Laure awoke Malou at dawn, and she found Gavriel and Haddou in the parlour discussing their travel plans over cups of Samouvean green tea. After she told them about her meditation that night, she somehow managed to convince them to go ahead to Dorenheim Station without her so she could talk to Elodie before leaving.

Or, rather, there wasn’t time to convince her not to stay behind. The window of opportunity for Laure to disable the cameras without being noticed didn’t leave room for arguing. Not to mention, the town car Laure ordered anonymously would illicit questions if it idled for too long. The look Gavriel gave her when she sent them off told her they knew exactly what she planned to do, though, as did Haddou passing her two silvers.

“But don’t get any ideas,” the professor had warned.

“Not any new ones, at least,” Malou had responded.

Once Haddou and Gavriel had left, Malou readied herself in a hurry. A loose braid, a bare face, dark gray breeches lined with wool paired with a matching waistcoat. She hoped she’d be able to change into something lighter in Novenzia since it’d be much warmer there.

“Elodie’s in her room?” Malou asked.

“Yes,” Laure confirmed, “though she might not be alone. Dorian visited her last night and never left, and the attendants delivered a breakfast cart not long ago for what looked like three or four people.”

“Was she scheduled for breakfast with him before you canceled it?” Malou headed out and down the hall to Aunt Amandine’s apartment where Elodie still stayed in a downstairs bedroom overlooking the back courtyard and gardens.

“Not quite. She was scheduled for breakfast with Niels and Janna, so perhaps his plan was to join them without invitation?”

Malou smirked to herself. “Seems like the Dorian I used to know.”

Once she’d passed the hallway that led to the drawing room, dining room, and entryway, the guards stood like statues between every door even though not every apartment currently had occupants. Seemed like something Grandmother Laïla had decided rather than Amandine. Not for the first time, though, Malou wished her younger cousin had moved out of her mother’s apartment already so it would’ve been easier to visit her. If she were mature enough to move into the de Klijn family home a district away, surely that qualified her to move a few doors down in her own family home.

When Malou knocked on the double doors labeled as the Valois-van Braun Private Apartments, an attendant let her in with a bow of their head and a warm greeting. After heading through the empty parlour, she opened Elodie’s bedroom door to a wide-eyed expression from both her cousins. Perhaps they’d been concerned that Niels and Janna would show up anyway.

“There you are.” Dorian frowned and scoffed from his seat in an armchair by the windows. He took a sip of his espresso, its matching saucer balanced on his knee, and beckoned to her. “Not sure how you did it or why you’re here but get in already. And close the door.”

Malou eased the door closed behind her and locked it manually. Laure would ensure it stayed locked even if Niels or Janna decided to join them still. The breakfast cart looked untouched other than where Dorian’s espresso had been. The mood didn’t quite feel right to bring up the engagement right away. She’d need to be delicate.

“What do you think I’m doing here?” she asked as she grabbed a croissant and a cup of espresso for herself. She claimed the armchair beside her older cousin. “Do you not think I want to have breakfast with my favorite cousin?”

“How did you manage to change my schedule though?” Elodie asked from her bed. Her voice was hoarse. She had a handkerchief in her fist. It seemed unlikely that she’d slept any since her eyes looked swollen from crying. “Not that I’m not grateful, because I am.”

Malou gave her a grin, hoping to bring some cheer to her younger cousin. “I have my ways.”

“Come off it,” Dorian said as he dropped the espresso cup on its saucer with a clatter, then set the pair on the side table between their chairs. “So why are you here? Really.”

“Am I not allowed?” Malou asked. “Why’re you here, less favorite cousin?”

He rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t going to leave Elodie alone with Niels and Janna.”

“But I took care of that.” Malou took a sip of the espresso—strong and bitter, steaming hot on the tip of her tongue. Dorian might’ve just provided her a way to bring up the engagement naturally. “You’re also wearing your nightclothes, so I’m guessing you’ve been here since last night. You’re worried about Elodie, and I am as well. That’s why I’m here.”

