Chapter 33

Briony spends hours teaching Larissa basic meditation to find the mind-magic “thread,” struggling with Larissa’s impatience and her own distracting thoughts of Toven. Larissa probes about Briony’s proximity to Toven, hinting at jealousy and motives centered on revenge and access to Biltmore.

Toven arrives distant and announces that Mistress Mallow has outlawed Canning Trow’s elixir at Biltmore and on political collateral. He frames the change by confessing partial culpability for the prior night’s events, shielding Finn and shifting blame toward Canning. Finn may still bring Juliana as a guest. Briony questions Finn’s vulnerability; Toven insists Finn’s mind is safe.

Toven insists Larissa cannot attend Biltmore until proficient, and silently follows Briony’s lesson. Briony guides both through sensory grounding and locating the mind thread, clarifying that cloaking requires a clear mind and cannot be maintained alongside mind barriers—even Vindecci failed—making invisibility preferable to defense under mind readers like Mallow.

After Larissa develops a real headache, Briony learns Larissa will stay at Hearst Hall for the week, unsettling her. Alone, Toven apologizes for the previous night’s mental intrusion. Briony notes he has long invaded her thoughts; they agree on consent going forward.

Planning for Biltmore, Briony pushes for specifics. Toven explains she must appear adjusted but not comfortable—neither vixen nor victim—and says they need a credible understanding of each other’s bodies. Rejecting outsourcing this to Larissa, Briony provokes him to define their supposed intimacy. Toven narrates a detailed, recurring sexual routine to establish their cover. Shaken but resolute, Briony leaves, their attraction and strategic alliance sharpened.