“Drink,” Gigi told him, and this time, Slate did. Satisfiedthatwas taken care of, Gigi looked up at Toby, who was now looming over them, all grizzled and stormy.
“He’s already told you everything,” Gigi said.
It had been hours since Knox had sewed Slate up and all of four minutes since Toby had entered the picture. Eyeing Gigi, Eve’s father rounded to Slate’s other side and crouched, lifting Slate’s bandage and examining the bullet wound. Toby must have been satisfied with Knox’s work, because he gently pressed the bandage back into place.
“You should have called sooner,” Toby said quietly. “The second Eve started careening.”
“I called,” Slate replied. “Not my fault you were so far away.”
“Eve didn’t want me anywhere near her after the Grandest Game.”
“Because you wouldn’t even let her explain.”
“What was thereto explain?”
“Exactly.” Slate stared at Eve’s father for another few seconds, then looked away. “We went to your place. You bought the books.”
“I bought the books,” Toby confirmed. “I read them over and over again, hoping to understand my daughter, because I will never stop trying to understand her. I will never give up on Eve, Slate. So you’re going to start at the beginning and tell meeverything.”
“I already did.”
“Do it again.”
“Allow me,” Gigi interjected. “Slate here needs to conserve his energy, but I would be happy to offer a dramatic reenactment of the ominousinvitationI received, the cryptic things that were said when I turned it down, and also—prior to that—two very successful interrogations I conducted, complete with yet more cryptic statements about survival, spiders, and webs.”
Toby cut a glance toward Knox.
“Don’t look at me,” Knox said. “I’m just the bodyguard, andsheis impossible.”
“And very hard to tackle,” Gigi added.
Toby’s head bowed. He pressed the heel of his hand into his temple, and then he slowly raised his gaze to Gigi’s. Green eyes captured hers. “Tell me everything you know.”
She did. All of it. Both times she’d been kidnapped. The duchess. The Woman in Red. Nora. Saint Adelaide. Calla’s necklace. The visit to Helena Thorp. Turning down the invitation in the garden. The Gilded Blade and the way theytestedCandidates. The whole story poured out of Gigi in not-quite chronological order.
“I said no,” Gigi finished.
“And Eve said yes.” Toby’s voice was quiet. “She sought it out.” Intensity rolled off the man in waves. “I’m going to need you to tell meexactlywhat Helena Thorp said about this test. Word for word.”
Gigi did her best to summon up the exact details of that part of the conversation. “She just said that Candidates are chosen and tested.” Gigi closed her eyes, willing the exact words to come.“As metal is forged, so potential must be tested.”
SheheardToby’s sharp intake of breath.
“What?” Gigi said. Toby stood and tried to turn his back on her, but Gigi leapt up and grabbed his arm. “No, sir. You know something, and I will tackle and/or cuddle it out of you if I have to.”
“Do you know what another word is for a particularly harrowing test?” Toby said. “For a trial so severe itforgesyou?”
Gigi’s mind whirled.
“Do you know what instrument is used”—Toby’s voice had been reduced to a rough, rough whisper—“to meltmetalto be forged?”
And just like that, Gigi had it, the answer to both of his questions: “A crucible.”
PART TWO
And by came an angel, who had a bright key,
And he opened the coffins, and set them all free