Vallis sneers, pulling against the restraints. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“We know you’re working with Prince Ettore and trying to stage a coup,” Gil says. “And we know you’ve been hoping for a promotion in the Capital—to Chancellor, was it?”

“Lies,” Vallis hisses.

“We heard you,” Ahmet cuts in. “In the council room, three days before the Bloodmoon. You met with Commander Kyas—”

“How dare you speak to me.” The veins in Vallis’s neck bulge. “How dare you treat me like a—a—”

“Like a human?” Yeong asks coolly.

Vallis ignores him, latching his eyes back to Gil and the weapon still in his fist. “Using that monstrosity on me… It’s treasonous. Queen Ophelia will destroy you for this.” His gaze finds the rest of the room, and for a brief moment I’m terrified he’ll see me through the veil. “All of you.”

“The only traitor here is you,” Gil remarks. “I wonder what the Legion Guards would do if they knew one of their own kind was plotting against the crown.”

Vallis growls and the entire cell rattles. Even the machine beside him seems to glitch like it’s been overcharged with electricity.

Ahmet balls his fists. He’s nervous—so is Yeong. So am I.

Gil doesn’t flinch. He wants this. He’s yearned for this. I knew he hated the Residents, but the dark shadows in his eyes…

Vengeance is a wicked thing indeed.

“Release me,” Vallis spits.

Gil leans forward. “Tell us about the Orb, and maybe we’ll consider it.”

“I will never betray my queen.”

“Not even for your freedom?” Gil taunts.

I watch the restraints shudder beneath Vallis’s wrists. He screams through the glass, deep and guttural, and beneath the veil I cover my ears and step away.

“Gil,” Ahmet whispers urgently, closing a hand over his forearm. “We’re out of time. Do it, now.”

Gil presses his thumb over the weapon, and Vallis’s face goes slack, his body slumping heavily in the chair. Yeong immediately moves for his screen, but Ahmet throws out an arm to stop him.

“No!” he says like a warning before turning to look at Vallis. “We need to know how far back it will go. How much he’ll forget.”

The room falls silent, save for the faint hum of the machine. I wrap my arms around myself to fight the cold.

It takes only ten minutes for Vallis to open his eyes again, but somehow it feels like hours.

He looks around the room like he’s counting. Processing.

He finds Gil and sneers.

“You witless humans should’ve released me when you had the chance. An attack on the prince’s adviser is an attack on the Court of Victory itself—and you will all suffer for it.”