Page 99 of Alchemy of Souls

“Actually, that’s exactly what happened.”

She sighs. “That must have been so hard on you both. Those poor people. They must live every second terrified the Lawless will find them.”

Discovering my brother had been dating Sage, the daughter of the Lawless leader, was more than I could handle at the time.

“Actually… those poor peoplearethe Lawless,” I say, and Eloise goes very still.

Her lioness eyes zero in on me. “What did you just say? Because it sounded like you just saidthe Lawless.” Her voice holds a warning, one I instinctually want to smooth away with a lie. But I don’t.

Disbelief rolls off her in waves. “You’re supposed to tell me I’m wrong.Tell me I’m wrong, Grayson.”

“I can’t.”

“Please,” she says quietly, and that single word takes me out.

The scent of her hurt quickly morphs to betrayal. “Your brother was datinga Lawless girl,” she says, like she’s trying to make sense of the impossible. “The Lawless know about the tear in the wards.You.” She meets my eyes and the accusation is plain. “You’ve beenhelpingthem.”

“I have,” I say.

Her jaw sets.

“The Lawless aren’t the villains we’re taught they are,” I say.

“They killed my grandad, Grayson! Forced him off the road on his way home from work,” she says, her voice rising. “And how they killed him was so ugly that the Guardians wouldn’t even release his body to us! All we got was a bag of ash left on our doorstep a week later. Gran cried fora year. She—” Eloise’s voice cracks.

“They didn’t kill him,” I say, and the look in her eyes turns dangerous.

She takes a step toward me. “Like hell they didn’t.”

“Let me ex—” I start, but she cuts me off.

“Don’t you dare tell me I don’t know what I know,” she says, her hands by her sides. She hasn’t Alchemied a dagger yet, but I think we’re only seconds away.

“I just admitted to you that I’m helping the Lawless—an offense that could get me killed. Why tell you the truth about that and lie about the rest of it? I’m trusting you. And while that comes naturally to you, it’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I want to do it. I know you’re angry and you feel betrayed, but you also don’t have all the information. Think about it. Everything you know about the Lawless was told to you by my uncle. A man who will do and say anything he needs to in order to get what he wants.”

“And you’re so different?” she says, and it stings because it’s true.

“Maybe not,” I admit. “But my reasons are good even if my actions are questionable. Just give me the opportunity to explain.”

Eloise crosses her arms and glares. The scent of her indecision is so strong that for a second, I’m not sure which way it’ll go. “You have one minute. Sixty seconds to convince me that I shouldn’t skewer you.”

In any other moment I’d smile at that. Maybe even invite her to try, this petite fierce girl who is braver than anyone I’ve evermet. “The reason I know the Lawless didn’t kill your grandfather is because they don’t kill Laborers. TheyareLaborers or were once, people who refused their post and were forced outside the wards. The only people they kill are Guardians. But that’s because Guardians kill them—all the time. And the thing is, Guardians don’t just kill the Lawless. They kill our people, too. Those raids near the wards? Those are ordered by my uncle.”

CHAPTER 48Eloise

Grayson can’t be telling the truth. The Chancellor can’t be the one running those raids on Laborers because that would mean—it would mean my whole life has been a lie.

I stare at Grayson for a long moment, looking for a sign that he’s playing me. But in my gut, I suspect he’s not playing anything. “Why?” I ask, my voice tight in my throat. “Why would the Chancellor kill his own people?”

Grayson shakes his head. “Because keeping Laborers scared keeps them controlled. If everyone is consumed with their fear of the Lawless, then they follow him blindly, because they think they need his protection.”

His words feel like dominoes falling, the entire world crashing around me. I cover my face with my hands, momentarily blocking everything out. And when I drop them, Grayson is staring at me. I know he can scent my devastation. I’m overwhelmed. But even more than that I’m pissed off.

“How could you not tell me this?” I accuse. “Or everyone? How can you walk around day after day knowing that man is killing people and not do something about it?”

“Because who would believe me?” he asks. “I need proof. And Iamdoing something. I’ve been working on a plan with Sage totake him down since I was thirteen.” His voice has a strong edge to it, somewhere hinged between determination and long-awaited revenge.

“Sage?” I say, my mind pendulum swinging. “The maid in your house?”