“What can be done now, though? She’s engaged, for fuck’s sake.” Dorian folded his arms over his chest and slouched.

Hopefully, there was something that could be done. Malou turned to Elodie as she tore off an end of the croissant. “Last week, did you want to talk to me about Niels? You seemed excited, but I’m not so sure anymore. Do you want to be committed to him in First Spring?” To seem nonchalant, she stuffed the piece of the croissant into her mouth.

Elodie glanced at Dorian, then swallowed hard. “I did want to talk to you about him. I was excited...” She lowered her head and her bottom lip started to quiver. “He’s been sending me bouquets this last month. And jewelry. And clothes. And shoes.” She added in a whisper “I thought he liked me.”

Malou fought her urge to just go to the girl and hold her close. “Why do you look like you’ve been crying then?”

“Do I?” Elodie sniffed and rubbed the back of her hands against her eyes.

“Doing that’s not going to help any,” Dorian said.

Giving Dorian a look, Malou asked Elodie, “Do you think he doesn’t like you?”

“You’ve seen him,” Dorian sneered. “He’s insincere at best, absolutely amoral at worst.”

Her younger cousin shook her head. “I think he likes me because he must. I don’t want my life to be meaningless gift after meaningless gift, though. I want to fall in love like Mother and Father or Grandmother and Grandfather. Or I want a life partnership like what your mother and father had. But it doesn’t matter what I want.”

“Of course, it matters.” Malou clenched her jaw for a moment to keep back the fury from her voice. She tore off the other end of the croissant. “I don’t understand what your mother expects to gain from this.”

“She believes every word Senator de Klijn feeds her.” A scowl marring his handsome features, Dorian rose to his feet and started to pace. A habit Malou had always shared with him. “He told her he’d protect us from Grandfather’s murderer—as if he’s not the one behind it. And she thinks the perfect revenge for Grandfather’s death is for us to claim our rightful spot in society and become like the Crowned Consul’s family.”

“She doesn’t think he’s behind the poison that killed Grandfather?” Malou asked. She couldn’t wrap her mind around it. Wasn’t it obvious? Didn’t all signs point to his involvement? Perhaps Aunt Amandine just didn’t care to see what was evident.

Dorian grunted. “He has her convinced it was the Crowned Consul’s family. Apparently, His Royal Majesty advised Grandfather against passing his position to her. Can’t blame him now, can we?” He took Malou’s croissant, bit off a piece with a dark look on his face, and continued his pacing. “Doesn’t matter anyway. What’s done is done.”

Elodie wiped her nose with her handkerchief. “Mother says I don’t have to love him.” She hiccupped, and her tears renewed. “Or have any children with him if I don’t want. I want a family, though. I want love.”

Malou set aside her espresso and moved to sit at Elodie’s bedside and take the girl into her arms because she couldn’t stand seeing her this way anymore. At the same time, her eyes met with Dorian’s because they both knew that Niels would be expected to produce an heir.

Although the senate seat could be passed to anyone in the extended de Klijn family, the oldest children of the family typically took on the burden. Unless Niels would betray his commitment, he’d want to have children with Elodie. Against all reason, did Amandine believe he wouldn’t want any?

“I should just kill him,” Dorian said. “It’s really that simple. Call it payback for killing Grandfather, but it’d free Elodie from this wannabe despot, sycophantic nepotismo.”

“Dorian,” Elodie warned, her voice breaking.

“You don’t have to commit to him.” Malou hugged her younger cousin closer for a moment, then released her to squeeze her arms and level with her. “I’m leaving today. If you don’t want to commit to him, then come with me.”

“Where are you going?” Dorian asked. “And why?”

