“I saw her, Inessa.” The confession sounded like it had been torn from his throat. “I was in her head when she did it. I’ve been in her head when she was controlled by a Faceless, and this was different. She was in control. She may claim not to remember, but no one was in possession of her thoughts when she killed our sister.” His voice hardened. “It’s her black heartsglass. I know it. Killing Aenah tainted her. The more she takes in the Dark, the more uncontrollable she becomes. I don’t want to see her hurt anyone else, Inessa, even if it is unintentionally. I don’t—I don’t want Mykkie or anyone else to have to kill her.”

“I am not going to lose either of you, Fox.”

“I don’t know that you have a choice.” He took her in his arms. “It might be better for you to give me up. My presence is enough to cost you your reputation. Some people already see me as a traitor. You should not endure whispers for consorting with one.”

“Mykaela says to be patient, and I trust her.” She kissed him. “Whatever happens, I will not leave you. And if you have any faith in me, then you will do the same.”

“I will do everything in my power to stay by your side. But not at the cost of your life or your honor, even if I have to slay my own sister to protect them.” Then he lifted his head, startled. Before his lips could form my name, I retreated, weeping, to the other side of the door. The seals I added were more formidable, enforced by a stronger will than I had at the last undertaking. He will be safer without me in his head, I thought as I built. He will be safe.

But all I could focus on were his words. Even if I have to slay my own sister.

He was right. I could not blame him. It might come down to that in the end.

By the time Kalen found me, my tears had dried and I was more pensive than melancholic. “Why is it,” I asked him with a rueful smile, “that you have the uncanny ability to wake when I need you, though I do my best to be silent?”

He tapped his heartsglass. Despite the cold, he wore no shirt, and my heart quickened at the sight. “It’s almost instinct to close my eyes and know where you are.”

“Do you know what’s strange? Mykkie said something similar not too long ago. Like she could feel Polaire still, because they’d shared heartsglass.”

“Can’t sleep?”