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Kaspias lets out a laugh that lacks humor or kindness. It’s mean. It’s sour. It’s meant to wound. “How do you think she’s the only one able to speak Old Alkadonian? No one from Dementia can speak it.”
Each word flies through my brain like a sword dipped in poison.
No.
“Or who do you think told us that you were going to be on the ship? Did you really think Ruth just happened to meet you at Meridei’s dining party? At the exact time when the two experiments met in the asylum? Coincidence? Fate for a special soul sister bond?” Kaspias laughs some more.
Ruth glares back at him and says, “Knock it off.”
Each moment I’ve had with Ruth soars through me. How easily she accepted Dessin poisoning the staff. How quick she was to leave her life and family behind just to travel with us and outrun Demechnef.
Slowly, the pieces fit the narrative.
I peer back at Dessin with wide, pleading eyes.
And…he just looks at me. An expression that says a thousand words. Mostly apologies. But nevertheless, the truth is there.
My soul cracks right down the middle.
I’m instantly reminded of the moment I met the real leader of Demechnef. How I looked into Aurick’s wintery blue eyes. He had no remorse. At least, not that he was willing to reveal in that encounter. The betrayal nearly knocked me to the floor.
But this…this is different.
This isn’t just a betrayal.
This is the death of a character I have fallen in love with. Though my soul sister was fictional, she was still embedded in my heart like a birthmark. And she was never real. She’s been a spy from day one.
Air whooshes out of my lungs, deflating me.
I take another step back, looking from Dessin to Warrose, and finally, my gaze lands on Niles. He looks exactly how I feel.
Gutted.
“Wow,” I say with a bitter laugh, swiping a tear away with malice. “You played that part well, didn’t you?”
Ruth places a hand over her stomach, pinching her eyes shut to release a few more tears.
“Stop crying!” I hiss, yanking my hand away from Dessin. “You can stop acting now! The show’s over!”
My shoulders are quaking, and I’m going to vomit.
She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend. She’s not my best friend.
“You must have had a good laugh all the times I bared my soul to you! You fooled me!” I’m yelling now, eyes wide, smile cruel. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me now. But I can’t stop the hate that’s stinging my aching heart.
“And you?” I throw a sharp look at Kaspias. “Congratulations! You did it! In a single moment, you managed to rip us apart.”
I applaud his efforts. Literally clapping my hands obnoxiously together.
He doesn’t bother looking anything but pleased with himself. But that’s the thing, I expected this of him. But Ruth? No. Never.
“How could you do this to us?” Niles’s voice breaks, crumbling to his feet as he looks at our former friend with a broken heart.
Ruth opens her mouth to respond, but I beat her to it.
“Isn’t it obvious, Niles? She’s a sad girl with a sad life. And clearly, sad taste in men. She had nothing better to do!” Everything radiating from my clenching body is venomous. I’m like a wounded animal backed into a corner.
Warrose remains unmoving. Unyielding. A shadow among my uncontrollable flames.