“Estravenza University,” she answered and hoped to get away with avoiding the second question, “but no one needs to know that but us. We can set out on a shopping trip to Srionne. I’ve been wearing my dearest mother’s wardrobe, so your mother should see a reason to let us go together since I can’t be trusted to choose my own outfits. Then you just won’t come back.”

“But once they realize I’m not returning…” Elodie lowered her head again.

“It’s not a bad idea, though,” Dorian said. “You’ll be in Travorno by the time anyone notices your delay in returning, and I can say I’ve been in contact with you to get you some extra time. Once you’re in Rielha, what can anyone in Revern do about it? Is that where your mother is?”

Surely, there would still be plenty to do about it, but Malou wasn’t going to entertain those uncertainties just yet. “Yes, that’s where she said she’d go. You can say no, Elodie. You don’t have to come. It won’t change how much I love you. I just want you to be happy.”

Elodie took in a shaking breath and nodded just barely. “Is it really alright if I come?”

“Yes,” Malou said and hoped this wouldn’t be a mistake. “I’ll keep you safe. I can protect you. I promise.”

Dorian finally stopped pacing. “There’s only one problem. Mother could send Niels or Janna with you, so let me come along—only so far as Srionne. I’ll distract them if they join, or if they don’t, I can buy you the time to get to Rielha by staying in the city.”

Malou hadn’t considered either contingency—that Niels or Janna would come along or that Dorian would volunteer to go with them. Haddou and Gavriel wouldn’t be thrilled with either development, and it absolutely added extra risk.

“Do you really think one or both of them will join us?” Malou asked.

“Unless you find a way to convince Mother it’d be a bad idea, which you must see is an impossible task at this point. She might be less likely to suggest they join if I’m coming, though. I’ve made my hatred of the de Klijns very clear.”

Elodie tugged on Malou’s sleeve. “I think he’s right,” she said. “But what about my schedule? I’m supposed to be taste testing menus for the commitment ceremony with the de Klijns and Mother.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Malou said. “A sudden cancellation maybe. And one of you can propose we spend it together shopping in Srionne since it’s been so long. If your mother seems reluctant, you can tell her that you want to use the time to convince us to support you and Niels.”

Dorian curled his lip. “That might work.” He checked his watch. “Meet us in an hour?”

Malou agreed and gave Elodie another hug before leaving. Once back in her mother’s apartment, she worked with Laure to contact the catering company to reschedule the tasting. All they needed to do was alter Malou’s voice to sound like Aunt Amandine.

By the end of the call, the caterers had readily agreed to the later date and time. In fact, since Malou promised payment for today still, they were even obliging when she told them they’d need to call back and cancel on her as if this conversation never happened. It’s all just happening a little too fast for my daughter, Malou explained, but no one needs to know that, do they?

When she arrived at the entryway an hour later, the attendant who’d helped Gavriel during their stay was waiting for her. While they had a moment alone, she updated him about their plan. He looked apprehensive but didn’t question her. As he helped her into a fur-lined overcoat that she’d seen her mother wear a long time ago, Aunt Amandine joined them with one arm around Elodie and the other around Janna.

Elodie had chosen a beige tweed skirt to pair with a matching pea coat and leggings, Janna, on the other hand, had chosen an outfit seemingly unfit for the temperature outside—a pair of rather light-weight, flowy dress pants and a patch-work silk coat with a Samouvean standing collar both in shades of blue. Dorian wore satin pants in a burnt orange color and a velvet double-breasted waistcoat. He trailed behind them looking like he was plotting Janna’s murder.

“What a surprise!” Aunt Amandine gave a tight smile. “Malou, my dear, I heard you’ve been convinced to go on a shopping trip in Srionne with Elodie and Dorian? I didn’t quite believe it, but here you are.”

“I have always been truly terrible at denying Elodie anything,” Malou said, letting her most practiced patrician smile warm her face. She pulled on some leather gloves. “If she’d like to help update my wardrobe, how could I refuse?”

