“Thea is the leader of the RFA—Rights For All. She’s been organizing for years to try to get the Society to listen,” Clover explained.

“To no avail,” Thea explained. “We got somewhere after Cyrene, but then the mass murders by those horrid Red Masks derailed it all. Everyone was too scared to step forward. That is, until you showed up.”

“Oh,” Kerrigan whispered again. “I’m glad that I can help.”

“Me too,” Thea said, putting a hand on her back. “Let me introduce you to the rest of my team.”

Kerrigan followed Thea into a private dining room, where a half-dozen people sat around a wooden table. The candlelight was low, and a meal was prepared before them. Not simple food either. A stew that smelled thick with spices, roasted chicken, homemade rolls, summer fruit, and even some kind of decadent chocolate cake. It showed her more and more that this was not some push by a few people with nothing. There were humans and half-Fae with means, and they wanted this as much or more than the rest living in poverty.

Thea introduced her to each of the people present—three women and men. Each of them beamed, getting out of their chair, shaking her hand, offering their thanks. Their effusive behavior made her uncomfortable. She’d never been in a room where this many people thought that she could help them save the world. She was just one girl.

“All right, don’t crowd her,” Clover said, putting herself between them. “I’m glad that Kerrigan is here, but we don’t want to scare her off either.”

Kerrigan grinned. Only Clover could get straight to the meat of things. “Thanks.”

Thea nodded. “We’re pleased that you’re here. The streets are full of your name. I must admit that I’m quite excited to meet you in person. We all are.”

“I’m just… me.”

“My dear girl, you are so much more,” Thea insisted. “You defied the odds. You beat them at their own game. You are the only voice for half-Fae in the entire Society. You are more important than you know.”

“Okay, but …” Kerrigan bit her lip. “Look, as much as I want to help, I can’t come out publicly for this.”

Thea frowned. “What do you mean?” She looked to Clover, who shrugged.

“I have a year of training before I’m officially inducted as a full member. They can still kick me out for any offense in the next year. It might not be public that this is the case, but it’s my reality. If you want me to be able to make any change, then I can’t be found here.”