Defy the Night

Tessa continues explaining the truth about Corrick (masquerading as Wes) and herself to Harristan, admitting that they went out to find information about the Benefactors. Furthermore, Quint has always known about Wes and helped cover for Corrick. Corrick appears and tells Harristan about Allisander’s plot for revolution (which Allisander revealed himself in the Hold).

Tessa studies Harristan’s Moonflower petals and notices they’re slightly different from normal ones. The palace’s petals look like the ones at the rebel camp, suggesting that the Benefactors have access to the same Moonflower supply as the palace. Tessa believes she knows the link. Suddenly, there are explosions, as people are storming the palace.

Corrick is uncertain whether the attack on the palace is being led by consuls or rebels. People are shooting arrows and rush toward Corrick’s room. Corrick’s group exits the window using rope. Quint gets shot in the shoulder by a crossbow; Corrick falls and hurts himself, but Harristan carries him to safety.

Tessa, Corrick, Harristan, and Quint, as well as guards Rocco and Thorin, go to Tessa and Wes’s old workshop for relative safety. Harristan is still hurt that Corrick lied to him, but Corrick and Quint both apologize and explain that “Wes” was created for everyone’s protection at the time.