“I’ve volunteered to help as well,” Janna said, moving away from Amandine to greet Malou with a kiss on each cheek. “I hope you don’t mind. I enjoy shopping very much, and I believe I’d enjoy dressing you even more.” Her fingers brushed across the collar of Malou’s coat as she whispered, “Though I’d prefer undressing you the most.”

Malou decided to pretend that she hadn’t heard that. “Why would I mind?” she said, but of course, she did. A large part of her hated that Dorian had been right, but she was glad he’d planned for it. Perhaps he’d find pleasure in his deception and refrain from killing her.

“I thought it was a splendid idea,” Aunt Amandine said. “I’m so glad you agree. I suppose this attendant here will be your chauffeur?” She set a scrutinizing gaze on Gavriel's temporary attendant, and to his credit, he maintained a pleasant smile. “Please take care on the road, as you will be carrying very precious cargo. I hope you all have an enjoyable time, my loves, and be sure to let me know if you choose to stay in the city for the night.”

Elodie bid her mother goodbye with a hug and bijoux. Dorian, on the other hand, let Aunt Amandine kiss him on the cheek, then he took a blood-red wool greatcoat, leather gloves, and a scarf from the attendant and stormed out of the door. Janna and Elodie both shrugged on full-length fur overcoats, Janna in white fox fur and Elodie in mink. When Malou stepped outside, the crisp winter air slapped her in the face and she regretted not taking a scarf.

Gavriel's temporary attendant held open the passenger door for them to the back carriage of the hansom. Janna decided to sit beside Elodie in the front-facing seats, leaving Dorian and Malou to sit opposite them in the rear-facing ones. Thankfully, the hansom had been warmed before they’d climbed in. When the attendant closed the door, he gave Malou a stiff expression that told her he didn’t quite like her updated plan after all. He hadn’t signed up for the risk involved with bringing Janna, so it was understandable dislike. All the same, he took the driver’s seat and started the engine.

After they’d left the Valois estate, they journeyed down the smooth suburban roads of Dorenheim’s outskirts. Snow had been cleared from the roads but remained everywhere else—the scarcely used sidewalks, the redwood and pine and spruce trees, the privacy walls surrounding the neighboring estates, the varying rooflines of each manor they passed. Out here, the snow stayed as pristine as every well-manicured lawn it covered. Surely, it was a metaphor for now little changed among the upper class who called these parts home.

“Let’s not sit in silence the entire ride.” Janna sat with her arm draped around Elodie’s shoulder, clearly impervious to the scowl Dorian hadn’t stopped directing at her. She crossed one leg over the other. “I’m really so glad you allowed me to come along with you.”

“We didn’t have much of a choice,” Dorian said, though proper etiquette would’ve made that a question. Perhaps he hadn’t changed much from when they were younger, and the shift she’d perceived had been his heightened sense of responsibility to his family. She’d need to apologize to him at some point for thinking the worst of him all this time.

“Perhaps not.” Janna slid her tongue between her red lips. They made her teeth look that much more white. She was almost too perfectly beautiful. “How could I pass up this opportunity to spend time with the three of you, though? Elodie is just so sweet.” She gave the girl a squeeze, and Elodie flashed her an uncomfortable grin. “And you two. Well, I’ve never minded being in the company of such beautiful, intelligent people.”

Dorian scoffed, leaning back to turn his gaze out of the window. “Same, but unfortunately, that wouldn’t be the present company.”

“You wound me.” Janna giggled, her eyes sliding to Malou. She rested the tip of her boot against Malou’s as she leaned forward to rest her elbow on her knee. “How do you feel about the present company?” She set her chin in her palm and grinned at Malou.

“Should I have any particular feeling?” Malou asked.

“A good one,” Janna said. “You like me, right?”

What kind of question was that? Malou allowed a bit of a frown onto her face. “Do I know you well enough to determine whether I like you? I’m sure you have more to show me than what you have so far, right?”

