Page 118 of Alchemy of Souls

In a bright flash of panic, I realize what he’s about to do. But before I can step forward, he pushes the small popped-out piece of the dome back in. And I feel it, like a wave of energy that ripples through the room.

“But then you already knew about this tear, didn’t you?” he asks, and once again my emotions betray me.

He smiles, and I realize with startling clarity that he set me up.

“Well done, Miss Belrose,” he says. “You’re not quite as dull as I assumed.”

I stare at the repaired dome in horror—the Lawless are now completely cut off. They’ll have no access to medicines or supplies. My fists clench.

“I’m curious, Miss Belrose—howlonghave you known about the tear?” he asks.

I immediately get nervous.

“Interesting,” he says, obviously reading my emotions. “So,you didn’t learn about it just tonight. You knew about it before this?”

This isn’t my skill. How do I manipulate a master manipulator? How do I not have emotions?

“My question is, how doyou—a Laboring girl who’s never been to this town—know anything about the tear?” he asks. “Someone must have showed it to you.” He pauses, tilting his head, like he’s watching my emotions play out. “Recently.”

I try so hard to tamp down my reaction but it backfires, because he says, “It’s someone you’re trying to protect.”

Panic.

His jaw tics. “Was it my nephew, Miss Belrose?” he asks with a cold hard tone.

My pulse spikes. He’s pulling the truth out of me even though I’m not speaking.

“Weak,” the Chancellor says like a growl, and his gaze flits to the door. “On second thought, why don’t we open that door right now? And by we, I mean you.”

I have to do something. Now. If he realizes he can’t cast before I’ve gotten the truth out of him our whole plan is trashed. Problem is, I’m not a manipulator. I’m—I stop, an idea forming. Maybe I don’t need to manipulate him at all. Maybe I can use an entirely different weapon, one I’m much more familiar with—honesty.

“That isn’t all Grayson showed me,” I say, testing the water.

His eyes move from the door back to me. “Is that so?”

“He showed me that the Lawless aren’t that much different than Laborers,” I say. “Except… they teach their children magic from an early age.”

His gaze is discerning and his posture is perfect. “And I care because?”

“At first I thought that was dangerous, because I believed your lies,” I say, gaining more confidence the longer I have his attention. “But then I realized that all the High Mage families teach their children magic early. That the only people who don’t are Laborers.”

“I fail to see your point,” he says, looking at me more seriously.

“The point is that magical ability solidifies in the teen years. We reach our full potential then, just like height,” I say, using Grayson’s words. “Youknow this andyoudeliberately keep Laborers from learning magic young.”

He sighs, like I’m being tedious. “Then you understand why—”

“I’m not done,” I say, cutting him off. “I also learned that it isn’t the Lawless attacking Laboring communities, killing innocent people, that it’syourGuardians onyourorders.”

His eyes narrow. “It’s a shame, Miss Belrose. I had such high hopes for you. I even considered keeping you on a short leash in the public eye if you followed my rules. But now I see that was hopeful thinking. You’ll have to be locked up. Muzzled possibly? Or maybe we’ll just lock up your family and kill one of them each time you displease me? I’ll think on it.”

My body tenses with the desire to attack him. “So, you admit that it’s all true?

“Why would I deny it?” he asks, moving toward me. “I’m proud of it. Fear among the common man is a powerful tool, one I wield with the utmost skill.”

Grandad always said that wits are as deadly a weapon as any blade.

“Lucky for you, you’ll get to see me use that tool very soon,” he continues. “First, when I order Akari to kill her uncle. And then when I kill her and blame it on the Lawless. By that time, we’ll have a good number of Lawless rounded up and I’ll execute them publicly, onceagain restoring order. I’ll announce the happy news that the Key has chosen to appear and I’ve accepted the honor with great humility.”