I kept going. “And of course, once they have a Super Oracle, it makes total sense that they’d want to kill, you know, the person sworn to protect him.”

Gripping the arms of Blythe’s chair, I leaned down, getting in her face. “Oh, wait, except it doesn’t make sense at all. If you guys want David to be more powerful, why kill Mr. Hall? Why kill me?”

For the first time, Blythe seemed unsure. She dropped her gaze, and David stepped forward, coming to stand behind me.

“Because the spell is dangerous,” he said softly. “Why else would Harper need to be out of the way?”

My head shot up. Saylor had said that spell ended up destroying Alaric. As David’s Paladin, would I need to protect him from that?

Blythe’s big brown eyes widened in appreciation. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s not—well, there is a slight danger element, maybe. But, hi, crossing the freaking street can be dangerous. And like I said, Alaric wasn’t a Mage. He wasn’t me. So it wouldn’t be dangerous. Just because he screwed up the spell doesn’t make it a bad spell. Just a bad . . . spellcaster.”

I might have bought that if her gaze hadn’t slid from David to the bright splash of blood—mine or hers, I wasn’t sure—on the carpet. “I would do it right.”

My head ached, and my hand and arm were still stinging, and I felt this weird desire to curl up on my bed and cry. Or sleep. Instead, I tightened my hold on Blythe’s chair. “So that’s the test David has to face at Cotillion? You’re going to do some spell on him that will either soup up his powers, or turn him into a crazy person.”

From behind me, I heard David make some kind of noise, but I didn’t turn around to face him. One problem at a time.

The dried blood around Blythe’s face cracked and flaked when she smiled. “Look, I am trying to help you guys out. Just . . . just go with it, okay? Don’t fight me, don’t try to stop me. David will have awesome powers, the Ephors will have an Oracle again, and we can all be buddies. The three of us, working together, kicking ass, taking names . . . all that.”

“We already have a Mage,” David said, coming to stand beside me. I could feel him trembling, but his voice was steady. “Saylor Stark.”

Blythe blew a breath out, ruffling her bangs. “Who can maybe do a couple of weak mind-control spells. Boring. I’m offering you everything. All the power you could ever want.”

Flexing his fingers, David just watched her.

I shook my head. “Okay.” Setting my hands on my hips, I faced Blythe. “Interrogation over.”