“It wouldn’t have made a difference!” Finn’s words came out in a rush. “I already knew I was infected. The Councilwomen showed me the list, and everyone was on it, everyone in the Resistance. But if I said I killed those women, I could at least keep you safe. I didn’t have anything to lose.”

“How could you?” Millie’s voice was gravelly and soft. For a moment, I thought that she was talking to Finn, but then I realised her eyes were fixed on Lariel, burning with anger. “You heartless bitch.”

Lariel’s face revealed nothing. She adjusted her grip on the crossbow.

“You betrayed us? You were the one who framed my brother?” Millie took a step forward. “You murdered those women and cut them apart?”

“It’s no more than they do to each other.”

Millie swore viciously.

“At least I killed them before slicing them into pieces.” Lariel’s mouth formed a hard line. “Don’t act like it’s so much worse.”

My protective net began to thin; I pulled it tighter around us. Think! If I couldn’t use lace against these people directly, then I was all but defenceless. Could I try collapsing the building? I probably had enough power, but even if I shielded Millie and Finn with lace, we would still be buried under the rubble. I clenched my jaw. Had to be smarter, had to keep them both safe.

“What do you want?” I asked.

Lariel snorted. “Trying to negotiate, corpse eater? If you come with me quietly, I’ll forget I saw the Haunt. Does that sound reasonable?”

Finn bared his teeth, and he seemed suddenly larger and more threatening. The men surrounding us tensed, but Lariel only shook her head.

“Don’t test me, Finn,” she said. “This won’t end well for you.”

He spoke in a low, dangerous voice. “I can’t die.”

She studied him, and her expression turned surprisingly thoughtful.

“It’s a shame, really, about the infection,” she said. “Death would have been easier for you.”

“Save your sympathy.”

Her face hardened. “Well, you brought it on yourself. Tell me, what is it like to burn alive? How did it feel?”

“Enough,” I snapped. “I’ll come.”

Finn grabbed my arm and pulled me close, shielding me against his body. He kept hold of my wrist; I could feel his heart hammering through his chest.

“Don’t,” I said under my breath.

“They can shoot me first,” he replied fiercely. “I don’t care.”

“I’m warning you now,” said Lariel. “Old times’ sake? It isn’t going to stop me from putting a bolt through your head.”

Millie stepped into the line of her shot.

“Will it stop you from putting one through mine?” she asked.

Lariel’s crossbow wavered.

I used my lace to drag Finn’s arms open and stepped free. “Stop this! I already told you I’d come.”

It was as though Lariel did not hear me. I saw her finger tense on the trigger, and I knew she would pull it. My mind went blank. Deep inside my chest, I felt something snap.