“I know,” I said, guilt burning my throat. “I’ve been thinking the same thing—but how do we explain it all to her? I don’t want her to be implicated, too, if we’re caught.”

Archer seemed to be contemplating it as he brought the car to a halt by the northern gate, but it was Kiera who answered as I jumped out and offered a hand to her. “Why don’t you guys just introduce me to her?’’ she said, allowing me to help her from her seat, but still not meeting my eyes, and ...