I stumble forward without thinking, gaping at Prince Caelan’s adviser. Of all the Residents they could have chosen… Why him?

The questions burn in my throat, desperate to get out. But I made a deal with Gil—I said I’d be quiet, and I intend to keep my word. Especially when the alternative involves blowing my cover in front of Caelan’s right-hand.

“Are we ready?” Ahmet asks, looking between Gil and Yeong.

Gil grips the weapon, eyes locked onto the glass wall in front of him. The only barrier between the Resident and all of us.

Yeong pulls a flat screen out of his coat, tapping hurriedly, his mouth twisted to the side. “Here goes nothing.” He presses his finger against the tablet, and the room stills.

The machine inside the glass cell reacts. Each panel goes black, and the lights along the top shift from green to red. A cold, terrifying moment passes, and then Vallis opens his eyes.

He licks the edge of his mouth, dark eyes trailing the room. Counting the people in front of him. He lands on Gil and sneers.

“You witless humans should’ve released me when you had the chance.” Vallis’s gaze lowers. He’s staring at the weapon like he knows what it is. “An attack on the prince’s adviser is an attack on the Court of Victory itself—and you will all suffer for it.”

Ahmet leans toward Gil, eyes wary and his voice nearly inaudible even in the quiet of the room. “Do it now. Before he breaks free.”

Gil’s jaw tenses. “He might know something. Something that could help us.”

The walls must not be meant for privacy, because Vallis lets outs a wild laugh and shakes his head. “An interrogation! What child’s game is this?” The chair gives a rumble. A hint of his power. “I am the Royal Adviser of Victory. I do not help humans.”

Gil’s face is unmoved. “Interesting that you speak of Victory so fondly when you’ve been betraying your own prince for months.”

Vallis’s pale skin seems to gray in response. He grips the armrests, knuckles ashen. “I have done no such thing.”

“Why do you think we were able to take you without anyone seeing? How did we know where you’d be that night, after the Bloodmoon?” Gil’s voice sharpens, like hackles rising on a wolf. For him to stand across from a Resident, after so many lifetimes in War…

This must be the closest thing to revenge he’s had.

Vallis looks between Gil and the others, the understanding dawning on him. “You’ve been spying on me?” He clearly didn’t think humans could be so resourceful.

“You’ve been hosting secret meetings all over the districts; it was easy enough to find you alone.” Gil tilts his chin. “All we had to do was get there first.”