Janna’s lips pursed and she shifted back in her seat. “Much more. Where’s your amouren, anyway? Does he not like spoiling you with shopping trips? I suppose there are all types. I much prefer spoiling mine. Another reason I may have decided to come along.”

“I didn’t invite him,” Malou said lightly because there was something small in her that didn’t like that he wasn’t here, “and he didn’t feel it necessary to invite himself.”

Dorian chuckled, giving her thigh a slap. Janna’s soft smile didn’t falter.

“That’s a shame,” Janna said. “I would’ve happily spoiled him as well. He entertained me quite a lot last night after you left, my dear Malou. Did he tell you about it?”

“Why would he not?” Malou asked.

“You sure make conversation difficult. I suppose he warned me about that. You don’t need to be so formal around me, though. I’m not merely as important as people make me out to be. There’s nothing you could say wrong in front of me. Especially because it’s you. You could step on me, and I’d be quite fine with that. Perhaps I’d ask for you to do it again, even.”

Elodie knitted her brows together in confusion, but thankfully she didn’t seem to want to know what Janna was implying. Malou wasn’t unused to attention, but Janna’s aggressive and indiscriminate approach was definitely new. She lacked any semblance of authenticity, much like her brother. A family trait for sure.

“Good to know.” Malou faced the window to watch the passing landscape and the glimmering city in the near distance, still too far to see into the heart of it all but close enough to admire its forest of gothic pinnacles and spires, its sea of majestic cupolas and cathedral domes. She hoped that would signal her disinterest in the topic, but it didn’t stop Janna from continuing.

“I like a good hunt, too.” She giggled again—a sound that was growing tiresome—and told everyone in the car about her particularly difficult pursuit of a committed man in his forties.

As much as Malou tried not to listen, Elodie kept stopping Janna to ask questions. The girl didn’t understand why Janna would pursue someone who was committed or why she’d continue to pursue him when he rebuffed her a handful of times. She didn’t understand why he gave in after refusing so many times. She didn’t understand how all of it happened without his spouse knowing a single thing. The story was quite cruel to recount in front of her, and Janna knew that and had indulged her questions with too much detail on top of it all.

As they approached the outer city, Gavriel's temporary attendant turned onto a ramp and drove down an incline to a stop. When the black light changed to blue, the attendant merged into the traffic-infested undercity expressway toward the inner city. Soon, they passed into the tenth arrondissement and exited toward Dorenheim Station’s double-deck underground departure and arrival terminals. the attendant stopped them at the arrival doors and got out to open the passenger door for them again.

Janna stepped out first, followed by Elodie, Malou, and Dorian. Malou’s tongue met with the metallic taste of electric engines and her ears buzzed with constant chatter, shuffling feet, doors slamming. After the attendant drove off, she pretended to admire the crown moulding along the curve of the arched doorway entrance while she counted the number of Gendarme standing guard with mechanical Dobermanns at their side. Elodie clutched Malou’s arm.

Gavriel had warned her that security might have been reinforced given the impending attack Commander Nunziata attributed to the Libertines. Just outside the station, there were exactly six. As they headed inside, zigzagging through the drifting crowd to the ticket kiosk, she counted six more. More than likely, there’d be at least one Gendarme on each train—or at least the ones going to Srionne, the empire’s capital built around the Old Palace. The commander must have been more desperate than she had let on, but she had to know none of this would deter the Libertines.

As they queued in line, Malou made sure she and Elodie were ahead of Dorian and Janna. Just before stepping up to the counter, she gave Dorian a look over her shoulder and mouthed distract her. He gave her a small smirk and turned to face Janna.

“You’re really planning to come with us to Srionne?” he asked rather loudly, turning a few heads in the queues beside them. “I thought you’d be escaping to a more entertaining endeavor. Or perhaps that’s in Srionne?”

As Janna responded to him, seeming rather pleased with the attention, the ticket clerk greeted Malou on the other side of the strengthened glass, not distracted in the least. “Good morning. How may I help you?”

