“I know they are,” I say gently. “I stood face-to-face with your father and allowed him to walk away because the children were hurt, and that was more important in the moment.”
Christoph tilts his head in Noah’s direction. “You could also be complicit. It’s not unusual for an awry to turn on another awry.”
Instead of exploding at the accusation, Noah just looks at me calmly. “Hence, lunch.”
I nod.
“I’m … not really following,” Isla breathes.
“Mirth knows when we’re lying,” Noah says matter-of-factly. “A minor ability among other much more … robust talents, I presume.”
Isla sways slightly, as if she might faint.
“A drink of water, perhaps?” I say.
Noah pushes the glass into Isla’s hand, then helps her sip from it. “What are you proposing, Mirth? Will there be an official investigation?”
“Oh, universe,” Isla mutters, sounding sick.
“The Möbius Group is too powerful for anything quite so mundane,” Christoph says. “The fact that a chapter this robust has operated here, where the awry have ruled for centuries, is … a little unbelievable.”
“Where have you come across them?” Noah asks.
“New York. You?”
Noah shakes his head. “Just … rumors. And that one wrongful death of another awry at school. At least ten years before Mirth’s time there. But … some things make a lot more sense now. About the … structure of the Merton bond group.”
“What do you mean?” Isla asks shakily. “This … you can’t all be serious. What are you saying? Speak plainly.”
“Your father and at least two of your elder bond mates,” I say, “are directly involved with kidnapping and trafficking children with powerful potential.”
Christoph adds, “As well as black-market art and antiquities.”
“No,” Isla says, swallowing a whimper.
“It’s possible … by the way he positioned himself last night,” I say, just trying to get it all out now, “it’s possible your father is actually the head of the European chapter of the Möbius Group.”
“The United Kingdom at least,” Noah mutters.
“You can’t be believing any of this?” Isla cries, helpless but clearly beginning to believe it herself. “Noah?”
He leans in and gently kisses her, murmuring against her lips, “We need to listen now, dou-dou. Mirth is giving us a chance to salvage as much as possible.”
Isla leans into her chosen for a moment, then nods.
They both turn back to me.
“Archie will have to take the seat on the council,” I say steadily.
“Father will never give it up, Mirth.”
“You will force him out. You’ll bring in a forensic accountant.”
“I’m perfectly qualified to —”
“There are other people involved now, Isla.”
“You need to clean house,” Christoph says.
