“It was necessary for you to visit Wink in more ways than one.” Her mood darkened. “There were restrictions placed on me meant to curb my involvement. A few of the more cumbersome vows had to be lifted before this conversation could occur.”

“You mean the blood oath I pledged to Thierry.” I thumped my head against the flat of the door. “Did you bribe her to initiate me?”

Our chat, the baring of our souls, couldn’t have been scripted, right? Who was I kidding? Vause lived to dig deep into the tender heart of people to discover what weaknesses she might use against them.

“No.” She laughed, actually laughed, out loud. As startled as she was, I had to wonder when the last time was that something had tickled her funny bone. I knew the feeling. Coaxing laughter out of the reserved subset we belonged to tended to require herculean effort few made. “Thierry would do the opposite of what I asked to spite me. She believes in the conclave as an institution, but she has no love for magistrates.”

Unexpected relief spiraled through me. I liked the no-nonsense marshal, and I fully intended to make good on her offer to dial her up if I needed help. Due to my current circumstances, I had to hope her rebellious spirit lent itself to helping out those of us about to lose access to restricted information, including sending me a copy of the portal breach video.

Another pressure wave popped my ears. While I was vacillating, Vause had killed the privacy spell.

“An escort has been arranged to bring you to the airport.” Vause held her hands clasped in front of her. “Your belongings were retrieved from Abbeville, and your flight home has already been booked.”

I accepted our meeting was over. “If you hear anything about Harlow…”

“You will be the first person I contact,” she assured me.

I exited her borrowed office and dumped the chai I hadn’t touched in the trash. It didn’t hit me until then that my lips had tingled more than once since Thierry bound me when I spoke to Vause. The magistrate knew so much…and yet… I must hold a piece of the puzzle she had yet to learn. There was only one thing for it. I had to speak to Thierry again.

I located the fae who had escorted me to Vause’s dressing down. “I’m ready to go.”