“He’s had ample opportunity to kill me, if that is his intention,” Raisa said, struggling for a rationale that would satisfy Amon. “If he is the one killing wizards, we don’t want to set him loose, with no supervision. It’s better to have him here, under our eye.”

“I can keep an eye on him at Kendall House,” Amon growled. “And it’s safer for you.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Raisa said. “Like it or not, he’s protection against the Bayars.”

“Not if he’s roaming Ragmarket, killing wizards,” Amon said bluntly. “Your Majesty, forgive me, but have you lost your mind?” He turned toward her and gripped her elbows, harder than he likely intended. “Do you really mean to leave him where he is? Has all this been a waste of my breath and lost sleep for both of us?”

“Amon. We don’t have proof that Han is responsible,” Raisa said, beating down the voices in her head.

“We don’t need proof,” Amon said. “We’re not passing sentence on him. We’re just taking reasonable precautions. As any reasonable person would understand.”

“All his life, Han has been accused of crimes he didn’t commit,” Raisa said. “He’s an easy target because of his past.”

“He’s a likely suspect because of his past,” Amon countered, his dark brows drawn together over thundercloud eyes.

“I made him some promises when he agreed to take this job,” Raisa said. “One was that he’d have quarters next to mine, and easy access so he could better protect me.”

“Right. And when assassins broke into your apartments, he was nowhere near.”

Raisa bit her tongue. She’d promised Han she wouldn’t reveal his role in that episode. How he had saved her life. “I either have to dismiss him from his post as bodyguard, or leave him where he is,” she said. “The safest thing is to leave him be, but keep a close watch on him.”

Amon stood, towering over Raisa. “I wish you were as considerate of me in helping me to do my job as you are of Alister,” he said.

“What else do you want?” Raisa asked, standing up. “Short of dismissing Alister based on rather tenuous circumstantial evidence?”

“I’m going to put a crowd around you,” Amon said, his voice low and furious. “And keep Alister under constant surveillance. I want your father to assign Demonai to work with the Guard, to counterbalance the risk.”

“Done,” Raisa said, thinking that the Demonai would be overjoyed to offer her protection against wizards. Especially one Demonai in particular. But would any of the Demonai bow his or her proud head to Amon Byrne? “I’ll talk to my father about it. We’ll want to handpick them.”

She looked up at Amon, but his face was in shadow. “Thank you, Amon. I know this isn’t easy for you.”