Beside Nomi, Serina made a small noise, maybe a gasp. But Nomi didn’t break her hold on Malachi’s gaze to glance at her sister. The moment had a vulnerability to it, like a thin sheet of ice on a pail of water. One breath, one small movement, and it could shatter.

Nomi took a deep breath. “No woman shall be sold like cattle by her father,” she stated. “No forced marriage, no forced service. If a woman takes employment, her wages are her own. And Graces will give their consent. Willingly. Freely. No one will force them.” She didn’t move, not even to breathe. Surely he knew it would have to go this far.

Malachi looked down. Just for a split second, but it was enough. Something in Nomi broke. “It will take time,” he said. “Those changes, they are larger than one law.… Our whole society is informed by—”

“You will have one year,” Serina interrupted. “One year to give women a place at the table. You will have advisors: me, my sister, anyone else here who wants a voice.” She turned to face Nomi. “If he doesn’t listen to us, if he turns on us, the women of Mount Ruin will rise up against him, just like we did to Commander Ricci. We’ll burn it all down.”

A shiver raced down Nomi’s spine. She heard the promise, the conviction in Serina’s voice. And she heard the warning. Serina expected Nomi to choose a side.

Nomi nodded. She was with her sister, her family, first and foremost. Forever.

“Renzo is in danger,” she added hurriedly, trying to keep her voice steady. “Asa is hunting him down because he knows the truth about what happened the night of the ball. You must swear our brother will be safe. Protected from Asa, and from you.”

There was a long, painful silence. Nomi could hear her own quickened breaths and the groan of a woman at the other end of the room. She couldn’t look at Malachi. Behind Serina, Val shifted, but he didn’t speak either.

“I can agree to your conditions,” Malachi said at last, but there was a strangled quality to his voice.

Nomi realized belatedly that she’d clenched her fists, as if expecting a fight. With an effort, she forced her hands to relax.

“Do you trust his word, Nomi?” Serina asked.

Asa’s kind smile flashed through Nomi’s mind. Her sister didn’t know how difficult a question that was for Nomi to answer. She studied Malachi’s face, tried to stave off the memories of his brother. But it wasn’t just Asa who haunted her. She wasn’t sure she trusted any man in this. They were asking for so much.

“I trust his intent.” It was the most she could offer.

“You can trust me,” Malachi said, surprising her with his vehemence.