“I was betrayed once. On the eve of Novembertide, when the uprising of Bone Season XVIII was to begin, one human chose to betray us all. In exchange for freedom, the traitor sacrificed everyone in this city.” He looked at me. “You see why Nashira is not threatened by the prospect of a second rebellion. She believes you are all too self-seeking to come together.”

I did see. To have planned so much for human freedom, only to have us bite the hand that fought for us—no wonder he hadn’t trusted me. No wonder he’d been so cold.

“But you, Paige—you threaten her. She knows you are one of the Seven Seals, that you are the Pale Dreamer. You have the power to bring the spirit of the syndicate into this city. She fears that spirit.”

“There’s nothing to fear from it. It’s full of petty criminals and backstabbers.”

“That is dependent on its leaders. It has the potential to become something much greater.”

“The syndicate exists because of Scion. Scion exists because of the Rephaim,” I said. “You made your own enemy.”

“I recognize the irony. So does Nashira.” He turned to face me. “Bone Season XVIII rebelled because the prisoners were accustomed to being organized. There was strength and solidarity among them. We must resurrect that strength. And this time, we must not fail.” He looked at the window. “I must not fail.”

I didn’t speak. I thought about reaching for his hand, inches from mine on the keys.

In the end, I didn’t take the risk.

“I want to leave,” I said. “That’s all I want. To go back to the citadel with as many people as possible.”

“Then our aims are different. If we are to help one another, we must reconcile that difference.”

“What do you want?”

“To strike against the Sargas. To show them what it means to be afraid.”

I thought of Julian. I thought of Finn. And I thought of Liss, slipping away into amaurosis. “How do you propose to do that?”

“I have one idea.” His gaze flicked down to mine. “I would like to show you something, if you are willing.”

I meant to reply, but I didn’t. His chartreuse eyes grew warmer as he looked at me. I was close enough to feel his heat. “I desire to trust you,” he said.

“You can.”

“Then you will come with me.”

“Where?”

“To see Michael.” He stood. “There is a disused building to the north of the Great Quad. The guards must not see us.”

Now he had my attention. I nodded.

I followed him from the chapel. He looked through the arches, searching for the guards. None appeared.