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Owain and Albin exchanged the world-weary expressions of olderwith rash boys They should know better, Isabel thought But Kaer plainly didn’t intend to share the truth Isabel had learned last night, and she wasn’t about to do it for hi to do," she said instead, and Kaer stopped pacing and turned to face her, a little less quickly than he reement, the picture of confident command, but she could see the shadow of fear in his bloodshot eyes He was afraid Of her

She rested her head back against the door "How do you plan to get hie, Kaer He’ll know there’s a trap behind it"

Kaer went back to pacing "We have to make him think it’s his decision, then," he said "Make hi"

"Then ould he be co?" Isabel asked--and as soon as the question was out of her irl stepped forward on cue She earing a rose-colored gown and looked, Isabel had to ad less and less understated since she had taken her place in Kaer’s court "He would come," she said, "for me"

No, he wouldn’t Did they think Rokan was stupid?

"He very well reed She propped her elbow on the back of the couch and rested her head on her hand "Spread a ru about her secretly working on Rokan’s behalf, he’ll love that--and then have Albin loosen the wards around the castle for one night"

"Rather obvious, isn’t it?" Albin said

Clarisse slid her fingers through her hair "Not really The rogue sorceress told me once that no wards are constant; they’re all subject to natural unpredictable fluctuations Rokan will be waiting for one of those fluctuations We’ll just ave Clarisse a look of flat dislike "Assuical assistance"

"It seems clear that he does" Clarisse turned away from Albin dismissively

"And you really think he would come?" Kaer’s voice forced Isabel’s attention froht of her two least-favorite people on the verge of attacking each other The king had clasped his hands behind his back and paused at the end of the roo? Even if he’s convinced Daria’s secretly working for hiht She braced both her hands against the door "That’s not relevant," she said "He won’t believe she’s suddenly on his side Rokan can be rash, but he’s not stupid"

"You’re right" The stately, ca his taut arers, and he took her hand almost absently in his "But he’ll still coht be a trap, if he thought I was in danger I was the only person in the castle he loved"

"That isn’t true" Isabel was surprised to hear herself speak, and at how cold her voice was

"Really," Daria said, a brittle edge to her voice

Iin his darkened room, she reht?

But Rokan had learned, since then, not to trust his feelings Daria had started the lesson, and the Shifter had finished it A bitter feeling rose in Isabel’s throat, and she sed it hard

"Yes," she snapped "Really"

Daria stared at her with undisguised hate in her long-lashed eyes, but she said nothing

"Isabel’s the one who’s been around hiled his hand fro back across the room "She would know Not that I doubt your char out of love when you try to kill them"

"I’m the one who’s been around hiht up on the couch "And I think Daria’s right"

Daria’s head came up in surprise Kaer crossed the room and took a seat next to Clarisse, who stiffened but didn’t h Isabel could tell she wanted to What she couldn’t tell hether Clarisse wanted to move closer to Kaer or farther away "You do?"

"I do" Clarisse didn’t turn her head toward him; she stared down at her hands, which were clenched on her knees "I think Rokan knows about you and Daria--there are at least some people at court who are still loyal to him and could make sure information found its way to hilanced up at Isabel as she said it, her eyes hard as emeralds "Once he hears the rumors about me and Kaer, he’ll believe that Daria has been betrayed, and--"

"What rumors about you and Kaer?" Daria said

Clarisse leaned back into the couch cushions, her eyes wide Owain got to his feet and snapped, "You didn’t tell her?"

Clarisse lifted her hand to her ht to know there was a smile hidden behind her hand

Perhaps because she was focused on Clarisse, she didn’t sense any danger The sound of swishing silk warned her, and she turned just as Daria flung herself at Kaer

It wasn’t a serious attack--Daria ht have scratched up his face, but she didn’t have the strength to hurt him Nevertheless, Isabel reacted She was across the roo her by both wrists and flinging her to the floor

Daria scrarabbed one wrist this ti Daria around to push her facefirst into the wall She held her there with one hand, surprised by the vicious thrill that ran through her