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who’d left me.
    Especially the ones who’d left me, because Patrick wasn’t always concerned about whether they survived the missions he assigned. We’d lost so many friends through his leadership, and I’d never challenged it. Not until it was too late.
    Now, I sat at a table in Crown Prince Tobiah’s parlor, finishing the last strokes of a sketch of Patrick’s face: close-cropped hair, a hard scowl, and a scar above one eyebrow. Even from paper, he commanded attention.
    â€œThat’s the last one for you.” James took a chair next to me and met my eyes. “We have scribes and messengers copying yourdrawings for the police and bounty notices. You don’t need to make more. That isn’t your job.”
    â€œWhat is my job? Pacing the palace and hoping Patrick slips up? Because that’s the only way he’ll be caught.”
    James’s mouth pulled into a frown. “The queen regent is offering five thousand crowns for Patrick’s capture.”
    â€œYou’ve just persuaded me to go find him myself.”
    His smile was tolerant, like I’d made a joke. “It’s been suggested that you offer a reward, as well.”
    â€œEven if I knew what the Aecorian treasury looked like, I don’t have access to it. Strip Prince Colin of his overlord title and we’ll continue that conversation.”
    â€œWould that I could.”
    He’d been awake for only hours, and was recently injured himself. He didn’t need my derision on top of everything else. I made my tone gentler. “How is Tobiah?”
    â€œSame.” James lowered his eyes. “The physicians are with him. They said the bolt came out cleanly, which will help the healing process. But they told me not to expect miracles.”
    We fell quiet, neither of us willing to bring up James’s miraculous healing this morning. Why shouldn’t we expect miracles from Tobiah, too? But the questions were there, hanging between us. We’d have to talk about it sometime.
    Anyway, where was Connor? What about “come immediately” lacked urgency?
    â€œWhat about him?” James tilted his head toward the wraith boy standing in the corner, where he’d been the whole time I worked. He was hunched over like a scolded hound, waiting for attention.
    â€œHe can’t do anything.” After the shooting, he refused to leave my side. I could have ordered him somewhere else, but where? “Wraith is destruction, not healing.”
    At my words, the wraith boy turned his head, and a thin smile sliced across his face, widening until he showed teeth and gums.
    I shivered as he turned back to the corner. James paled and angled himself away from the wraith boy.
    â€œAnd you?” I touched the back of his hand. “Are you all right?”
    â€œI’m fine.” James drew a deep breath. “I should have saved him.”
    â€œBut you—”
    He shook his head. “I should have seen Patrick. I should have been watching the rooftops more closely. Tobiah rushes into what he thinks is best and forgets to look out for danger. He can be reckless.”
    I closed my eyes, recalling the black-clad boy with a sword sheathed at his back. Easily, I could picture the way he leapt off rooftops and ran toward the crash and growl of danger. Glowmen, wraith beasts, or ordinary criminals: it didn’t matter what it was or who was involved; he would intervene to rescue victims and drag perpetrators to the nearest police station. “I remember.”
    â€œThat’s why I’m here,” James said. “To look after Tobiah. So that he can be who he is without worrying about danger.”
    It seemed to me James was being too hard on himself. Tobiah wasn’t easy to look after, given his vigilante habit. James wouldn’t be reassured, though. His sense of duty wouldn’t allowit.
    â€œWhy don’t you wash up?” He motioned to the bloodstains