phone.” For the first time, I was glad for it. “Wargs don’t need them for interpack communication. None of the wargs I saw carried one. As isolated as we were, I doubt I would have had reception in any case, so the point is moot.”

Not a total lie. I had held Daphne’s phone in hand, but I hadn’t checked the bars for signal strength. As far as I knew, I was telling her the truth.

“You aren’t on trial here, Camille,” Vause soothed. “Despite his methods, I can’t argue with the results. The two of you managed to do what we could not. You brought down Charybdis and saved a girl’s life.” Her voice remained cool. “If you are satisfied with your treatment, then we won’t press charges against Mr. Graeson or the Chandler pack.”

“I appreciate your generous offer, and I accept. I am satisfied on that front.” I mounted my next argument. “But the kelpie was not Charybdis. The evidence supports magical tampering with the crime scenes, as well as the odd behavior of the beast itself. I posit that Charybdis is a separate entity. We killed a vassal, a thrall, something, but the man behind the murders is still free and killed two more fae today, long after the kelpie’s witnessed time of death.”

“A full investigation is underway,” she assured me.

“What about Harlow?” I still had no answers. “Have they found her?”

“The changeling has not been located, no.”

My spine went stiff at the mention of Harlow’s heritage.

“I see you were aware of the circumstances of the girl’s birth. For your sake I hope that is a recent development.” Her lips formed a moue of disappointment. “After Wink—” ice formed on her next words, “—we couldn’t afford to be ignorant of her deficits. We had her tested and her background thoroughly researched beyond the superficial probing she and other minor contractors receive.”

“What Harlow is—or isn’t—doesn’t concern me. It doesn’t change to fact she’s one of ours, and she deserves our help.” I scooted to the edge of my seat. “I would like to return to Abbeville and provide support for the team.”