Page 85 of Blackheart

“Don’t bother, girl.”

Stopping, I pointed urgently to the window.

“Someone outside needs help.”

She snorted, tapping her spoon and dropping it next to the cup.

I missed Trista, whom I had yet to find since docking.

“He chose to linger in the streets past bar hours. He knew the risk.”

The doors of the tavern were bolted shut. The rest of the girls had already retired to their rooms.

“Go back to bed,” she said.

By the third night, it was clear the streets were littered with thieves and crime. There were no Drakers to keep everyone in line.

“Why is it only at night?” I asked Gia.

I had risen to grunting. When I peeked out of my window, a man was dead, with his mouth full of stones—the work of a Stonesender.

“It’s an unwritten rule. Lord Xavian Steele expects to wake up to a peaceful city. So, he does.”

I frowned. He should beKingXavian Steele. He had yet to enact the deed, and last I’d heard, Clarke was still very muchalive. Maybe I had travelled all this way for nothing but a new job.

I spent every day wondering why my twin was holding out on declaring Castivian its own kingdom, but I wasn’t curious enough to seek him out.

Five days passed before Riven found me.

He stood at the bar as if he were a patron, his hair tousled, tan skin glowing, and eyes locked on mine.

“You don’t drink,” I said, sizing him up from behind the bar. It was early. The few patrons we had were chatting amongst themselves at tables and playing card games. Business wouldn’t pick up until later in the evening.

“I’m not here for refreshments.”

“Good. You’re not welcome to any.”

I turned my back to him, making it three steps before he hopped over the bar, landing in front of me. I glared up at him.

“You promised to trust me,” he said.

I choked on a bitter laugh and backed away. “I promised you’d only get one chance with my trust.”

“I have never lied to you.”

I threw my hands up. “You knew me for three years and didn’t tell me my brother was the king, and then you traveled with me across the Sea of Blades and didn’t tell me you were returninghome.”

He knew Xavian personally and could have told me about him. He was from Castivian and could have prepared me for what to expect. He could have made me trust him by telling me something no one else in Drakington knew: the truth.

But he didn’t.

“I was sworn to secrecy about who your family was. It was not for me to tell. As for not being a Draker, I thought you’d be happy about that.”

I crossed my arms. Riven, of all people, was acting like he gave a shit about what I thought of him.

“If you would’ve told me, then yes. I would’ve been overjoyed to know that I wasn’t crazy for thinking you were different this whole time. I would’ve been relieved to know that someone who was important to me wasn’t a Draker. But you didn’t tell me.”

His dimple had the audacity to show itself as his eyes softened. He took another step towards me. “Let me make it up to you. We can start fresh. I completed my oath. We’re both free.”