“Got it.”

Ava turned back to the target she was sharing with Leo. It felt good to practice. Malachi was more of a dagger-fighting fan. Throwing knives wasn’t something he enjoyed as much as Ava did.

“As I was saying, be wary of any unknown scribes.”

Rhys asked, “Are we declining hospitality?”

“No. We can’t do that.”

Ava knew that would be a serious breach of Irin etiquette. Scribes were always welcomed by other scribes. No matter what. To go against that would raise alarms in Vienna and create enemies out of those who should be friends.

“Officially, I’m still here petitioning on the part of the watchers. I have letters from the houses in Berlin, Oslo, Budapest, and Paris. I’m warning the council about the rising threat, but I’m not having much success. They’re loosening funds for repairs and rebuilding our house and other houses, but other than that, they’re much more occupied with the Irina question.”

Malachi asked, “The Irina question?”

It was Sari who responded. “The threat against Sarihöfn and the attacks in Oslo have finally spurred a response. I’ve been in contact with other havens. The leaders there are mostly of the same mind as I am.”

“Which is?” Rhys was perched on the edge of his chair.

Sari paused. Ava held her breath.

“It’s time,” Sari said. “We can’t ignore those calling for compulsion. If we’re going to come out of hiding, it will be on our own terms, not the result of politicians threatening us. It has already started.”

“I’ve heard,” Rhys said quietly. “There are Irina showing up at scribe houses all over the world. The children and many of the others are still concealed, but more and more Irina are stepping forward and demanding a place at the scribe houses.”

“The council must love that,” Malachi said.

Ava put her knives down, no longer able to concentrate. “What can they do, though? They can’t force Irina into retreats. Not when they’ve been hiding for so long. What right do they have? What—”

“No right, Ava.” Leo put a hand on her shoulder. “But there are those who could make life difficult if they chose to.”

“How?”

Sari answered again. “Most of us have mates who are active in Irin society. Soldiers. Watchers. Teachers. Right now, if a scribe has a mate and family, it is accepted that he might be gone for a time. Sometimes for a very long time. But if those in authority over them wanted to, they could make it impossible for those scribes to see their mates and children.”

“They would break up families?” Ava asked.

Damien said, “They would make it sound like they are only thinking of the safety of those families. The problem is, the Irin council members who take the Grigori threat seriously are the ones most adamant that the Irina must be forced into retreats. And those who believe the Grigori are no threat are those who would allow the Irina to step forward on their own. In their own time.”

It was Malachi who asked the question. “Sari, what do the Irina you speak to want?”

She walked over and kissed him on the mouth. “Yes, Sari, what do the Irina want?”

Leo and Rhys laughed, but Malachi just smiled and pulled her down to sit next to him.

Sari said, “Right now, we’re trying to decide who should come to Vienna. We haven’t had a ruling council for over two hundred years. My grandmother is adamant that it must be reformed if anything is to be accomplished.”

Rhys asked, “And what does the Irin Council think about that?”

“They’re old men not used to sharing power,” Leo said. “What do you think?”

Damien said, “They know it is inevitable. With Irina raising their voices again, they cannot ignore it. They’re positioning singers who believe in compulsion to take positions of power.”

“There are Irina who believe in compulsion?” Ava asked.

“Yes,” Sari answered. “We are not of one mind. Nor do we have to be. But we’ve changed in the years since the Rending. There are too many who lost everything to the Grigori and the Fallen. They won’t be compliant again.”

They spoke of specifics for some time. Which council members were sympathetic. Which were hostile. Sari was passionate. Damien was fed up and clearly wanted to kill someone or something as soon as possible.

It was a full hour later before she and Sari could speak privately.

“You’re not using your magic,” Sari said.

“Sari, I—”

“I don’t want to hear excuses. I want to know why.”

Ava pursed her lips. “You’re not my mother or my boss.”

“I care about you, Ava. And your mate is one of Damien’s closest friends. Your power is substantial, and whatever we may be facing, we need you to be able to control it.”

She said nothing. How could she explain the threat she felt inside? It came from within. There was a darkness that lived in her. Ava had never sensed the same in Sari or Orsala or any of the Irina she’d met at the haven.

“I’m different, Sari.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?”

“Did Orsala—”

“My grandmother knows your power is not like the others. That doesn’t make it dangerous unless you don’t learn control. Are you shielding at least?”

“Yes.”

“How about offensive spells? Have you practiced those? Malachi and Rhys can help you.”