chapter 81

“But your security forces are thralls. Xiao is a thrall,” I remind him “And thralls might have put this spell on us.”

“Xiao saved your life. And she’s the one who told us about the binding. She’s proved her loyalty.” He pauses. “She could be useful to us, in that regard.”

“I’m not a fan of reducing people to their usefulness.” I suppose it’s just part of being a leader, but I don’t have to like it. “On the other hand, I suppose her telling us about the binding shows she’s loyal to the pack, not loyal to thralls who might be plotting against us.”

“And we have no proof yet that they are. That’s where Xiao might be able to help us. If she’s willing to be our eyes and ears—”

“Willing to snitch.”

He ignores my correction. “—we might be able to discern exactly what kind of problem, and what scale, we’re dealing with.”

“But I don’t have to trick her into revealing anything, right?” I’m not sure I could, anyway. “I don’t like manipulating people and I don’t want to be fake. Especially not to