“And that was why Levistus asked you to bring me along?” I said. “So that I could help out?”

The futures flickered. Again, it was fast, but I was watching for it. “Pretty much,” Haken said.

“Ooh,” I said sympathetically. “Sorry, Haken. You’re not a good enough liar.” Who had asked for me to be brought here—Levistus or Vihaela? I looked through the futures in which I accused Haken of both. If I’d done it cold, it would never have worked, but Haken was off balance, thinking on his feet. It takes more time to think up a lie than to tell the truth, and it showed.

“This doesn’t—”

“Ah,” I said. “Vihaela. So that was what was in those calls you were making, huh? She gives you the coordinates, and tells you to bring me as part of the deal.” I raised my eyebrows. “I’ve got to say, as a negotiator, you don’t seem to be doing all that well.”

“She’s not going to do anything stupid,” Haken said.

“Uh-huh,” I said. “Let’s take stock, shall we? First, the White Rose plant amongst your Keepers tries to kill me during that fight with the double. When that doesn’t work, Vihaela tells you to bring me here, out in the middle of nowhere, where no one knows where either of us is, to a mage who specialises in torturing people for information. This isn’t setting off any flags to you?”

“That’s not going to happen,” Haken said sharply.

I shrugged. “Well, since we’re on the same team, I guess you won’t mind if I do a little solo recon.” I turned to leave.

“Verus,” Haken said.

I started walking. I didn’t look back. All my attention was on the futures ahead. They were shifting, changing . . .

“Verus,” Haken said. And I felt the futures settle.

I paused, turned. Haken was standing side-on with one arm raised. A dull red glow had gathered at his palm, casting him in an ominous crimson light. “Come on, Haken,” I said. “If you love someone, set them free.”

“Yeah, well the version I heard of that saying ends with ‘if they don’t come back, hunt them down and kill them.’” Haken gestured with his other hand. “Get back here.”

I looked down at the spell in Haken’s hand, then up at him. “I have to warn you, I think this is going to put a serious damper on our relationship.”

“Here. Now.”

I shrugged, took one step towards Haken, then burst into a sprint.

Haken snapped something, but I wasn’t listening. I was focused on the presence behind me, the same person who’d tried to kill me back in Bank and who’d been eavesdropping on us ever since we arrived. He was silent and invisible, undetectable by sight or by sound, but no matter how well you hide yourself in the present, it doesn’t hide the actions you’re going to take in the future. I dodged left and a gun fired, the bullets whipping away into the night. Bushes loomed ahead and the futures of the next few seconds forked. Haken had two spells ready: one to block me in, the other to kill. He had only a second—