“Pagiel doesn’t even realize what he’s doing,” I said. “There are other ways to stop this.”

“You just touched on the problem,” said Kiyo. “He’s doing something. You berated me over and over about going after your son, about how he was an innocent and had done nothing. Well, here we are. Pagiel’s pretty much a grown man, with a lot of power, and he’s doing exactly what the prophecy said he would do. You can’t claim there’s a chance to change fate now.”

“There’s always a chance,” I said stubbornly. “We aren’t destiny’s pawns. Pagiel can still change the future. He’s smart. He’s compassionate. And I believe he’ll do the right thing. He deserves a chance. I’m certainly not going to kill him outright without talking to him!”

Nothing Kiyo did should have shocked me anymore, but I was amazed at how lightly he referred to his efforts to hunt down Isaac. No remorse, no apology. No “Hey, Eugenie, I guess I was wrong. Sorry about the grief I subjected you to for the better part of a year.”

Instead, Kiyo’s focus was solely on Pagiel now. “You talked to him before we went to the Yew Land. That didn’t stop the raids. I really doubt anything you can say or do will change things now.”

“I have to try,” I said.

Kiyo shrugged. “And I’m going to stop you.”

Dorian stiffened at the subtle threat. “And suddenly, I regret offering you hospitality.”

Kiyo rose. “Don’t worry. I’ll show myself out. I’ve heard all I needed to.”

He stormed out, eyes flashing with anger. I kind of agreed with Dorian and wished I wasn’t under the bonds of hospitality either. “I could send guards after him, once he clears the entrance,” Dorian remarked.

I shook my head. “Don’t bother. He’ll turn into a fox and slip away before they can do anything. All we can do now is make sure we find Pagiel first.”

“Of course.”

I eyed him uncertainly, hesitant to speak my mind. “Dorian ... when I find him, are we going to have the same goals?”

He arched an eyebrow. “I think we can both agree we don’t want that kitsune to kill Pagiel.”

“Yeah, but what about after that? Are you going to help me talk sense into Pagiel or give him an army?”

Dorian’s expression was still damnably unreadable. He took a long time to answer, which didn’t reassure me. “I told you before, I stand with you and support you. I should think the events of the other night would have convinced you.”

I almost smiled. “The events? Mostly that convinced me we can still have good sex.”

He shrugged. “That was never in dispute. But I wasn’t the only one who made pledges, Eugenie. You said you trusted me. Do you trust me now?”