Gideon gave him a calculating smile. “How much?”
“Not money,” the Outlander replied. “At least, no more than it requires to find the special sort of help you need. No, if I’m going to run this right, I’ll need more than money. I need the authority to do it. A title.”
Gideon nodded once. “Done. You are now a—what do you think will fit? Captain of the city guard?”
It cost Gideon little to bestow that title. Carrick’s salary would be paid by the city of Salem, not him. He could have his father arrange the appointment easily.
Carrick held out his hand, palm up, in the old way. Gideon laid his palm over Carrick’s and slid his hand up until the two men were grasping each other’s forearms firmly. Gideon briefly recalled that this was an ancient way of proving that you had no blades strapped to your arms and could therefore be trusted. He smiled. Sometimes the Outlander ways were so quaint.
“Done,” Carrick replied.
* * *
Sunlight was streaming straight down through the skylight when Lily finally awoke. She sat up and looked around.
She felt completely rested for the first time since she’d come to this world. In fact, she’d never felt this good in her life. The sun was warm on her skin. Lily sensed that she could take that energy, change it, and use it for another purpose. She lay in bed, piecing together why she’d always hated the dark. It was because all kinds of heat and light fueled her, and being separated from the light weakened her. Lily opened her hand and looked at her three willstones. Rowan had been right. She was changed forever.
Lily sat up and saw a glass of water on the bedside table. A tiny card was propped up against it. It said, THIRSTY? in bold uppercase letters. Lily realized that she’d never seen Rowan’s handwriting before. She stared at it, sipping her water, memorizing every swoop and curve.
She swung her legs out of bed and noticed that she’d somehow struggled out of his robe while she slept. Rowan had left a stack of clothes on the floor next to her, with its own accompanying card that read NAKED? Lily laughed quietly to herself and got dressed. The soft button-down shirt and pajama pants were way too big, but she figured it was better than the robe she’d drenched with sweat during the night.
Lily turned her willstones over in her hand, a stunned smile on her face as she dressed slowly, soaking in every detail. The shape and smell of Rowan’s shirt filled her with so much tenderness that she didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry. Lily realized with a start that she was changed in more ways than one.
She went down the hall, marveling at how aware she was of everything. The feel of the clothes on her body, the texture and springiness of the wooden floor under her feet, everything from the taste of the air to the muffled sound of her steps was clearer to her now. Sharper. Even something as mundane as walking down a hallway became a revelation. She was starting to discern all the different forces at play when she put one foot in front of the other. She could feel the air pressure changing as she moved through it and knew that with a subtle variation in energy—one tiny adjustment inside her willstones—she could will the air around her to be as motionless and silent as a vacuum.
She realized that this was how Rowan could move so quietly and sneak up on her. Thinking she’d give him a taste of his own medicine, Lily silenced her footsteps and moved toward the sound of voices coming from the dining area. She stopped at the same place she’d stood as she waited for Gideon to leave, wondering if Rowan would sense that she was there like he had the night before. She stifled a giggle, imagining jumping out and scaring him.
Rowan and Tristan sat at the table where she and Rowan had eaten dinner the night before. They were drinking tea and speaking in lowered voices. Rowan was dressed in all white—white linen pajama pants and a white T-shirt. She’d gotten so used to seeing him in all black that she was startled for a moment. His hair was tousled, and he looked younger and more vulnerable. He was beautiful. Lily had no idea how he’d become so precious to her so quickly, but he had. She lingered behind the corner, enjoying the rare opportunity of watching the person she adored without him knowing she was there.
“Whatever happened to keeping her out of your head?” Tristan asked, dismayed.
“I didn’t have any other choice,” Rowan said with a tired shrug. “Believe me. I’m regretting it.”
Lily leaned back into the wall, the giddiness she’d felt suddenly chilling and turning to dread inside of her.
“What even gave you the idea?” Tristan asked.
“I thought about how she’d healed her ankle. It was a long shot, but I figured she’d already transmuted energy inside herself using my stone, and it was only one step farther to then pour it back into me.”
“That’s one hell of a step, though.” Tristan paused, then his voice dropped. “Do you think she could invade a stone? Take it over without permission?”
“I don’t know. But that is the next step after this one,” Rowan said, allowing the thought to hang ominously in the air. He scrubbed his hands over his face a few times. “We’re in a lot of trouble.”
“Only if she goes bad,” Tristan corrected.
Rowan looked at Tristan, and a tense moment passed between them. “She can work inside another person’s willstone, she imprinted three of her own, and she’s just as convinced that she’s right about everything as Lillian ever was.”
“So what are you saying?” Tristan asked in a low and serious tone. “That we can’t trust her?”
Rowan’s face looked pained for a moment before it grew unyielding. “No. I don’t think we can.”
Lily stopped breathing, too stunned to move.
“But she’s still her own person, Ro, with a completely different background and upbringing. I don’t think we should paint her with Lillian’s brush just yet.” Rowan didn’t answer. “There are things about her that are different,” Tristan continued. “She’s funny. Did you notice that?”
“Lillian was funny,” Rowan replied, a touch defensively.
“No, she wasn’t,” Tristan said, rolling his eyes. “Rose-colored glasses, my frien