“Even if you aren’t the Eurydice, you won’t escape the Order. They keep tabs on those who can see and speak to the dead. We fall under their rule, and trust me, they think death-speakers are the scum of the earth. Though, they really only worry about the ones who practice death magic, the occult.”

“But I don’t practice death magic.”

“Soul exchanges are death magic, Anora. Vera’s soul is gone for good now.”

“I didn’t…exchange…anyone’s soul. I lost the coin.”

“So you were in possession of a resurrection coin and lost it. Still illegal. Worse, reckless!”

He’s right.

“What are you? Their bounty hunter?”

Thane laughs. “Trust me, I’m as far from the Order as you can get. I didn’t even know they existed until Lily risked getting into a whole lot of trouble by telling me.”

“Why did she tell you?”

“Because we were friends.”

He watches me for a moment. I note the way he sits, poised on the edge of his seat, hands resting by his legs, rigid. He thinks I’m going to bolt. I wonder what he would do if I went for it in front of all these people? He couldn’t exactly restrain me without drawing a crowd.

“Look, I don’t care if you’re the Eurydice, but you had something to do with Lily’s death, and I want to get to the bottom of it. I can help you,” he says, taking his rigid arms and resting them on the table. He leans so far over, he’s practically lying on the table. He explains, “I can get you an appointment with someone. She might be able to trace Lily’s soul, which means we can find your coin.”

My heart rises into my throat. All I’ve wanted is to find this coin, but I’m immediately suspicious of Thane.

“Why would you help me?”

“You want your coin, and I want to find out who did this to Lily. We need each other to do that. If we can track that coin, we both have what we want.”

“How do I know you won’t turn me over to the Order?”

I don’t know anything about Thane; he could be pulling one over on me.

“Do you want the appointment or not?”

“Who is this person you want me to meet?”

“All you need to know is that she might be able to help. It’s either this or soul exchanges keep happening and more people die, Anora—your call.”

I don’t like the way he says my name, but the mention of more people dying makes my chest hurt. If any more guilt lands on my shoulders, I’ll be crippled.