Witch's Pyre (Worldwalker #3)(26)

Does she really think we’d all just smash our willstones? Tristan asked.

I think it’s either that or try to make it alone in the wilderness. The Hive won’t let us go back, Caleb replied.

So Grace says, Breakfast said. But she could be lying.

How did she know Lily’s name? Una asked.

And how does she know who the current Salem Witch is if it’s been decades since the Hive brought anyone new? Rowan added.

Toshi must have been lying about that, Breakfast said. They’re all lying.

I don’t think so, Rowan said. I think there’s something else going on that we’re not getting.

When dessert was finally over, Lily stood and thanked Ivan. Her coven rose with her and they left the dining room without a sound. As soon as they went through the doors, Lily could hear the rest of the dinner guests burst into shocked whispers.

“Worst party ever,” Breakfast said, breaking the tension.

“Remember when I had the seizure at Scot’s?” Lily reminded him.

“Oh yeah,” Breakfast said, grinning. “Okay, second worst for you.”

“Lily, wait,” Toshi said, rushing to catch up with them. He took her elbow, and her coven fanned out around her defensively. Toshi wisely removed his hand. “I wanted to say that I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Lily asked.

“Ah—fishing for information and being disingenuous about my reasons?” he hazarded. He made a face. “Actually, right now I’m not sure why I’m apologizing because you don’t look angry.”

“I’m not. You were only doing what you had to,” she said. “Come back to our room with us. I want to talk with you.”

They settled into the men’s sitting room and shut the doors behind them. Lily turned to Toshi.

“Grace says that the Hive won’t let us go east, but what if my coven and I decided to immigrate to Japan or Russia or China? Would Grace allow it?” she asked.

“It’s not Grace.” Toshi looked around the room and sighed heavily. “How many of you know how to make willstones?”

“We can’t answer that,” Rowan said. He looked at Lily. “Don’t answer him,” he pleaded. Lily nodded and looked down.

“I’m sorry, Toshi,” she said. “I wish I could trust you, I really do.”

“No, I don’t blame you,” he replied sadly. “Look, if there are any among you who don’t know how to make willstones, and you could prove it to Parliament, they’d have no legal reason to keep you. But you understand what’s at stake here, right?”

“We do,” Juliet said.

“Do you?” Toshi asked, frowning. “Coming from the east, can you really have any idea the influence Bower City has over the rest of the world?” He genuinely didn’t know the answer to that question.

Lily looked at Toshi. He’s sixty-four, she said to Lillian. He looks barely out of his teens. I wonder if they’ve cured cancer here yet. He could help you. Maybe save you . . . I bet he’s an even stronger healer than Rowan, and with Toshi you wouldn’t have to worry. The secret of River Fall will stay hidden from Rowan.

“Lily?” Rowan said, startling her. Her thoughts had wandered off again. She really needed to get ahold of that.

“We understand,” she said, answering Toshi’s question. He didn’t look satisfied with Lily’s answer.

“There’s more to it than just the issue of making willstones. They want you.” Toshi let the words hang there while Lily watched a Worker crawl over his shoulder.

Now we know what the walls around the city are for, Juliet said to the coven in mindspeak. To keep the people in.

“We understand,” Lily said.

“I should go,” Toshi said. “I’ve already been here too long.”

He took his leave, mouthing the words be careful to all of them before he shut the door behind him.

Lily opened up her mind to her coven. Thoughts? Comments?

I don’t trust him, Rowan said.

I don’t trust you. That hasn’t stopped me from working with you, Lily replied. Fresh hurt chased across his face and she looked away rather than feel the hurt with him. I don’t think we have that many more days to decide. Do we stay or try to go? Her coven didn’t have an answer for her, but Tristan did have another question.

Is Bower City so bad? Everyone shot him a look. I’m not saying it’s ideal, but what place is?

It’s run by the Woven, Caleb said, disgusted.

And it looks to me like it’s run pretty well, actually, Tristan argued.

Except for the tiny fact that the people seem to be incarcerated, Juliet said.

Think of Salem. Think of those walls. Were we any less incarcerated there by the Woven?

Seems like you’ve already made up your mind, Rowan said. But you don’t know what it’s like to smash your willstone.

You survived it. I’m not as weak as you think I am, Ro.

I’ve never thought you were physically weak, Tristan. But you’re choosing this gilded cage the Hive has created for the humans over hardship and freedom. Try and tell me that’s strength.

They could all feel how deeply Rowan’s words hurt Tristan. As if against her will, Lily recalled what Grace had just said over dinner about her coven eventually breaking her heart.