“You are wrong,” Willo persisted. “She cares for you—she really does. And that increases the risk. There are some that will kill her too, if they realize how much she cares. The Briar Rose represents hope for the upland tribes—a chance to finally put one of our own on the Gray Wolf throne. A chance to redress more than a thousand years of occupation by jinxflingers and rule by the Valedwellers. Believe me, there is no one more dangerous than one whose hopes have turned to despair.”

She fell silent, smoothing the folds of her skirts. “The Wizard Council has hopes also—to regain the power they once held. As long as they believe that the Briar Rose can be a part of that plan, she stays alive. And you are definitely not a part of that plan.”

Han ground the heels of his hands into his temples, wishing he could shut out Willo’s gentle voice. When had she become such an expert in politics?

Willo put her hand on Han’s shoulder, her touch easing the pounding in his head. “I know how to keep secrets to protect those I love. You must keep this secret too.” She searched Han’s face, her own drawn tight with worry. “Promise me you will.”

I might as well be spitting into the wind as talking to Willo, Han thought. He put his hand on her arm. “I’ll be careful,” he said. “I know how to keep secrets.” He paused, for a heartbeat. “And now I need some favors from you.”

In the visitors’ lodge, Han was granted one of the rooms reserved for important guests. It had a hearth of its own on the outside wall, and two sleeping benches, each wide enough for two, piled with blankets and fur throws.

He wished he had someone to share all this luxury with. His thoughts went unbidden to Rebecca. Raisa. This was new to him—this feeling like he’d had a limb hacked off.

Two of Willo’s apprentices were assigned to feed and dose him at regular intervals. But they knocked before they entered and peeked at him out of the corners of their eyes and acted like they thought he would flame them at the drop of a moccasin.

It was tiresome, but convenient at the same time.

Han wore Dancer’s replica of his Hunts Alone amulet displayed on the outside of his clothing, the Demon King’s amulet hidden underneath. The flash in the replica was a faint reflection of the original. Han worried that if Elena touched it, she would know it wasn’t the one she made. But though the matriarch likely noticed he wore it, she showed little interest in it.

Dancer continued to use the original Hunts Alone amulet, though he kept it hidden while in camp. He seemed to have made his peace with the borrowed jinxpiece.