“Wait,” said Finn suddenly.

A floorboard creaked. The splinterboard door swung shut, just as Millie pushed open the door to room eight. Finn shoved me behind him, shielding me against the wall with his body.

“Kamillian,” said a new voice. “I was hoping you’d turn up.”

I whipped a lace shield around Finn and threw out a cord to yank Millie back toward us. A second later, a woman with short black hair stepped out from room eight. She had a crossbow trained on Millie’s forehead.

“Lariel?” said Millie.

I didn’t hesitate; I threw out another rope of lace, meaning to rip the weapon out of the woman’s hands. But my power dissolved when it came within a foot of her body.

The woman saw my expression and smirked.

“It’s Elfreda, isn’t it?” she said. “Is something the matter?”

I had never felt anything like this before. It wasn’t that my lacework had been blocked, or had run dry. My power had just evaporated like water on a hot stone.

“I guess you’re Lariel Sacor, then,” I said slowly.

She shrugged. “Might be.”

“What are you doing to my lace?”

“Ah, that would be the new crossbow bolts. They absorb lace, so if I were to pull this trigger”—she gestured with the crossbow toward Millie—“you wouldn’t be able to stop the bolt from cracking her skull open.”

Finn made a guttural sound in the back of his throat. I heard footsteps; more doors opened, and three men emerged, crossbows loaded. Millie edged closer to me.

“What’s this about?” she asked.

“Didn’t Finn tell you? He definitely saw me last time.”

“Last time?”

“Oh.” Lariel raised an eyebrow. “He hasn’t said anything. That’s interesting.”

“Shut up,” growled Finn.

“What’s going on?” Millie’s eyes darted to her brother. “What is she talking about?”

“Then he really did keep it secret from Enforcement.” Lariel shook her head in wonder. “I know you decided to take the fall, Finn, but to not even tell the Resistance why? That seems stupid.”

“Finn?” said Millie. “What secret?”

He spoke through gritted teeth. “That Lariel was behind the murder of the Sisters. She committed the crimes that I was sentenced for.”

The men fanned out behind us, blocking off our way out.

“You can’t be serious,” said Millie.

“I mean, why else did you think he confessed?” Lariel moved closer, and Finn flinched. “He knew full well he would end up dead or in the Renewal Wards.”

“I don’t understand.”

Lariel gave her a pitying smile.

“None of this makes sense,” said Millie. Her voice grew louder. “Why would he take the blame for you of all people?”

“Oh, he certainly didn’t.”

“But—”

“Finn did it for you,” said Lariel.

Millie paled.

“I told the Councilwomen all about your involvement in the Resistance,” said Lariel. “All about Daje, all about your little plans.”

“No, Millie, listen,” said Finn quickly, “the situation was complicated—”

“They gave him an ultimatum,” continued Lariel. “Claim responsibility for the crimes, or have them pinned on his sister.”