Page 24 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“Before we leave, you will let your sister take a look inside your mind. I can’t have you putting anyone at risk.”

I barely held back a pained gasp. I knew I’d have to do it. I just hoped I’d have more time.

Baylis swallowed hard. Her eyes cast downward to where her hands fiddled with the emerald napkin in her lap.

“Do you think she can bring back my memories?”

“She can certainly try.” He laid a loving hand on mine and my cheeks flushed a rosy hue.

“Tharan is being too kind. I’ve never actually brought memories back; I’ve only erased or altered them.”

“Have you ever gotten into someone’s mind only to find their memories had already been altered?”

“As far as I know, there are only two remaining telepaths on this continent—myself and Gideon. I would be able to see his mark, and I have never seen another’s.”

Baylis nodded as if she understood, as if she could comprehend what it’s like to be inside someone’s mind.

“But I will look in yours if you want me to.”

She played with the food on her plate, her eyes sliding away from mine.

“That’s okay. I don’t think I want to know.”

I leaned in, taking her hand in mine.

“How about this, I will search through your mind, and if I find anything you can’t handle, I will keep it my little secret. Alright?”

She bit her lip and nodded. “When?”

“We could do it tonight if you wanted.”

“No, I’m not ready.” Again, her eyes darted away from mine.

Tharan cleared his throat. “You may never be ready, but we do not have the luxury of time on our side.”

“Fine. Tonight,” she said more to herself than to anyone at the table.

I breathed deeply. Neither of us was prepared for what we might find inside her mind. My fingers itched after drinking the milk of the poppy. The remains of my need for dust still lingered in the back of my mind like another voice—always there, always watching, whispering in my ear. I pushed it away. Pulling acigarette from my pouch, I lit it on one of the candles at the table, letting the smoke burn away the need scratching at my brain.

Tharan shot me a disapproving look.

I gave him a coy smile.

“Sorry, I need this.”

“You need to eat.” Tharan slid a plate of powdered confections my way. The sylph’s love for sugar extended to dinner as well.

Reluctantly, I placed one on my plate, signaling to one of the servants to bring the coffee. There was nothing better than a sweet treat with a bitter cup of coffee.

“I’m nervous,” Baylis said, shifting her seat. Her hands wrapped white around the seat of her chair.

“There’s nothing to be nervous about. But we can have a healer bring some valerian root if you want,” I said.

She nodded.

Hopper cleared his throat, shuffling the papers in front of him, so they stacked neatly. “There’s something else we need to discuss.”

“Oh?” Tharan asked.

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