“They see you as their family too, you know. Silene especially.” Once again, emotion tightens in the back of my throat, but I push it away.

“Don’t do that,” Thorne says.

“Do what?”

“Push away your emotions. I see you push it down, try to hide it away. Your feelings are safe with me. You don’t have to be the stalwart leader, or the Witch Queen, or whoever the fuck else the world expects you to be. Just be Laurel. The good, the bad, the emotional… I want every part of you.” My throat clenches and I let the mask crack just a little. He strokes my fingers as I wonder what the catch is. Wonder what flaw he might have that will bring this all crashing down. The smallest flutter of hope ignites in my chest. “How are you feeling today about Nemesia?” he asks, and a hollowness returns to my gut thinking about her.

“I don’t know. Betrayed? Angry? Hurt? It’s still so hard to believe. I told the Council today and put the order out for her arrest if she enters Thayaria.”

“And how did the Council take the news?”

“They were shocked of course, but the topic of conversation focused primarily on how I received the information.” Thorne’s shoulders tense, waiting for me to continue. “I told them of our alliance and scheme. Many are furious that I lied to them. I suspect there will be more to deal with on that front later. For now, the three of you are going to work with seven of my advisors to plan our next move on the rebels, while secretly looking for any information that might tell us if Nemesia was working alone.”

He nods. “It’s a good plan.”

“It was Silene’s,” I admit, and he chuckles.

“Of course it was. Is that why she mysteriously disappeared this morning and wouldn’t tell us where she was going?” I laugh, and a warmth builds in my chest that she would keep my request secret from them and only between us, like I’m just as much her friend as they are.

“Yes,” I say with a sheepish look. “I asked for her advice today. She agreed it was time to tell the Council everything and hatched this plan for me in about five minutes.”

“I continue to be amazed by how forthcoming you are with your advisors. My father would never tell them his plans so openly, even in a scheme to draw out a mole.”