We stop at a red light, and as his eyes linger on me, there is a touch of awe in his expression that surprises me. He glances at my lips and my cheeks grow warm. After a couple of long seconds, the light turns green and his eyes return to the road.

Ash clears his throat. “Regent…It’s a title borrowed from the old royal court system, denoting the person who would exercise ruling power if Jag were ever absent or incapacitated. It’s a holdover from the Middle Ages and it’s nothing more than an honorary title in most Families, which are set up to rule by council. But the Lions don’t have a council. It’s just Jag and the Regent.”

“The thing is,” I say, “I don’t think my dad killed him.”

“Are you certain?” Ash says, and I can see that he’s not convinced.

“Positive. Unless the Regent was in America?” I say like it’s a question.

Ash shakes his head. “Possible, but Logan said he was killed in Edinburgh.”

I nod. “Logan also said he died a month ago, but my dad hasn’t left our town since early fall. Actually, that’s not accurate; he did take a handful of day trips to see my aunt before she was murdered, but nothing long enough to make a secret trip to Europe.”

“That’s odd,” Ash says, considering the situation. “Strategia don’t often get accused of crimes they didn’t commit.”

“And why would someone like Logan know that my dad was being accused?” I ask.

Ash frowns in concentration. “I’m not certain. That’s not information I’d think he’d have access to, unless the Strategia trackers are whispering about the Ferryman, which I suppose is possible.” He falls silent again.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” I say, positive there’s more he’s not saying.

“I’m trying to make sense of and contextualize the accusation,” Ash says. “I’ve never met the Regent. But from everything I’ve heard, he was nearly as terrible as Jag. The rumor is that Jag strong-armed Brendan’s mother into the marriage ten years ago, shortly after which Jag appointed Arlo as Regent, a double insult because the title should have gone to Brendan’s mother, who is rumored to be a brilliant strategist. According to my Family, there are plenty of people who would have wanted him dead. But that doesn’t explain why the murder was pinned on your father. He isn’t an easy target to blame, considering that until very recently no one even knew he was alive.”

“Brendan’s mother,” I repeat, and it occurs to me that after I found out Conner was my uncle, I never thought to ask if my dad had any other siblings. I think I subconsciously didn’t want to know.

“Rose,” Ash says.