Page 33

I fidget with my hands resting on my lap, unable to look into Gawain’s eyes. I know it’s only fair to tell him what became of Cara, but the shame I carry—along with the part that I played in her death—is too much.

You can’t control the tendencies of wicked people, Maeva. If he’s worthy of your sister, surely he’ll understand, Saoirse says.

I’m not certain that will be the case, I reply.

You don’t know if you won’t at least give him the opportunity, she says.

The god-cursed voice is right, I mutter.

I’m not god-cursed, Saoirse retorts. I’m just correct.

Could you please refrain from hearing my every thought? I ask.

I’ll try, but you’re a rather noisy thinker, she growls.

A steel-laden hand comes to rest on my knee, reminding me I’m just sitting here on the mattress, looking at my hands.

My sight roams up the metallic arm to Virgil’s one amber eye. Though its appearance is hardened, there’s a softness behind it—an understanding.

“Are you sure you wish to do this?” he asks. “No one is going to force you. You have my word.”

I’m silent for a long moment.

Do I want to do this?

No, but it is the right thing to do.

Virgil slowly rises. “If you’d prefer that I leave you alone?—”

“No,” I interrupt, panic lacing my tone as I latch onto his arm like it’s my only lifeline, keeping me from sinking further into despair. “Please stay. I wouldn’t have asked you to be here if I thought you’d make this uncomfortable.”

His gaze travels from my touch to my face.

My eyes are pleading with this Galrosan I barely know to stay and be my anchor.

Perhaps it’s his kindness and compassion that comforts me.

Or perhaps it’s when I examine the scars across his face, I see myself in them—even if his scars are more physical instead of emotional.

Maybe it’s the look in his eye that makes me feel like he understands.

At this moment, Virgil is the closest thing I have to an ally, and I think he wants to be here for me.

Slowly, Virgil sits down in the chair that’s definitely too small for his frame. He places his other hand atop mine, patting it softly. “If at any moment this is too much for you, I will call for Emyr to escort him away,” he whispers.

Emyr…

Is that the High General’s name?

It must be, since I know the other cadre members’ names.

Emyr. I like the sound of it.

It’s a dashing name, Saoirse interrupts.

Virgil clears his throat. “Does that arrangement please you?” he asks.

I nod.

With a small squeeze, he releases my hand. I sit up straighter, molding my face into one not riddled with emotions. I can’t fall apart again as I face Gawain. Otherwise, I’ll never make it through this conversation.

“Well,” Gawain says, growing impatient with my silence.

“I’m sorry, Gawain. I don’t know where to begin,” I say, sheepishly.

“The beginning is always a great place to start,” he snaps.

“You better watch how you speak to her,” Virgil snarls.

I’m not sure if it’s Virgil’s tone or threat, but something about it causes Gawain to shrink back a step. “My apologies,” he says, “but I need to know exactly what happened, and she seems to have a hard time with even stringing together a single sentence.”

“For that, I am sorry,” I reply. “What I’m going to tell you is difficult, and I’m trying to find the courage to say it.”

I swallow thickly.

“Have you heard of the strange phenomenon that occurred in Aurelius a little over a week ago?” I ask.

Gawain nods. “Bits and pieces of it. Rumors claim a woman channeling starlight murdered the entire soldier regime within the village. Others claim she murdered her entire family,” he replies.

“Well, a part of that rumor is true,” I say with a slight pause. “I did kill the soldiers in Aurelius, but only after they murdered my entire family. Th-They killed them because of me.”

Gawain’s features twist into both shock and horror.

“Because of you? What could you have possibly done? You don’t even have an ability or signet tattoo, Maeva. Do you truly expect me to believe that you,” he pauses as his gaze roams over my body, “could murder an entire force of stationed soldiers?”

I wince. “Well, I’ve recently discovered that I wield the starlight. I-I cannot explain why I don’t have a signet tattoo, but Cara witnessed me using the ability when I killed a soldier the night we were at the tavern.”

“What do you mean you killed a soldier that night? We were with you that entire evening until…” Gawain’s voice trails off, lost in his own thoughts and recollections .

I clear my throat. “You were with us until midnight,” I say, finishing his thought.

“Two soldiers at the tavern trailed us and attempted to… attack us. I was able to evade one of them at first, but I wasn’t quick enough.

So, his companion held me back as he attempted to hurt Cara in front of me.

I begged Siorai for help and this ability flowed through me.

I-I killed the soldier that held her, while the other ran off as soon as my starlight manifested.

I thought he left,” I say, my voice trembling on that last word, “but I was wrong. He reported everything to the captain and?—”

I take a deep breath as Virgil places a hand back on my knee, a silent reassurance that I’m not alone.

“I went to the flower shop the next day. Cara wasn’t speaking to me, and I just needed to feel like I was accomplishing something rather than dwelling on what happened the night before.

The captain and Antony, the other soldier, showed up.

He taunted me and informed me that I wielded a rare ability called starlight.

I didn’t know at the time the blood on his armor was theirs until he told me it was my punishment for not coming forward. ”

I wipe away the tears blurring my vision.

“I swear on Siorai’s eternal reign I didn’t know.

I never would’ve—” I pause, drawing in a shaky breath.

“I never would’ve put them in danger intentionally.

He tortured them. Their bloodied bodies were lying in the grass by the time I arrived.

Cara’s… Cara’s body was mutilated. She died in my arms. So, I went back to Aurelius and murdered the soldiers, except for the captain. ”

Gawain’s eyes are teary, but the sympathy I thought I’d see isn’t there. Instead, I see fury in his eyes.

“You’re lying,” he snaps, looking between me and Virgil. “Only one bloodline has the ability to wield it, and suddenly you can possess such an ability? Cara would’ve told me if she was protecting you. She would’ve?—”

Virgil tenses at my side as Gawain rakes a hand down his face.

