I still didn’t know what had happened to her down there. Lou had refused to tell me, and Ansel—

My mind viciously rejected the thought.

“Louise is the reason Célie was kidnapped,” Jean Luc said through gritted teeth. “And I cannot discuss the matter any further. I must go. Célie”—he extended a hand toward her, face softening—“can you stand? I will escort you home. Your parents are waiting.” Fresh tears welled in her eyes, but she wiped them away. Straightening her shoulders, she placed her trembling hand in his. Jean Luc moved to leave but stopped short, clutching my shoulder at the last second. His eyes were impenetrable. “I genuinely hope I don’t see you again, Reid. Leave the kingdom. Take Louise and Coco with you if you must. Take the prince. Just—” Sighing heavily, he turned away. “Take care of yourself.”

I watched the two of them walk out the door with a strange, pinching sensation. Though I no longer loved Célie romantically, it was . . . odd. Seeing her hand in Jean Luc’s. Uncomfortable. Still, I wished them every happiness. Someone should have it.

“How is she?” Deveraux said after a moment. No one asked who he meant. “Where is she?”

I took my time answering, contemplating my beer again. After one enormous swallow and another, I wiped my mouth. “She’s in the dining room with La Voisin and Nicholina. They’re . . . planning.”

“La Voisin? Nicholina?” Deveraux blinked between Coco and me, appalled. “These are the same women who abandoned us in the tunnels, are they not? What in the wilderness is Lou planning with them?”

Coco didn’t look up from her wine. “Lou wants to march on Chateau le Blanc. It’s all she’s talked about since we escaped. She says she needs to kill Morgane.”

“Oh dear.” Deveraux’s eyes widened, and he blew out a breath. “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I must admit, that is . . . troubling.”

Coco’s hand tightened around her glass. Her eyes snapped up, burning with unshed emotion. “Why? We all want vengeance. She’s taking the steps to get us there.”

Deveraux appeared to choose his next words carefully. “Thoughts such as these could invite something very dark into your lives, Cosette. Something very dark, indeed. Evil always seeks a foothold. We must not give it one.”

The stem of her glass snapped between her fingers, and a tear sizzled against the table. “She snuffed him out like a candle. You were there. You saw. And he—he—” She closed her eyes to regain her composure. When she opened them again, they were nearly black. Beau watched her with a wooden expression. Emotionless. Blank. “He was the best of us. Evil has more than a foothold here, Claud—thanks to you. You set it loose last night. You let it roam free. Now we all must suffer the consequences.”

The door to the dining room flew open, and Lou stepped out. When her eyes met mine, she grinned and started toward me. I frowned. I hadn’t seen her grin since—since—

Without a word, she swept me into a passionate kiss.

..................................................................