His eyes and expression hardened. “Han and Iliana are human beings, Nic, not property. And they are people being hunted for the ‘crime’ of daring to choose who they love and what kind of life they want to have. I’d think that you, of all people, would understand and, yes, sympathize with that.”

“Well, you would be wrong,” she hissed. “I have zero sympathy for fools. And idealists.”

“If we turn them away,” he persisted, “they could die out there, or worse. They don’t know the dangers of our wetlands—which, I might point out, you don’t either.”

“You’re right, I don’t,” she snapped, “but what I do know is the Convocation and the serious consequences those two face for running away like that. Worse, they’re like the dog that encounters a bear and comes running to you for safety—with a raging grizzly on its tail. The Convocation will unleash fury like you’ve never seen on House Phel when they discover this. That’s if House Sammael doesn’t destroy us first—and take Han and Iliana anyway.”

“Let them try,” he snapped. “No society should allow spoiled teenagers to weaponize social status to the extent that they can ruin people’s lives.”

“Teenagers specialize in weaponizing social status to ruin people’s lives,” she retorted. “It’s all a matter of scale.”

“Don’t minimize this as a matter of scale,” he said, warning in his tone.

“Fine. I won’t. Just let me point out—as the person you specifically sought out to help you navigate the social web that is the Convocation—that we are stacking up more houses, very powerful ones, as enemies of House Phel, than we are allies.”

“So be it,” he nearly growled. “I wouldn’t have them as allies.”

“Are you sure? Because you cannot dismiss an entire house, which may consist of thousands of people, based only on the behavior of a few individuals. This year’s head of house may be gone next year, and might become your much-needed ally. You think you can defy the entire Convocation and win, because you haven’t been crushed yet, but that only means the forces are marshalling outside of your awareness. It could be that by the time you are aware, it will be too late.”

“I am not afraid of the Convocation,” he gritted out. “Or Sammael.”

“You should be!”

“They all are tyrants perpetuating a destructive society that ruthlessly suppresses the rights of human beings!” he roared back. “I refuse to humbly bow to their oppression, or worse, become exactly like them by enforcing their corrupt laws because I’m too afraid to stand up for what’s right.”

“Then you’re the biggest fool of all,” she shouted back, fists clenched in impotent rage, wanting to beat them against his chest and knowing it would be like hurling herself against a wall. “Because they will crush you. And you don’t understand: This is all my fault! Because of me, all of these people will suffer and maybe die. My friend Iliana, who never hurt anyone, my sister, the people we’ve gathered here, your parents, your sister, you.” By the time she got to the last word, she practically choked on it, a sob escaping with it.