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Gabriel whirls away from me to gape at Alyvia. “Are you listening to what she’s asking me to do? I won’t do it. There’s a loophole or something. Immortals never want to die. That’s the entire reason they became immortals!”

“Considering I was stripped of my mortal soul and forced into this, I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m a willing participant,” I deadpan. “Fine, if you won’t help us then we’ll move on. Come on Alyvia.” I snatch the scarf from the floor where it fell and wrap it back around my face to conceal Rowan’s mark.

Trudging out of the gaudy dragon’s home, I impatiently wait outside while Alyvia softly closes his front door. She calmly walks closer to me, her kind eyes trying to convey what her hidden face can’t.

“Maybe next time keep the scarf on,” she advises.

“Yeah, I don’t think taking it off did me any favors. I figured the mark might make him take me seriously.” Instead it had the opposite effect. Sighing, I walk further away from the house. “What are the odds the witch will be more helpful?”

“He’s less likely to ask questions before doing it. Jared might ask me questions though but it won’t pertain to you,” Alyvia explains.

“I thought the dragon was going to be helpful. So excuse me for being a little doubtful about your ex-boyfriend,” I grunt.

She laughs. “That’s alright. I get it.”

“You know what would be nice? If Zeke would just roast me with his fire. What are the odds of that for a Plan C?” My voice is hopeful even though I know the response she’s about to give.

“I think he would laugh in your face.”

Exactly what would happen. “Did you get word to Jared before we left?”

She grimaces. “No. I didn’t remember after traveling on foot to remind you I wanted to stop in the city briefly. I’m so sorry. He should be home though. He’s never been chosen to participate in the Haze before.” She shoots me a skeptical glance. “How did you know he was lying about the Haze?”

“Call it a fun guess.”

“Keres.”

“Alyvia.” I refuse to look at her as we continue on a path to our next destination.

She’s quiet for several seconds before she gasps. “You slept with Lord Rowan?”

“We’re not talking about this.” Even as the words come out, I realize it’s the wrong thing to say. I should have immediately denied her comment.

“My lord!” She practically shouts before lowering her voice. “Are you crazy? No, don’t answer that. I already know the answer. Lord Rowan… I don’t think he’s been with anyone in my lifetime. He’s an extremely solitary creature.” She squints at me. “Did you initiate or did he?”

Can she not tell this is a conversation I would rather not have? Glaring at her, I repeat her name in a warning voice.

She seems to take that as an answer. “He initiated it, didn’t he? Oh no.” Abruptly she stops walking. “We can’t do this, Keres.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. “It was sex, Alyvia,” I say in exasperation. “It didn’t mean anything to him, he made that quite clear when it was done. Rowan isn’t going to give a damn that we’re out here trying to make progress when he’s not. He doesn’t care about me.”

“I think you’re wrong. I think he cares. He kissed you in front of all of his people. He fucking marked you, Keres. That should tell you everything you need to know. You’re choosing to be dense about all of this and I don’t understand why.”

“Alyvia,” I say with far more patience than I feel, “my goal is the same. To die. Rowan knows this. He doesn’t know me well enough to have any profound feelings to argue why he can’t maintain his end of the bargain. There is no happily ever after, do you understand? I am going to die.”

She nibbles on her lower lip but continues in the direction of the witch’s house. Clearly conceding my point that no matter what happens, I will choose to die. There’s nothing tying me to this land, just as there’s nothing tying me to Tellus. In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have to choose what kind of life I lead or what I leave behind, but life isn’t perfect. It’s dark, twisted, and full of hate and rage. Nothing is ever as it seems looking from the outside in.

“Do you think Jared would be more inclined to kill me if I let you do the talking?” I ask in the lull of silence between us.

Pulling in a breath of air, Alyvia slowly lets it back out. “Honestly? I don’t know. He might still ask you to verify this is what you want. Jared might ask to keep the souls he removes from you so he can sell them to other people. I really don’t know what price he’ll ask, though I’m hoping the jewels are enough motivation to not dig too deep. Back in the day he did things all the time no questions asked, but since it’s me showing up with you, he’ll probably at least ask some.”

“I’ll answer what I can.”

“Just not about any potential future.”

“Alyvia–”

She waves her hand in the air to silence me. “I’m not meaning about you and Lord Rowan. Jared is going to pester you to make sure there’s absolutely nothing such as a potential future for you before he does anything. He won’t want Lord Rowan’s wrath coming down on him unless he can twist it back on you. Jared’s going to want to cover all his bases.”