.
Del found her in the historical society two days later, buried in a spread of old clippings and ledgers that Ines had helped her organize by decade, and dropped into the chair across from her with the particular energy of someone who'd been chewing on a decision for a while and finally settled on it.
"I need to tell you something my brother probably wouldn't want me to tell you," Del said, without preamble. "But I think you've earned the right to the full picture at this point, and I'm tired of watching him ration out truth like it costs him something every time."
Wren set down the clipping she'd been examining, giving Del her full attention. "Okay."
"The Circle isn't just an outside threat. Not entirely." Del's voice had gone lower, careful, glancing once toward the door as if check
