“How did they even find us in the first place?” I asked Jasper, as he returned from tossing his and Ruby’s luggage into a wagon that one of the group had found in the graveyard. As more refugees harnessed it with horses abandoned by the guards, I passed his daughter back at last and she gave a sigh of sheer relief. Her eyes fell shut as her head touched his broad shoulder, and he stroked one big hand over her head with infinite care.

It was a heart-melting sight, but I wasn’t distracted from my questions. “Considering the Council doesn’t have any magic—”

“Oh, yes they do,” he said grimly. “They may talk a good game about their own sense of Purity, but everyone knows they’ve got at least a few informants in their pockets who chose their safety over everyone else’s protection. Not like you.”

His eyes shone behind his spectacles as he grabbed my closest hand, squeezing it tightly. “You saved Ruby tonight—and the rest of us, too. If you hadn’t found us—”

“Oh, it wasn’t just me.” Awkwardly, I shifted backwards, tugging my hand free…and bumped into Leander, whom I found standing startlingly close and looking tenser than I’d ever seen him. “We worked together,” I said. “We are allies, you know.”

“Ah, yes, of course. Your neighbor. And…fake husband? Is that right?” Jasper gave a half-smile, jiggling Ruby in his arms as he looked from one of us to another.

“Something like that.” Leander’s voice was very cool.

“There’ll be plenty of time for courtesies later,” I said hastily, “but right now, we need to get out of here before any more guards can be sent after us. You still have the directions I gave you earlier?”

“Of course.” Jasper’s smile widened even as he turned away, tugging the wagon behind him. “Thank you, Mia. Ruby and I will see you very soon.”

“As will I…perhaps. You’re one of Carmilla’s students, aren’t you?” Eliza asked Leander briskly. “I could tell by the finger-work back there. Not bad at all, young man!”

Leander looked away from Jasper’s departing figure, still frowning. “Thank you. You know the Countess from her time in Larimont?”

“Know her?” She pursed her lips, her eyelids falling to shade her wickedly sparkling dark eyes. “That’s one way of putting it, certainly. Let’s hope it’s how she remembers it too, by now.” Shrugging, Eliza turned away. “Well! It’s been long enough that she can’t hold too much against me anymore, I’m sure. Minx that she is, it’s not as if her heart could ever break for long!”