There was no use denying it, not when the evidence was unfolding before them in real time. Any apologies or softness shown now would only be confirmation of her weakness to the Skra.

Ranka looked to Ongrum.

“Look, I know how this sounds—but I have only ever cared about the Skra. Winalin will find us wherever we go, Ongrum. We need a cure. And to do that, we need the twins. Please, listen to me. Trust me. And stand down.”

Ongrum closed her eyes. “I trained you to be better than this.”

Ranka’s knees buckled. “What?”

“Can you really not see it?” She laughed, the noise sharp, humorless, and wrought with disbelief. “They have been lying to you, child.”

“That’s not—”

“Everything you’ve told me—everything you so desperately want me to believe—it’s all lies. From the moment you arrived here, the twins have been playing games with you, and you’ve been all too willing to dance along.”

Ranka’s head spun as though Ongrum had slapped her.

“The cure is a ruse,” Ongrum said gently. “They have no interest in saving us, not when they can crush us beneath their heels instead. They just wanted you as their pawn. I mean, look at you, child. Standing against your own sisters. Fighting for a human’s life instead of theirs.”

“She’s lying,” Aramis said, her throat bobbing. “Ranka, don’t listen to her—”

“Am I?” Ongrum switched her focus to Aramis, her smile cruel, and cold. “Ranka, did you tell the princess you were looking for Yeva?”

Aramis stiffened.

Bile rose in Ranka’s throat. “Yes.”

“Did they help you search for her? Did they permit you to look at all?”

“Well… no, but—”

“That’s not fair,” Aramis said desperately. “That was in the beginning, and—”

“Quiet,” Nadya warned. “One more word out of you, and you get an arrow in the heart.”

Aramis’s mouth clicked shut. She looked desperately at Ranka, but now Ranka’s eyes were only for Ongrum.

“Did they ever try to change the public outrage directed at you?” Ongrum asked coldly. “Did they order you extra guards or do anything to ensure the violence increasing against witches didn’t blow back on you?”

“No,” Ranka said weakly.

“Yet you’re alone here, so you try to do the right thing. You work with them. You give them your trust, your secrets, your blood.” Ongrum’s voice was an ocean, and Ranka was going to drown. “And at the same time, winalin is getting worse. But do they call in extra help? Do they involve the covens, or other provinces, to ensure that if something happens to you all, the work can continue?”

Ranka couldn’t get words out. She shook her head.