“He had a vial of Saskia’s blood,” Bram says softly. “Destroying any of those bones is out of the question.”

Tessa inhales sharply. Her hand flies to her mouth. “Saskia, no. What if that’s his plan? To erase you?”

I squeeze her hand. “Don’t worry. Latham doesn’t want me to disappear. If I don’t exist, he can’t kill me.”

“How comforting,” Bram says dryly.

“When your gran’s bone broke, did you choose which path would survive when it healed?” Jacey asks.

I shake my head. “I didn’t even know what was on the other path—not until later.”

Her brow wrinkles. “So what makes Latham different? The bones could heal in a way he doesn’t expect and the past could stay exactly the same.”

It’s the same question that’s been prickling at the back of my mind too. But I don’t think he intends to allow the bones to mend without intervention. I think of how far apart the two halves were in the nutrient solution. As if he wanted to keep the bones viable but not allow them to begin merging until he can control the outcome.

It’s no accident that he fractured Gran’s bones and not my mother’s. As a First Sight Charmer, Gran’s would have more power to reveal the past. My mother’s would be most useful to see how those changes to the past might affect the future.

Jacey is still watching me, head tilted to one side, waiting for an answer to her question.

“He’ll be able to choose whichever path he wants after he kills me,” I explain.

I have Second Sight—Latham will use me to determine how the bones heal in the present.

I decide to use my next session with Master Kyra to try to see Latham.

We’ve moved on to harder tasks, and more powerful bones. But until now I’ve been holding back, worried about revealing myself as more skilled than I should be. And also worried about Kyra asking to see my upper arm, and discovering that my mastery tattoo has been there—all three corners of it—since before I arrived.

But I don’t have the luxury of protecting myself anymore. If I have any chance of defeating Latham, I’ll need to take more risks. No matter the consequences. And for all I know, she could be the traitor working with Latham.

So when Kyra drops a set of feline rib bones into a stone basin, I’m ready.

“The Mason apprentices started a new project today,” she says. “I’d like you to tell me what they’re working on. In as much detail as possible, please.”

I chew on my lip, already trying to nudge my mind toward Latham, as Master Kyra lights the incense.

She pats me on the shoulder, misinterpreting my anxiety. “You can do this.”