He signaled for a mug of ale, sliding onto a stool. Ordinarily, he would have avoided such a conspicuous seat—between his dark skin and his expensive, French-cut clothes, he was practically asking for trouble—but he had to hear the rest of this.

So he sipped his drink, his eyes growing wide as he pieced together the situation.

The girl had temporarily gone to Castle Camelot in the boy’s place, and now the boy was refusing to switch back. He’d gotten some girl pregnant and—merde—Gawain choked as he realized why the boy had caught his attention.

He was the spitting image of his father. As a child, Gawain had been thoroughly intimidated by the elegant court wizard, who seemed to crackle with magic. And it seemed Merlin’s wand hadn’t fallen far from the family tree.

The girl pleaded with her brother, and Gawain’s eyes grew wide as the boy confessed that his powers were nothing compared to hers. As they made arrangements for the boy to return home, and the girl to remain disguised at court—indefinitely.

Had no one discovered her deception?

Well. Gawain grinned, filing away this fascinating information. After all, there was a time and a place to barter secrets, and he wasn’t yet sure of this one’s worth.

CHAPTER 13

Emry hurried through the fog-thick London night, hardly daring to believe she was headed back to Castle Camelot. She didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry.

Maybe both, she thought, overwhelmed.

Her shoulder ached from the weight of her pack, and with every step, she felt the sharp edge of a book dig into her ribs. She still couldn’t believe Emmett had given her their father’s magic books. No—more than that. He’d given her his future. And she was terrified by what that meant. At the lies she’d have to maintain, and how much she stood to lose if she was caught.

Smart as spades, but foolish as hearts.

Father had known her so well.

And yet, she hadn’t known Emmett at all. His boasting and swagger, his reckless behavior, all of those nights she’d wished he would just try. She’d thought him lazy, but it turned out he was playing a part. That he’d decided long ago that it was better to live a lie than reveal a disappointing truth.

She wished he’d confided in her.

There was a loneliness in keeping secrets. One that Emry knew well after a week at the castle.

In the theater, everyone on stage was playing a part. But at the castle, she was the only one in disguise, and she felt the weight of what that meant. A weight she’d have to carry with her going forward—as the apprentice court wizard. Even if the title was based on a lie, it was still hers. For a little while longer, at least.