Forigve me of my sins.

Larkin did not disagree with Stelon, and he was deeply satisfied with how Miraye had described him. If only Stelon knew how wrong she was. He smiled at her, wishing it would not pain him to laugh. Stelon would be easy to manipulate. He already had her in a tangle of deceit. Whatever she could tell him of Miraye, she would give up easily. But there was his dilemma; Miraye was dead and the only person he wanted now was Tic. He stared at Stelon, thinking, remembering. Tic had not been returned to him yet, and there was a good chance that he had already contacted the Sink, and the rebels were packed up and moved to new locations, ones he didn’t know about. Yes, the key word: wanted, not needed.

Wanted, not needed.

He didn’t need Stelon either. Maybe she was part of the Sink, like Tic, but that was doubtful. If she were one of the rebels, she would have known who he was. But she hadn’t, and she still had no idea. Larkin knew the men in the room were listening. They knew the truth, but none dare open their mouths. It did not matter to them either way. This girl did not matter to them. What mattered was that Larkin needed them, and this was good. Needed, but not wanted. Larkin did not want to look or feel weak, but it was necessary to keep himself alive, to protect himself. Stelon knew nothing of the Sink, not of him. What good could she be?

In that moment, he should have ordered her away, have her thrown out. But when he looked into her violet eyes, watched as they faded into a lighter shade, something stilled his hand from making the motion, giving the command. Instead, he decided to extend his invitation, the one he had offered her at the ball. She was a lovely girl, especially in white, and who better to keep him company than someone who knew nothing of his true nature? To whom he could tell any lie he wanted. Someone with a connection to Tic. Larkin doubted she would be any good as bait. She hadn’t known Tic, and the boy wouldn’t dare come to rescue her from him.

“You are forgiven. Where are you from, that you would not know who I am?” Larkin asked.