He finally let go of my arm and stood, pacing a few steps before turning back.
“Rogues don’t talk like that,” he said. “Not about contracts. Witches. Human coin. Not unless someone tells them what to say.”
“Victor,” I said.
“And Lena,” he added, jaw hardening. “Her perfume was on his cuff. The rogue knew what your scent smelled like; he would have caught it there.”
I swallowed.
“Do you believe me now?” I asked. “About them.”
His gaze met mine.
“I believed you,” he said, “before the rogue opened his mouth.”
That hit me in a place I hadn’t realized was open.
I didn’t answer.
He didn’t wait for one.
“I had the rogue’s body brought back,” he went on. “The elders reviewed the scene. Harlan is already questioning why Victor and Lena arrived late and emerged from the trees instead of t
