Foss put a protective arm around Venasha’s shoulders. “He’s my sunny little boy,” he said softly. “I won’t give him up. No matter what.”

Zaira’s hands formed fists. But Marcello gave Venasha and Foss a surprisingly gentle smile. “You don’t have to. You’re welcome to come stay in the Mews, for visits or permanently. And if you don’t want to move to the Mews, he can visit you in Ardence for months at a time with his Falconer, so long as it’s safe. We may even be able to get him stationed in the garrison here, once he’s old enough.”

Venasha’s eyes widened at the talk of moving to the Mews, and her lips tightened.

Foss gave her a concerned glance. “Venasha has been, ah, working toward her position in the Ducal Library for, well … It’s been a dream of hers for a while. And most of our friends and family are in Ardence.”

“But you won’t leave Aleki,” Venasha said to him firmly. “And I won’t leave either of you.”

“If it’s any consolation, I’m confident I can get you a position in your choice of Raverran libraries.” The offer felt weak and awkward in my mouth, but it was what I had to give. “The Imperial Library, the Grand Temple of Wisdom, the Raverran University Library …”

Zaira snorted. “It must be nice to have all the friends money can buy.”

Marcello ignored that. “We’ll all do everything we can for your family. The Empire does well by its Falcons.”

Zaira’s brows raised until they seemed likely to pop off her forehead. She put her hands on her hips, but after a glance at Venasha and Foss’s anxious expressions, she said nothing.

“It’s still …” Venasha sucked in an unsteady breath, holding Aleki tight. “It’s a lot to take in. And I can’t deny it’s not what we wanted.”

Foss nodded his agreement. The solemn worry that had replaced the joy in his face twisted at my heart.

Aleki had thrown his mother’s hairpin on the ground and was now fishing out another from her collapsing crown of braids, oblivious to the upheaval of his life. Marcello watched him thoughtfully. “Do you have any idea what kind of magic he can do?”

Venasha and Foss exchanged glances, and Foss shook his head.

“None,” Venasha said.

“Not a vivomancer or a warlock, then,” I concluded, “since they use their powers instinctively, and they start showing up along with the mage mark.”

Zaira winced, and I immediately felt like an insensitive oaf. Hers had shown up by burning her parents to death.