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Vexa followed my expression. “But perhaps you should wait outside. I don’t believe she likes you very much,” she said, eyes darting between us.

“Do you want him to leave?” she asked me, some kind of amused curiosity lacing her words.

I simply nodded.

“Alright Aether, wait outside. Your presence isn't exactly helping the situation.”

“You remember what happened with Effie?” Aether said calmly, but the bitterness in his tone was not hidden very well.

“Well that insinuation is insulting.” Vexa breathed. “If she decides to hijack my mind, I’m sure you’ll catch her again,” she stated, clearly losing patience with the back and forth. “Now go.”

He hesitated before turning. “As you wish.” And I heard themetal door screech closed, the rusty lock sliding right back into place.

“Esprithe he’s suffocating.” She rolled her eyes, sitting up on the bed. “Better?”

I simply stared at her.

“Don’t go all quiet on me. I have something to offer you.” She smirked, chin falling into her hand. “I’m sure you’re dying to get out of this room.”

I felt my heart flutter involuntarily at the thought. I had started to believe it might never happen. That they’d just keep me trapped up here with my thoughts and the everlasting twilight.

“I can leave?” I asked.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” She raised an eyebrow. “We’ll still be on the property... but I could take you for a walk. If you’re interested.”

Another pang of the heart. Outside? My skin longed to feel the wind, to feel something other than the stale air of this tower.

“Yes.” It was the only thing I could muster.

“I can arrange it. But first, I have to ask you a few questions. Do we have a deal?”

I opened my mouth, nearly answering without thinking about the weight of my response. Another jolt ran through me. These were probably questions I didn’t want to answer. She must have noticed my internal battle because she was quick to interrupt it.

“Why don’t we just talk, and then you can decide.”

“I’m not going to tell you anything without an answer in return.” The words tumbled out, tinged with a fire I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Now we’re talking.” She grinned, something mischievous pooling in her eyes. “I’ll go first. You wield shadows. Quite well, I might add. But you have no void burns. How do you do it?” She tilted her head, as if appraising me.

I hesitated, consumed by the ache that came when Iremembered the last time I was interrogated about my powers. Who the interrogator was.

“I found out about the shadows the same moment you did. I know nothing about it. I know nothing of these void burns.”

Vexa’s brow peaked. “I’m sure that was quite the revelation.” She let out a laugh and shook her head. “A Duskbound living across the rip. I would have never imagined it possible.”

“A Duskbound?” I asked, pulling my hands into my lap and sliding my right palm over my Riftborne branding. I wasn’t sure why I wanted to hide it, but something about Aether’s previous reaction to the mark had me cautious.

“Yes, a Duskbound. A true shadow wielder,” she said simply.

“So all of you wield shadows?” I asked, eyes hesitantly fixated on the door.

“Not exactly.”

I paused, waiting for her to continue, but she simply shrugged. I guessed that was a topic she didn’t want to discuss yet. Perhaps she wasn’t allowed to. What had Effie called herself?

“Are you a… vessel?”

Vexa’s eyes shot to the back of her head as she leaned back and sighed in exasperation. “Effie. I adore the girl, but Esprithe she’s going to be the death of me.” She reached up, sliding her gloved hand over her inky hair. “I don’t know what all she told you. But as you can imagine, there are certain topics… we don’t quite feel comfortable discussing with you yet. I also don’t want to overwhelm you.”