“You’ve already saved a whole town tonight, Mia.” The Countess patted my arm gently with one long-nailed hand. “Why don’t you leave that particular dangling thread for me to snip on your behalf? Consider it an apology for missing the first part of this battle.”

“What do you mean?” Leander frowned at her. “You can’t go sailing into Larimont to investigate. You know it’s far too dangerous to—”

“My dear boy.” Carmilla’s elegant eyebrows soared high. “Do you really imagine you can make my decisions for me and keep me safe?”

Sympathy brimmed in my chest as Leander stared back at her, mouth opening and closing in dumbstruck frustration. I couldn’t make it any easier for him—but I slipped one hand into his in silent empathy and support.

If there was one thing even harder than protecting our families, it was letting them choose for themselves which risks to take.

“Will you at least take someone with you?” he asked finally. “I could—”

“Not you,” she told him firmly. “And if you think you know more about slipping stealthily into dangerous places than I do, at my age—”

“Luckily, I’m at least three years older than you.” Eliza grinned shamelessly. “Don’t worry, lad. I won’t let her get caught along the way. Unless you’re still too afraid to let yourself be alone with me, Millie?”

“You—!” The Countess snapped her mouth shut, but her dark eyes flared wide as she took a deep, furious breath through her hawk nose. “That is it. We will have this discussion in private. Now!”

With a swish of her skirts, she stalked into the darkness—and Eliza straightened her collar with a jaunty tweak before striding cheerfully after her.

Leander let out a low groan beside me, but Dad’s frame shook with quiet laughter. “Well, that’ll certainly be interesting to watch unfold. Probably too late for you to hide inside the workshop and escape from all the gossip, love. You did choose to bring this whole noisy town together.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re the one who’s going to be hosting all of the new mayor’s parties. You’ll have to move into a bigger house to fit everybody in. How will you get enough time in your workshop?”

“You never know. I might fancy taking a turn at politics myself, to give Uriah some relief. I do hear, though, the market is looking for new crafters.” Dad squeezed my shoulder. “How are you feeling now, poppet?”

I closed my eyes and focused, taking a deep breath. For the first time, no pain jabbed in response to my mental touch. I still couldn’t tell where any of the metal was around me, but the beginnings of an itchy awareness tugged at me, alerting me that there was metal nearby.