Defy the Night

Tessa and Corrick dress up in their old clothes and masks, then sneak out of the palace through an abandoned tunnel. Quint is to stay in Corrick’s room and order food periodically to make it seem like they’re both still in there.

Corrick reveals to Tessa that he started sneaking out as Wes when the pandemic escalated and medicine became scarce. He’d leave people money, and one night, he saw Tessa and her parents distributing medicine. Tessa and Corrick find a woman they know named Tris, whose husband, Alfred, is now working with the Benefactors on raids in exchange for free medicine. Later, they spot the night patrol about to shoot a boy named Forrest and decide to interfere.

Tessa and Corrick kill the night patrol, saving their would-be victim Forrest. The former prisoner Lochlan appears, having heard of Tessa and Wes, and encourages Forrest to get his father’s help in burning the guards’ bodies. Lochlan feels like he recognizes Corrick. However, he can’t tell where he recognizes Corrick from (although readers know he met Corrick in the Hold in Chapter 6), and both parties part ways.

Corrick was injured in the commotion, so Tessa dresses his wound. She finally understands that Wes isn’t fake, but rather Wes is a part of Corrick. As they’re about to move on, Lochlan appears again, with a crowd of men behind him.

Lochlan has finally recognized Corrick. He has his minions kidnap Corrick and Tessa, and bring them to a large camp where rebels are gathered. Corrick argues that Lochlan and the Benefactors are making the pandemic worse, since the consuls will likely stop shipments. Lochlan retorts that everyone has enough medicine now, because of the Benefactors. However, he doesn’t reveal who they are. Corrick looks around the camp, but doesn’t see any consuls or elites.

Corrick asks Lochlan what he wants, and they get into a fist fight. Lochlan then announces to the crowd that Corrick has been deceiving them as Wes. He easily rallies the crowd against Corrick by discussing how many people the night patrol have killed.

The crowd of rebels rushes and attacks Corrick, ignoring Tessa’s pleas for them to stop. Tessa finds people she knows and reminds them of times when Wes helped them. Forrest helps by reminding the crowd that Corrick stopped the night patrol from killing him. The crowd stops beating Corrick.

Tessa takes Corrick to the rebels’ wound dresser, who turns out to be her coworker Karri (who’s been dating Lochlan). She is surprised that Karri is a rebel, but Karri’s not surprised that Tessa allegedly is. Tessa stitches Corrick’s wounds while he sleeps. Karri reveals that the Benefactors are one man and one woman who provide medicine to anyone willing to raid supply runs, and that they don’t like Harristan. Tessa points out that rebels bombed the Hold and Royal Sector, which Karri condones. Lochlan appears and twists Tessa’s wrist, but Corrick wakes up and twists Lochlan’s own, forcing him to let Tessa go. Suddenly, the royal army shows up on orders to collect Corrick and Tessa.

The royal army puts Corrick and Tessa in separate cells in the Hold. Corrick regrets everything he did as Wes, as he thinks Harristan will hate him for lying. He worries that with himself gone, Allisander will become even more powerful, second only to Harristan.

Harristan, who never visits the Hold, appears and is appalled at the conditions. He orders guards to bring food, blankets, and chairs. Corrick explains to Harristan that he didn’t raid Allisander’s supply runs and isn’t working with the Benefactors. Harristan leaves Corrick in the Hold but promises not to harm him.

Harristan has a guard, Thorin, bring Tessa back to her room in the palace. The servant Jossalyn gives her a bath, then Tessa goes to eat with Harristan. Tessa tells him that Corrick isn’t a true smuggler and wasn’t making a profit—rather, he was trying to distribute medicine in a way that wouldn’t anger Allisander. Harristan tried to release Corrick as well, but Corrick thought Allisander would get upset if he was released. Harristan and Tessa agree that Corrick is always trying to protect Harristan, and Harristan should protect Corrick. They call Quint to get more information.

Allisander visits Corrick in the Hold. Corrick reiterates that he didn’t raid the supply runs, but Allisander plans to make an example of him. He plans to overthrow Harristan with help from other consuls, but won’t say which ones. Corrick punches him through the bars. Allisander orders the guards to punish Corrick, but they ignore him. Corrick orders the guards to imprison Allisander, and they obey. Rocco then takes Corrick to the palace, so they can both speak to Harristan.