Page 120 of House of Embers
“It’s almost like he knew,” Fordham said.
“Dozan isn’t the mole!”
“I didn’t say he was.”
Kerrigan shot him a glare. “You didn’t have to say it out loud.”
“You trust Dozan. He’s clearly in love with my sister,” Fordham added with a shudder. “But he made the point several times.”
“Yeah, as he tried to warn us not to do it. He’s the spymaster. He gets all the information. And look,” she said, holding her hands out. “He was right.”
“I’ll buy him a cookie,” Fordham muttered.
“Just keep your magic close. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Was it the crashing into the vault door that gave you the feeling?”
“Shh,” she hissed as the door was pulled open.
The blue edge of a shield was shoved immediately into place, edge-to-edge with the now-open door, blocking them inside. And standing at attention with a contingent of guards was Gerrond.
“Look what we have here,” Gerrond said.
His hands were behind his back as he stepped toward the open door with the shield between them. He had a satisfied look on his face as if he’d just won the big score.
“Well, it’s not Dozan,” Fordham said.
“No shit.” Kerrigan shot him a look. “I’ll let him know you have such faith in him after we’re out of here.”
“Neither of you are going anywhere,” Gerrond said.
Kerrigan sighed. “Well, this is disappointing.”
“That’s not the word I’d use,” Fordham said.
“Your great plans have been thwarted,” Gerrond said.
“Mmm.” She tilted her head. “Is that what you think?”
“I’ve made a deal.”
“Let me guess: us for the drifters?”
Gerrond startled at her words. “Well, yes. Bastian is merciful.”
Kerrigan laughed in a quick burst. “Merciful. Wow. You’re serious.”
“He understands that the drifters have been mistreated,” Gerrond continued with a glare. “It would be easy to fold them into the house system. That way, they don’t have to live on the fringes of society any longer. And I can deliver him the two people he wants most in the world.”
“Yeah. And did you ask the drifters if this was what they wanted? Or even seem to question if the half-Fae and humans among them wouldwantto join the Society?”
“Of course they would.”
Kerrigan nodded. “I’ll take that as a no. Also, you cannot believe anything Bastian has said when it comes to half-Fae or humans. I should know. He fooled me too.”
Gerrond waved her concerns away. “I feel for you and your plight, but the Society is in the right. I never wanted to work with traitors. I just wanted a way to help my people, and you have given me that. So I will thank you, Kerrigan Argon, for your service.”
Her blood started to boil. He was so naive and so deeply flawed. The fact that she’d believed him—they’d all believed him—hurt her the most. Wynter had read his aura and said that he wasn’t a liar. He’d been working with Clover all this time. The drifters, who he claimedto care so much about, were working with her. And all that had been a bluff for when a better offer was provided. He didn’t really want to break away from the Society. He could have done that at any point to work with the drifters. He could have done anything for them. But no, he wanted to work within the system. She’d given him the perfect opening for it too.
