Jalvi’s been captured. This second voice was that of a man and held the snap of power.

Cynwrig?

Yes.

He’s becoming a problem.

You should not have attacked his sister.

The comment was greeted by a grunt. It was thought necessary to gain the information we needed.

And now means we’ll be forced to deal with him.

Yes, though I’m loath to kill him. That’ll only bring the full attention of the dark elves onto us.

Agreed, although his disappearance will draw just as much attention.

True. There was a pause. Will Jalvi talk, do you think?

Undoubtedly, but what can she truly tell them that they don’t already know?

She is aware who keeps the crown.

Kendrin has already been dispatched to move it.

Ah. Good. And our newly woken seeker?

The bugs have been removed. We are currently reduced to following her.

That is another situation we may be forced to rectify.

The vision shifted with sickening abruptness, and this time, the voices were familiar. It was the man and woman who’d been discussing my mother’s murder in the last vision.

Did you manage to question Gilda’s counterparts? the man asked, his voice cold.

Yes, permission was given.

Permission was given? Did that mean the woman was a member of the IIT branch? Or a lawyer?

Uncover anything?

They do not know how Gilda came across the ruby.

Then why were they seeking the others?

They were told to.

Whom by?

They did not know.

And you believed them?

I gave them Dahbree. They could not lie.

If Gilda’s partners had been given Dahbree—the drug Lugh had been given the night this shit all started for us and a poison that forced truthfulness even as it took your life—then it was no wonder their deaths were still under investigation. It was so rare that it generally wasn’t tested for, though surely it would show up in the autopsies.

So the risk you took in interviewing them was for naught?

I wouldn’t say that, the woman said drolly. It would appear that our dearly departed Gilda had formed a close bond with Kaitlyn.

Indeed? the man said. Then perhaps we should have another discussion with our broker, and soon.

The visions faded, and I somehow found the strength to release the still pulsing Eye. As it dropped back into the mug with a clink, I gulped in air. My heart pounded so fiercely, it felt as if it were about to tear out of my chest, and hot pokers of pain were shooting through my brain, making my eyes water and lose focus. Mom was definitely made of sterner stuff than me.

It took a good ten minutes before my breathing and pulse rate settled into something approaching normality. I gulped down my tea and then tugged out my phone and rang Sgott. Thankfully, he answered.

“Bethany,” he said. “How are you feeling, darling girl?”

“I’ve just used the Eye, so not fantastic.”

“Ah,” he said. “I thought you ringing me this late could only mean trouble. What did you see?”