KNOX’S POV

“I understand that,” Nathaniel says, his tone stubbornly pragmatic. “But no one is going to fucking buy that arrows did this kind of damage. Their men were standing outside. They felt the entire house rumble.”

“Then tell them there was an earthquake,” I snap, the edge of my control fraying. “Tell them it was a sinkhole, a freak storm, a gas explosion—fucking something. But the absolute last thing we are going to do is throw Ember under the bus.”

Nathaniel holds my gaze for a long, heavy second.

“Harrison’s men used incendiary bolts,” I state flatly.

“They didn’t.”

“Nathaniel.” I look at him, and the look is the...