“Good morning to you as well,” she greeted in equal measure. “We’d like two tickets to Novenzia through Srionne please, and if you could be discreet, we’d appreciate it.” She scanned the two fake silvers Haddou had given her. She had no idea what names were connected to them, but it was better not to find out with Janna in earshot.

“Of course,” the clerk said. “Just one moment while the system confirms your identification data coins.” They studied the information coated on the coins that came up on their screen. Behind Malou, Janna giggled as she asked how low of an opinion Dorian had of her. “Everything seems in order. Should I process payment for the tickets separately?”

“Yes, please.”

The clerk smiled, turning their attention to their screen again for a moment. “All settled then. Have a safe journey.”

Malou thanked them again, then tugged on the back of Dorian’s coat to let him know she’d finished the transaction as he gave a derisive chuckle. He turned away from Janna without a moment of hesitance, even as she started to say something else.

“Whose are those?” Elodie whispered as Malou elbowed their way through the crowd to the elevators. “The silvers…”

“Not sure, honestly,” she answered. They joined a small group waiting to descend to the platform levels, and she palmed one of the silvers. “Laure, can you tell me the name on this?”

“Easy enough,” Laure said, and Malou repeated after her.

“Elpis Clemens, born on 14 Third Summer, eleven years old, from Bonna, Nuyere.” Malou passed the silver to her younger cousin, then reached for the other. “This one too?”

“Why am I only eleven?” Elodie glowered at the coin. “Where did you get them anyway?”

This time Malou didn’t repeat Laure’s answer. “Cleo Clemens, born 25 First Winter, nineteen years old, from Bonna, Nuyere. They’re both very believable. Would you like me to do some research on these identities?”

To Elodie, Malou said, “I’m nineteen again. Grandmother gave them to me. Isn’t that her way of telling us that she wanted this to happen?” Then she whispered to Laure, “Let me know if you find anything concerning.”

“I’d gladly be nineteen…” Elodie carefully detached her own silver from her chatelaine, pocketing it, and replaced it with the new one. “Elpis. If Grandmother chose it, then I guess I’ll go along with it.” She grinned at Malou, and all the risk was worth it. It was the first real smile Malou had seen from her since arriving.

Malou pulled Elodie into her arms as Dorian squeezed her shoulder to announce his presence. Janna showed up at his side, her arm hooked with his.

Janna gave a bright smile. “Oh, hello there. I was worried you two went down ahead of us. You looked like you were attempting an escape with how quickly you left us.”

“How curious. Why would you think that?” Malou kissed Elodie’s head, smoothed her hand along the girl’s row of braids. Finally, a few of the elevators arrived from the departure level above and the crowd started moving toward them. “And from what would we be escaping?”

Janna didn’t answer, just kept the same expression as they stepped into one of the oversized elevators together. The inside had boiserie panels of matte black gold trim, black tile floors with a gold inlaid pattern, and a stationary circle chandelier in gold. Fortunately, the platform for the train to Srionne was only a few floors down. They exited into a busy cavernous concourse, its coffered ceiling a barrel vault of white stone.

The train was boarding a trickle of passengers already. Elodie’s eyes shined with excitement. She grabbed Malou’s hand and pulled ahead, snaking through the pack with a skip in her step. Dorian shoved his way through beside her, while Janna trailed behind them without needing to brush across a single person. Malou scanned the crowd, hoping to catch sight of Haddou or Gavriel as according to plan. If she knew if they were closer to the front or the back of the train, she could be sure they entered on the opposite end.

Something sent Elodie stumbling sideways before she could spot either of them. She steadied the girl quickly, then glanced to see who’d run into her. A familiar tall boy wearing an oversized black jacket. A bedhead of curls. Freckles on his tan skin. A ridiculous smile. Brown and blue eyes.

What was Aaro doing here?