“Fordham asked to join us,” Kerrigan said.
“I can speak for myself,” he said, holding his hand out to stall Kerrigan. “My people are known for their prejudice. I can say that I was one of those people, but I have come to find out how wrong I was. I would like to apologize for my previous actions and do what I can to help.”
Thea’s smile warmed, the longer he spoke. “Well, we can always use an extra set of hands.”
“I suppose we’re just letting anyone in now,” Dozan said, striding out of the fog of people to square off with Fordham.
Fordham immediately went on high alert. She could practically breathe in the scent of his magic, and she wasn’t even in the spirit plane. He just radiated that same threatening energy. Dozan brought it out in him. Dozan brought it out in everyone.
“It appears so,” Fordham said coolly.
Thea laughed. “I see you’ve already met Mr. Rook.”
“We’re acquainted.”
The hatred was mutual. No matter that they’d had to work together during the tournament to save her life, it didn’t change how they felt about each other.
“Let’s not do this today,” Kerrigan said.
“This isn’t exactly the place for Fae nobility,” Dozan said.
“I’m Fae nobility,” Kerrigan snapped. “As you continually remind me.”
“It’s different.”
“It is,” Fordham agreed. “I was raised to it, and she managed to escape the worst of it. She’s much better than I’ll ever be.”
Dozan blinked slowly, as if almost in surprise. “You’re not wrong.”
“Oh, look, you can get along,” Clover quipped. “Now, can we get this thing started?”
“You’re sure that you won’t speak?” Thea asked Kerrigan.
She shook her head. “I don’t want to risk it.”
Thea sighed and nodded. “All right. I’ll get up there. Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it,” Clover told her.
Thea strode onto the stage, calling for silence from the ever-growing crowd. Kerrigan stood between Fordham and Dozan, her skin prickling as they both weighed on her in that moment. The boy she’d always wanted but given up and the boy she never should have wanted, who had given her up. Too complicated to be this close to them.
And Dozan, as always, pushed his luck. He drew even closer, ignoring the glare from Fordham. His lips nearly pressed to her ear. “Any luck inside the mountain finding the killer?”
She gulped as his breath tingled down her neck. She shook her head. “Suspects in the Society are being followed, but I don’t know who they are.”
“What if I said I did?” His hand trailed down her arm, and she stiffened. “What would you give me for that information?”
“Dozan, stop it,” she growled.
He laughed, and Fordham’s hand shot out, grasping Dozan’s arm at the wrist. “The lady said stop.”
Dozan looked ready to throw a punch. That wouldn’t end well.
She pulled them apart. “Both of you stop.” Kerrigan faced Dozan. “Who is being followed?”
“As far as I can tell, only one Society member is any longer.”
She waited, crossing her arms over her chest. “Tell me.”
“You’re no fun,” he teased.
“Dozan,” she snapped.
“The only person still being followed in relation to the murder is Lorian Van Horn.”
32
The Suspect
“Lorian? A Red Mask?” she whispered.
Fordham shot her a look of alarm. “Are you sure?”
Dozan ignored him. “That’s what the little birdies in the mountain tell me.”
“But… he’s on the council,” Fordham said.
Kerrigan’s head buzzed with that information. Lorian Van Horn was being watched as a suspect for the murder of Basem Nix. The only one still being watched by Helly’s spies. Did that make him a Red Mask? Did that make him the leader?
She remembered every interaction she’d had with him. Every single one had been unpleasant. He was the one who refused her a spot in the Society. He tried to get her kicked out of the program. He sent his best fighter after her on her testing. He told her countless times that she was worthless and her kind didn’t belong. Why hadn’t she seen it for what it was before? She had just assumed him a bigot, an annoyance.
But all the warnings were there. Bastian had told her not to let Lorian find out that she was here. Helly had stood up for her time and time again against him. She had just been too tired to put the pieces together.
“It’s Lorian,” she said. “It all makes sense.”
“We cannot accuse him without evidence,” Fordham said hastily.
“Then we get evidence.”
Dozan nodded. “I’m working on it.”
“Good.”
She would do the same. If Lorian wasn’t the killer, then she would find out who had done it. But it was the only suspect they had, and it would be sweet justice to see him put away by her.
Before they could say anything more, Thea had whipped the crowd up into a frenzy, and the march was beginning.
Dozan grasped her hand once more before she could be pulled away by the crowd. “Be careful.”