“Which of this girl’s companions would she break her silence to save?”

Thea glanced between her siblings, her expression one of plain terror. They stared straight ahead. Eleanor’s mouth was dry. She could feel their nervousness.

She’s Katie Rhodes. She’s evil, Eleanor reminded herself, but it was hard to remember as the little girl trembled.

“I—I’m not sure,” Thea stammered. There was a moment of silence that seemed louder than a shout. And then the king crooked one finger, beckoning Thea closer. She hesitated, then crept forward. “But I don’t—I don’t know—” she started.

“Enough babbling.” The king’s whisper admonished Thea. She fell quiet as she scaled the steps to the dais on which the thrones sat. The Pallid King reached out his spidery hand, his crooked fingers caressing her golden hair. “If you wish to make her speak, you choose the smallest. The weakest. The one least able to stand the pain.”

Those slender fingers wrapped around Thea’s neck and shoulder, resting loosely but holding her in place. Ash’s hand tightened on Eleanor’s arm, his breath coming faster. He was afraid, too, Eleanor thought. Afraid for himself? Or for Katie—Thea?

Was it possible, Eleanor wondered, that the People Who Look Away could care about someone?

“Ash. My son, my eldest. You have taken something that belongs to us. Where is it?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Ash said immediately.

“Melia. Your brother’s mouth is filled with lies. You will aid him in honesty.”

Melia shuddered. She twisted her hands in the air in front of her, and a glass vial appeared in her hands, filled with an amber-colored liquid. She turned, holding it out to Ash. Eleanor thought she saw her mouth I’m sorry.

“Drink,” the whisper ordered. Ash hesitated. Then he let go of Eleanor’s arm and stepped toward his sister. He took the vial, and tipped it up, draining the whole thing. He dropped the vial to the ground. The glass shattered, but no one moved.

Eleanor, forgotten, fell back a step. She looked around wildly. Pip was on the floor on her stomach, with a soldier’s boot on her back holding her down as she bared her teeth. Otto sat with his legs flung out in front of him, like he’d gotten knocked down, too. Only the hedgewitch was still standing, unmoving.

“Where is that which you have stolen from us?” the king asked.

Ash stared down at the ground and said nothing. The queen hissed in displeasure. Eleanor fell back another step, but none of the soldiers or royals seemed to be paying attention to her anymore. She edged to the side, toward the columns, and looked back again at her friends.

The air shifted. Shimmers of light played around her. Those bright threads running all around her sprang into focus, and she could feel them—still faintly, but there.