Aina straightened, one hand going to the hilt of her knife, but Raurie shook her head. “I’m not a snitch. Do you think I want to help the Diamond Guards, when they’ve been arresting and killing people of my religion for years? I don’t care what their reward is when they would just as soon throw me in jail. But people are after you, and now you want to put my family in danger.”

“About that…” she began, with no idea of what to say next.

Ryuu spoke before she could come up with a reply. “Please, I’m Kouta’s brother. We’re trying to find him, not kill him, and we need your help.”

Raurie took a step back from them. “My aunt is always risking something when she takes on jobs like these, but she’s not reckless. Do you think we’ll be safe if the Diamond Guards find out we helped a wanted criminal with that big of a price on her head? I can’t put her or my uncle in danger.”

As she spoke, Aina turned slightly away from Ryuu. She didn’t need him figuring out that money wasn’t her main priority either. But then she remembered what Teo had said about Raurie working her whole life to get her family out of the Stacks. She hadn’t spoken personally to Raurie before, but she’d seen her in the black market all the time, for years, working in the same corner. Her uncle’s bar was popular with locals at the border of the warehouse district and the Stacks, but it couldn’t compete with establishments on Lyra Avenue or in the Center. She was likely making progress with her goal, but it was clearly slow progress.

“Okay, what if Ryuu gave you enough money to leave the Stacks?” she suggested. “Twenty thousand kors should be enough to get you and your aunt and uncle a new place to live wherever you want. Your aunt does the spell for us, and then you leave. The Diamond Guards won’t find you if you move fast enough.”

She held Raurie’s gaze as the other girl took a long moment to think it over, biting her lower lip. Then, Raurie let out a small, resigned sigh, desperation flickering in her eyes.

“All right, let’s do it,” she said, nearly spitting out the words as if she was already regretting them.

“Thank you,” Aina said.

“What exactly are we up against, Aina?” Teo asked.

“I’ve fallen out of Kohl’s protection,” she said with a sigh. “So the Jackals came after me. They can kill me without any retaliation from Kohl. Anyone who’s ever had a grudge against me and anyone who finds out I’m the one who tried to kill Kouta will come after me now.”

“Anyone with a grudge against you or anyone who wants to make one hundred thousand kors?” Teo shook his head. “So, the whole city.”

The real danger of what she faced for her mistake had finally settled. Her failure weighed on her chest, making it hard to breathe. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she fought them down. If she was going to betray and kill Ryuu once they found his brother, she refused to let him see her weak.