“Thank you for your candor, Micah,” Raisa said. “I will consider everything you’ve said, very carefully. That’s all I can promise.” Without waiting for her escort, she wrenched open the door of the carriage and slid to the ground.

C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y - T H R E E

REVELATIONS

Crow stared back at Han, his brilliant blue eyes narrowed in appraisal. “Let me be sure I understand you. You’ve decided to accept my bargain. You will allow me to possess you so that I can meet with Lucas.”

“That’s right,” Han said, shifting from one foot to the other. “The sooner the better.”

“Perhaps I shouldn’t press you on this, but why the precipitous change of heart?”

“I managed to get elected High Wizard,” Han said. “Then Lord Bayar burned half the city. And now they’re trying to pin it on me.”

“Ah, those Bayars,” Crow said softly. “They are very good at shifting blame, are they not?” After a long strained pause, he added, “You’re not afraid that I’ll take advantage? That I’ll use you to take revenge on my enemies? Lay waste to the world and all that?”

That hit so close to the mark that Han flinched.

“Ah.” Crow grimaced. “So you are worried. And who could blame you? I’ve betrayed you once already. I’m a bitter and vindictive shade of a man, and my reputation—”

“Just shut it, and let’s get on with it,” Han growled. “It’s not like I have a choice.”

Crow rubbed the bridge of his nose, looked up at the bells overhead, and sighed. “Actually, you do have a choice.”

“What do you mean?” Han said, mystified.

“I apologize, Alister. I should have told you before.” Crow chewed on the words before he spit them out. “I don’t really need to possess you. You can bring Lucas to Aediion yourself.”

“He’s no longer gifted, remember?” Han said. “He can’t come here.”

“It’s possible to ferry the nongifted to Aediion,” Crow said. “Lucas and I used to play tricks on Wien House cadets when they were deep in their cups. We would take them to Aediion and leave them in a conjured-up world.”

“Really?” Han eyed him suspiciously. “Did that slip your mind or what?”

Crow brushed aside the question. “The important thing is, I can show you how to bring Lucas to me.”

“What if he doesn’t want to come?” Han said, recalling Lucius’s agitated reaction to the news that Alger Waterlow was still alive.

“We were the best of friends,” Crow said, as if baffled that Han would ask such a question. “Of course he’ll come.”

“I want to be there,” Han said. “I want to be there when you talk to Lucius. I want to hear what he has to say.”