Her suspicions had been spot-on. It was another scheme, a ruse to get her to say yes. Pallas must have been running out of patience. A part of Ephyra felt comforted by the fact that Illya was once again trying to con her. At least she’d seen through it this time.

“Yeah, right,” she said, turning abruptly to retrace her steps back to the flue.

“You don’t believe me, do you?” he said, following.

“Do you ever get tired of asking me that?” she shot back.

“If you want to go back to your room so you can sit there being utterly useless, then go ahead,” Illya called after her. “But I am telling you the truth.”

Ephyra stopped. “Then prove it.” She turned to face him. “Take me to see Beru.”

A breeze ruffled past them, teasing the curls of Ephyra’s hair and the edges of Illya’s coat. The shadows on his face shifted as he dropped his gaze.

“I can’t,” he said at last. “It’s too dangerous.”

“That’s what I thought,” Ephyra said. “You’re all talk, but once there’s a real risk, once you actually have to put yourself on the line—”

“I meant dangerous for you,” he cut in. “And for her.”

“Sure you did,” Ephyra replied, spinning back around and swinging her leg over the edge of the flue.

“Why did you come up here if you think I’m lying?” he asked. “If you didn’t think there was a chance I’m actually on your side?”

Because I’m an idiot, she thought bitterly. Because she still remembered kissing him, and how good it had felt. Remembered those weeks when he’d been the only person who hadn’t abandoned her. And even after he’d stolen the Chalice from her, she’d still wanted to save him. Even now, even after he’d betrayed her yet again, she wanted to believe that it had all meant something to him. That she meant something to him.

But she’d rather be trapped inside her room for the rest of her life than admit that. So she didn’t answer, just dropped back into the flue, leaving Illya alone on the roof.

Ephyra didn’t risk climbing up to the roof the next night, just in case Illya was lurking there. She stayed in her room, fuming and furiously recounting everything Illya had said to her. Had she made a mistake in walking away? Had she missed her only chance of freeing herself and Beru from Pallas?

The door to Ephyra’s room swung open abruptly, interrupting her spiraling thoughts. She leapt to her feet as a Witness swept inside.

“Come,” the Witness said, her expression stone-faced. “You’ve been summoned.”