Chapter 49

Ronan's POV

Harlan Grey read Severin's invitation twice, held it to the window, and said, “The paper is excellent. We could write our refusal on the back.”

“That would require Severin to read a refusal,” Lucien said.

Orsik had brought a map, but nobody had opened it. Across the table, Mara held the letter by one corner. Gideon's name was in the last line, pressed so hard into the paper that the ink had roughened its other side.

“He wants us to come because he has Gideon,” she said. “He doesn't have him yet.”

Gideon sat three chairs away from her. He wore a plain coat, without Ironwood's crest. I was glad he was listening. I was less glad that I had begun to notice when he did.

“My father knows which roads we use,” he said. “He will watch them until you