“Cara didn’t know about it, Gawain,” I say .

“Like all bloody Celestae she didn’t,” he yells. “Cara always carried secrets, but I just didn’t expect you to be the biggest of them all.”

“Why would I lie about that?” I gasp.

Also, what secrets could my sister possibly keep? She was a floral shop owner. She was kind and compassionate. I’ve never known her to not be forthcoming with information.

Gawain crosses the room, yanking me up from the bed. “Prove it,” he says. His grip is tight on my arms as he squeezes. His furious gaze cuts to Virgil. “MAKE HER SHOW ME!” Gawain yells at him.

Before I can blink, Virgil grabs Gawain by the hair, ripping him away from me. He pins Gawain against the wall by his throat. Tendrils of shadows leak from Virgil’s back. They look like dark silk weaving out of the Galrosan, winding their way around Gawain.

As I rush to Virgil’s side, his shadows snake around my legs, holding me in place.

“Do. Not. Touch. Her,” Virgil growls. Gawain’s face blanches as Virgil’s shadows wind tighter around him. “She deserves your respect,” he whispers.

“I’m okay, Virgil,” I say. “He’s just upset. Let him go.”

His gaze swings in my direction.

I gasp as I take in his amber eye that shines brighter than I’ve ever seen. However, there isn’t a shred of the kindness I witnessed in the floral shop this time, the call for violence sweeps over him.

“He shouldn’t have touched you,” he replies. “You’re priceless, and he’s pathetic.”

“He won’t do it again,” I say. “Will you, Gawain?”

Gawain’s panicked expression glances between me and the shadows until he concedes, vigorously nodding his head.

Virgil holds him a moment longer, then drops him to ground as his shadows retreat. Virgil stalks back to the chair, but he doesn’t sit this time. I suppose that’s understandable, given Gawain’s outburst .

Gawain coughs and wipes a hand down his reddened face. “Even if you thought it was a gift from Siorai, you should’ve come forward, but your selfishness is what killed the Cales—killed Cara,” Gawain seethes.

“I know,” I whimper. “I regret it every day.”

“After everything she sacrificed, she deserved more than this,” he murmurs, more to himself than to me.

“I’m truly sorry,” I reply. “Malvoria won’t be the same without her.”

He looks up at me then, his face paling, as his gaze lands near my chest. I glance at my pendant, now in full view. My hand covers it on instinct. I see it then, something clicking together in his mind. What clicks exactly I’m not sure.

“So it’s real,” Gawain says, looking at Virgil. “The Cadre really found the Dragon’s Flame?”

Virgil cuts a scathing look at the man. “As you’ve now seen,” he says in a brisk tone.

“What happened to the captain?” Gawain asks, turning to me. “You said that you killed all of them except for him. How did he die?”

I shuffle my feet. “Ummm,” I stutter. “This is going to sound absurd.”

“At this point, nothing is going to surprise me,” Gawain replies.

“Well, this might,” I mutter.

“I can assure you it won’t,” he growls.

My eyes cut to slits as I stare at the abrasive man before me.

“Okay then,” I say in a clipped tone. “I wanted to kill the captain last so I could torture him slowly, just as he had my family. We dueled with our abilities intertwined around our weapons. I drained my reserves while trying to fend him off. He was about to kill me when an Eitcham attacked him—saving my life. The Eitcham killed the captain to protect me.”

Gawain shakes his head. “Why do you think the Eitcham was protecting you?” he asks.

“Because it came up to me and bowed after mutilating the captain,” I reply. Both men’s expressions are incredulous. “I know it sounds half-mad, but it’s the truth.”

“This changes everything,” Gawain murmurs as he bolts upright, crossing the room in my direction.

Virgil steps forward to block me, but I push past him, knowing that Gawain truly isn’t insane enough to risk angering him again.

Gawain glances between us. “Is there anything else you aren’t telling me?” he asks.

“No,” I say.

A strange smirk crawls along his lips. “Are you sure?” he pushes. “No strange voices in your head?”

I’m sure that my skin pales three shades as he assesses me. Virgil growls which makes Gawain back away. However, I can’t help but notice the curiosity shining in Virgil’s own expression.

How could Gawain possibly know about Saoirse?

You must lie, Saoirse says, her voice stern with warning.

He already knows, I argue.

No, he only assumes because of what he’s been told will happen. You aren’t strong enough yet, and Celestae isn’t ready to learn about me. When you’re strong enough, it will be time, but it isn’t now, she says, her voice unwavering.

I don’t understand what you’re trying to say, I reply.

Four sides to the coin, four pieces to the enigma. Four surreptitious messages split—yet to be revealed, she says in a lilting voice.

What nonsense are you spouting now? I groan.

There’s more to the prophecy than what the oracle shared with you. She only beheld the first side of the coin—the first piece of information. The rest you aren’t ready to receive. I’m begging you, Maeva. Lie… for your sake. You need more time, she replies.

“Maeva?” Virgil’s voice interrupts my internal conversation. “Do you have a voice in your head?”

“No,” I say, looking at Gawain. “There’s nothing else for me to say, but I do have a question for you.”

He backs away a few steps and nods. “What do you wish to know?” he asks .

“Why are you in Delerauh?” I inquire.

His jaw twitches as he glances in Virgil’s direction.

He opens his mouth to speak, but there’s a loud cracking sound from above, shaking the very foundation of the old building.

What in all of Celestae?

I move toward the window, but a hand pulls me back.

“Watch out!” Virgil yells, throwing his body over me as we hit the floor. He rolls us out of the way just as a colossal mass crashes through the center of the room, leveling the inn.