“You want to know what’s in it for you?” Ignazio asked.

“Damned right I do. I’m not helping you out of charity.”

He smiled a tight, smug smile. “How about freedom?”

Zaira went still. “I’m listening.”

Grace of Mercy. I’d hoped she was deceiving them, but that was the one thing she wanted above all else.

Ignazio knew it. He shrugged, relaxed and in control. “You’re correct. If Amalia dies, the jess will give you a few days to get a new Falconer, then take your life if you don’t. It’s a simple precaution to ensure this exact situation does not arise: a rival power freeing a Falcon to work for them by killing the Falconer. But I can offer you an escape.”

“Can you get this stupid jess off me?” Raw hunger colored Zaira’s voice.

I lay quietly, my hand slowly creeping toward my flare locket. I wasn’t sure I could stand again, but I had to be ready to move. Somehow.

Ignazio shook his head. “Alas, no. But I can get you a new one.” He reached inside his coat and pulled out a gleaming slip of gold: the stolen jess. “This will keep the old one from killing you.”

Zaira snorted. “What good does a new chain do me?”

“I’ll say the release word once, and let you go.” He spread his hands, the jess dangling from them. “You know far too much for me to want to turn you over to the Empire, and I see no possible advantage and a great deal of risk in trying to keep my own secret fire warlock.”

It made sense. By the interest kindling in Zaira’s eyes, she believed him.

Ignazio saw it, too. A cynical smile tugged at his mouth. “In exchange for your cooperation tonight and your silence thereafter, I’ll stay out of your life. Your power will be yours to loose or bind, so long as you keep my secrets. You’ll be free.”

“Free of the Falconers,” I husked. “But not free of you, Ignazio.”

Zaira glared down at me. “The Falconers never gave me a choice. Now I have one.”

“Then make it,” Lady Savony snapped. “We don’t have time for indecision.”

Zaira nodded curtly to Savony, but her eyes stayed fixed on mine. I couldn’t read her expression.

“Do it. Release me.”

Lady Savony jerked her chin at one of the guards. He raised his sword. I doubted I could roll out of the way, let alone fight back.

But Zaira’s words were a double-edged dagger. The question was which hand held the hilt, and I knew the answer. I’d told the doge as much, ages ago.

No one controlled Zaira. She was her own master.

I held her eyes. “I trust you, Zaira,” I whispered. “Exsolvo.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Zaira laughed.