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“She’shuman, Zain,” Kyia said, exasperated.

“Is she? Do you really believe that, Kyia? Can’t you see what I see and smell what I smell?” Zain turned his gaze away from Alex to look at the female Meyarin. “She’s different, that much is unmistakable.”

At his words and the attention they brought her, Alex had to fight off a bout of nervous laughter.

“Sheisdifferent,” Kyia quietly agreed. “But how and why, I’m not sure.”

“I can tell you,” came the bold voice of the chained Meyarin. His greasy hair fell over his face in waves, and Alex had to suppress a shudder when his cunning eyes bore into her own. “We’re very…close, you see. But you’ve already figured that out, haven’t you?”

“I told you!” Zain said. “She’s one of theGarseth.”

“I am not!” Alex said hotly. “I don’t even know what aGarsethis!”

“Come now, kitten,” the prisoner purred. “I’ve missed you these past years. My life has been so empty without you.”

Alex gaped at the Meyarin, and because all eyes were fixed on her, no one noticed his self-satisfied smirk and his strangely warm wink.

“He’s lying!” Alex cried. “I’ve never seen this man— Meyarin—whatever—before in my life.”

“What reason does Niyx have to lie?” Zain demanded. “He’s already imprisoned for his treachery. Lying would only bring him more suffering, whereas the truth could afford him some comfort to his station.”

“That doesn’t make sense!” Alex cried. “What if he’s lyingbecausehe thinks doing so will grant him special favour? It’s his word against mine!”

Seeing the unmoved faces around her, Alex took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. She looked around the room and felt her friends’ concern, Zain’s alertness, Kyia’s uncertainty, the prisoner’s—Niyx’s—amusement, and finally, the king’s calculating gaze. The ruler of Meya raised his eyebrows, expecting an explanation.

“You asked what reason Niyx has to lie, but what about me?” Alex said, keeping her tone as calm as possible. “Why would I want to deceive you?”

Zain laughed without humour. “You expect us to interpret the thoughts of theGarseth? Impossible. I wouldn’t wish such dark wonderings upon any being, Meyarin or otherwise.”

“If you want me to keep up with this discussion, you’re going to have to tell me what aGarsethis,” she said.

“Alex, ‘Garseth’ is the Meyarin word for ‘rebel’,” D.C. whispered fearfully. “They think you’re one of Aven’s Rebels.”

remarked.

Eleven

Alex felt the blood drain from herface. She barely noticed the Meyarins’ infuriated reactions to D.C. mentioning their banished prince. If they thought Alex was teaming up with Aven, then she wassodead, no matter what explanation she gave as to why they’d been found at Raelia.

“There’s no way you can think I—”

“Your blood is tainted, just like allGarseth,” Zain interrupted. “There’s no denying it.”

Alex shook her head in bewilderment. But then her eyes widened in realisation and she raised her hand, staring at the silvery scar across her palm.

Her fear and confusion dissolved into anger. “Oh, I’m going tokillhim. I don’t care if he’s immortal and I can barely keep up in Combat—he’sdead. Stupid Meyarins ruining my life. Is it too much to ask to just be normal for a change?” She practically yelled the last part of her rant, staring up at the ceiling as if hoping for some kind of divine intervention. When none came, she sighed and lowered her gaze. “I think I can explain. But you need to promise to hear me out.”

“We don’t need to promise you anything,Garseth,” Zain said, stepping forward threateningly.

Alex returned the glare he sent her. “Then I guess you don’t want to hear about how Aven Dalmarta tried to use an ancient blood-bonding ritual to Claim me so I would opena doorway through the Library and grant him entrance into Meya?”

The silence that came with her exclamation was thick with tension.

Finally, the king spoke. “Zain, please escort Niyx back to his cell and return here immediately.”

The guard left quickly, his eyes still wide with surprise.

Silence descended upon them and Alex decided to throw diplomacy out the window by trudging over to slump down into her chair, knowing she would have to wait for Zain to come back before she began her story.