“She isn’t lying,” Chris said, the tension in his shoulders mirroring my own as he eyed those still watching us. “I’ve been there myself.”

“Shut up!” Fred was shaking now, his eyes wild with anger. “You were gone for months. Months with no word from you, and everyone thought you were in a shallow grave somewhere. And then you return half-dead and spouting this impossible tale for your family and countless lies for everyone else. I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

“Fred…” I needed to fix this, to make him understand that everything I’d told him was true. That what I’d done tonight was necessary. But only soundless air came out, because I didn’t know what to say. My chest burned with the hurt of his disbelief. He was my older brother, my defender – my lifelong threat against anyone who gave me trouble. The only person I’d thought capable of rescuing me in those dark early days of my captivity in Trollus. And he was turning on me.

He held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear any more of your delusions.” His finger twisted out, jabbing at the shop next to us. “This. This is real. And far more dangerous than you seem to realize.”

I opened my mouth to tell him I knew exactly how dangerous it all was, but he cut me off. “Do you even know who La Voisin is?” He leaned close. “She was a lady’s maid to Marie du Chastelier, the Regent’s wife. She should have found herself burning for what she did, but instead she was exiled from court. But that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten. And it certainly doesn’t mean they aren’t watching. The very fact I’m here tells you as much.”

Ever and always the stakes grew higher, enemies cropping up at every turn while my allies fell away. My veins felt as though they ran with ice and that I would never again know warmth. His words terrified me, but I’d made my choice on the beach when I’d made my promise to the troll king. “I have to do this.”

His shoulders abruptly slumped, the tension flying from his jaw, leaving it sagging. Defeated. It made me wish for his anger to return. “I could lose my position for this. I could go to prison for this.” His voice lowered, making me strain to hear. “But worst of all, what you’ve done might well bring the Regent’s gaze down upon you, and if they discover what you are, you’ll die for it.” He took one step back and away from me, and then another. “This is the last and only time I help you with your delusions, Cécile. I don’t want to see you anymore.”

“Fred, don’t say that.” I tried to go after him, but Chris pulled me back. “Let him go. He doesn’t mean that – he only needs time to cool off.”

I wasn’t convinced, but I let Chris hold me still. Because I didn’t know what words existed in the world that would make things right. It ate at my heart to watch my brother ride away. He was one of the people I loved most. One of the people I should be trying to protect. Yet I’d done the exact opposite, endangering his career and maybe even his freedom, all while destroying the trust he had in me.