“Vhal, I’m not Larel, I don’t magically know the depths of the human heart with a glance at someone’s eyes. So talk to me.”

She opened her mouth and choked on the truth. Fritz let her work through the lump of confessions that had been building for months. “I’ve been working on crystals.”

“What?” His grip went slack, but he didn’t let go of her.

“Victor and I are working to put an end to the caverns, once and for all.”

Fritz blinked as his mind struggled to process what she was saying. “That’s . . . not possible.”

“It is. It has a heart, and we know how to get to it and destroy it.”

“No . . . Vhal, no. This, this is dangerous.”

“My existence is dangerous,” she countered hastily. “As long as I, a known Windwalker, and the caverns exist, there is danger. Either I need to be removed or the caverns do.”

“Well, I’m glad you picked the caverns.” Fritz grinned weakly. “I can’t believe Victor is letting you do this . . .”

“He has years of research. He’s been working toward this for a long time in secret, he’s just needed someone like me.”

Fritz frowned. “Doesn’t it seem a little weird that he was developing a plan for someone that might not have ever come to be? I’ve heard some of the teachers speak on his theories and opinions of sorcerers in society. They make him sound like he can be a bit radical. Plus, he couldn’t have known the Windwalkers would return.”

“People always make plans for things that may never come to pass.” Vhalla bit her tongue on the truth of Windwalkers. Without knowing the truth about it all, she could see how Victor’s musings could come off as a little intense to the average person.

“I don’t like it, Vhal. Every time someone goes into those caves, it results in something bad,” her friend insisted.

Vhalla wished it didn’t, but her friends concerns did put the conversation she overheard between Victor and the Emperor back in her mind. “Has the minister ever done anything to make you suspicious?”

“Me, personally? Not really . . . I just don’t like the caverns, and I don’t like that you’re mixed up in something bad. Again.” Fritz leaned back in his chair, staring at her hopelessly. “Vhalla Yarl, you’re going to worry me to death.”

“I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry,” she mumbled guiltily.

“I’m glad you did though.” Fritz squeezed her knee. “When is all this happening?”

“I don’t know . . . It was supposed to be before winter was over, but now . . .” Her mind returned to Baldair and Aldrik—the reasons why she hadn’t found the strength to return to Victor that morning.

“Now . . . what?” Fritz studied her carefully. “What else are you involved in?”

Vhalla glanced away. Baldair’s condition wasn’t common knowledge. She wouldn’t lie, but she wasn’t going to share it either—it wasn’t her place. Beyond that, she wanted to keep it out of people’s minds. As if by more knowing, it would condemn him to a horrible fate.

“Vhal . . .” Fritz pressured.

“Aldrik.” Her guilt snuck out as a quiet confession.

“Vhal, you can’t, you mean . . .” Fritz leaned forward, struggling to keep his voice no louder than hasty whispers. “Vhalla, he is engaged.”

“I know!” She shook her head. “It’s not right though. His bride conspires against him, against his family.”

“Her wrongs do not absolve you of yours.” Fritz was gentle, but his words hit her as hard as a battering ram.

“We haven’t done anything untoward.” Physically at least, though Vhalla was certain confessing love and intent edged up to or crossed quite a few lines. “Aldrik is going to find a way.”

“What way?” Fritz frowned. “Think through this. What could he possibly do? Kill her?”

“What? No!” She was aghast. “He wouldn’t.”

“If you have proof she’s treasonous, why not?” Fritz countered.

“Do you think so little of him?”

“I think he’s had to do worse things to achieve his ends.” Fritz wasn’t wrong, which only made Vhalla feel worse. “Would you want to be with him, if that’s what it took?”

“No . . .” Vhalla slumped in her chair, hating the world. For a brief moment she almost wondered if it would be better if she went off to the caves and never came back. She should’ve never stayed in the palace. “What should I do?”

“Not be the illicit lover of our engaged sovereign,” Fritz replied easily.

Vhalla shot him a glare. “We’ve done nothing physical.”

“Infidelity of the heart to some is a greater crime than infidelity of the flesh,” Fritz countered, and then sighed heavily. “Vhal, I know you love him,” he relented. “But think about what you’re doing.”

Thinking about it wasn’t hard. It weighed on her mind for the rest of the day and into the night when she returned to the library to look for the prince. He had no books today. Aldrik waited, hands folded across his chest and his mouth curling into a satisfied grin the moment he saw her.