I kept going, my smile widening as the heavy weight that had held me down for years lifted. “You’ll be released in the morning. Don’t show your face here again.”
Gavin walked with me down the stone corridor that led back toward the upper floors of the manor. He clapped a hand on my back and shook his head.
We paused beneath the light of a flickering torch.
“The blade was a fake, Gavin. A good one…a very good one, but a fake all the same.”
Chuckling, Gavin swiped a hand through his hair. “I suspected as much. I don’t think Liana would have let me take it otherwise.”
“Liana knew?”
“I was with her when we found out Argus and the oracle made it inside the manor. After everything that’s happened—how far you’ve come—neither one of us wanted to see this go any further. I asked her to help and sent her to find the oracle. But if you’re going to be angry, be angry with me.”
“You essentially scuttled my revenge. I should run you through with a rusty spear.” My gaze narrowed. “Or better yet, make you get a real job.”
“I’ll take the spear.”
“I thought as much. Lucky for you, I’m not angry. I got what I wanted. What happened to me was meant to bring me to ruin. It was vindictive and cruel. All these years, I let it consume me. But I’m the one who gave it power. Thankfully, a fire goes out if you take away its oxygen.” I blew out a breath and raised my gaze to the ceiling. “Listen to me spouting platitudes. Argus didn’t know the blade was fake. His misery was real. I enjoyed that part immensely.”
Gavin scoffed. “He seemed really put out when you mentionedher.”
“You noticed that, didn’t you? That was fun for me too.”
“So what happens now?”
“The hard part. I’m done letting my past rule my life, but there’s still the matter of Liana and her father. No more secrets.”
“You’re right. It’s time. Just don’t tell her when she’s around any weapons. Maybe make her take off her dagger belt. She’s not going to be happy to learn you framed her father for theft and had him detained in prison just so you could exploit her into creating that crossbow.”
A soft footfall made me tense, and I looked over my shoulder down the dark corridor. Squinting, I tried to make out any movement, but there was nothing there.
“Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“That sound. Like someone moved.”
Gavin sighed. “You’re hearing things. Liana’s busy wrapping things up with the oracle, Annie is with Ms. Wilder, and Argus is literally chained to the wall. I think we’re alone.”
Unease made my nerves tingle, but I chalked it up to my upcoming confession. “I’m going to find Liana. Let Argus stew a little longer, and then release him. Make sure both he and the oracle get off my property. Tomorrow’s a new day, and I don’t want anything from my past to ruin it.”
Chapter 22
Liana
Islipped into the shadows.
My fingers dragged across the cold stone wall, using the coarse rock to ground me and lead me away from the voices that echoed in my head.
She’s not going to be happy to learn you framed her father for theft and had him detained in prison just so you could exploit her into creating that crossbow.
Acid climbed my throat. How could he? But more to the point, how could I not have known, walking around the manor like a fool for weeks? Was the action worse, or the secret? My stomach churned. Years ago, I was fooled by the witch, lulled by her soothing words and promises of a better life, yet it was a deception. She’d only wanted to use me for my gift. Her deception had cost me everything, and now, here I was again, caught in another web of lies.
I climbed the spiral staircase that led to the domed training room, needing to think. Needing to calm down before I did something I’d regret. I spoke the truth to Vivian earlier: Bowen wasn’t all bad. Far from it! And his actions over the past few weeks had made me realize how deeply I cared for him. But he had still manipulated me, taken advantage of my weakness, and robbed me of my freedom for his own purposes.
It wasn’t so easily forgiven.
The moonlight shimmered over the surface of the water, and a wave of homesickness rammed me so hard in the gut I nearly doubled over. This wasn’t fair! How was I supposed to trust people when they kept exploiting me? When they took whatever they wanted without a care for the people they hurt?
