Page 84 of Blackheart

No, that was insane. Riven wasn’t a liar.

“How do you know each other? When did you have time to visit Castivian?” The words came out so quickly, I wasn’t sure he’d caught them all.

Both healers' eyes shot up. They turned to Riven awkwardly.

Hewouldn'tlie to me. He promised I could trust him, and I did—more than anyone.

“You really like to assume things about me, don’t you?” was all Riven could offer, settling into his native accent.

He’d never been a real Draker.

Three years in the Waywards, pretending to be someone he was not, faking his voice, sleeping with my friend, and spying on me.

My fingernails dug into my palms. There were no words for the way I felt. It was such a simple thing he could have confessed at any point on the journey. But to leave me blindsided—to have some ridiculous devotion for Castivian, but not to me…

My reward for crossing the Sea of Blades was nothing but another wound on my heart. No one cared to be honest with me abouta single thingin my entire life. At least Luna had told me she wanted to leave. She may have been a selfish coward, but she wasn’t a liar.

I left the room, ignoring Riven as he called my name.

Avan was waiting in the hall, but I stormed right past him, flicking him off as he called out, too.

I didn’t give a shit what any of these men had to say anymore. I was leaving.

I had delivered the stupid deed, doing my part for the Dark Natured. I was free from the Waywards, and free from the curiosity of who my brothers and father might be. I could do whatever I wanted, and that did not include enjoying the company of liars.

Avan wisely did not attempt to follow as I left the House of Sterling. The sea breeze tickled my face and blew my hair. The capital below was beautiful from the plateau, but even more beautiful was the bladebreather soaring above the black rooftops, a sparkling, rosy dust trailing behind.

It was hard to tell from a distance, but I was sure it was the same blonde woman, enjoying being home as her beast flipped its tail happily through the air.

Shewas truly free.

I strode into the city with resolve. I would never be caged again.

Chapter 27

You Should Come

“Ah, how I miss Castivian. I was foolish to leave. No Draker has ever matched a Blademan’s…vigor.”

Miss Soryl, as heard in passing

It took onlytwo hours to find a job as a barmaid. The pay was twice as much as I earned in the Waywards,andincluded a furnished room with a small bed and a single chest.

It took one night to realize Castivian was absolutely nothing like Drakington.

People of all Natures sat at the wooden tables throughout Sailor’s Tear Tavern, all mingling. People who approached me didn’t care what my Nature was. I was just a person, like them. Some of the other barmaidens gossiped about me being from the Waywards, implying I might carry illnesses, but that was mild compared to the shit I’d heard in Drakington.

No one wastrulyscared of me.

It wasn’t until the second night before I understood why.

During the day, Eiden was filled with bustling crowds going about their daily tasks. There were artists, tailors, gem shops, restaurants—and those were just some of the buildings on thesame strip where I worked. I had yet to fully explore, but it was beautiful, and full of hope.

But after dark, things became much different.

On the second night, there was a brutal commotion outside my bedroom. I clutched Singer beneath my comforter. A man was mugged and beaten behind the tavern. Right by my window.

When I frantically rose to seek help, Gia, one of my bosses, sat at the bar stirring a drink. She had heavy bags under her eyes, cleavage spilling over her maroon top, and an unlit smoke waiting for her on the counter.