Callum clears his throat.
"Keira, you kept mentioning he told you this. About Octavian. Who is he?"
I wince again as I move my arm.
"The Phantom King."
Callum's eyes narrow.
"Wait. You talked to the Phantom King? The leader of this shit show?"
"Yes. His name's Cormac Donoghue."
Declan straightens.
"Cormac Donoghue? Do we know who the hell that is?" Callum asks, looking at Declan.
"Nope," Declan says.
I shrug.
"I don't know. When I saw his face, he looked older, but I didn't recognize him. He had some type of mark on his face, but I couldn't tell what exactly. I think the only reason he told me his name is because he didn't plan on me leaving that room, but," I lower my voice, "Octavian came and got me."
"Only reason he's still breathing," Declan says, visibly upset.
Callum exhales sharply.
"Well, he's done a lot for us, so he deserves due diligence. Like I said, let me handle it. Keira, go clean up. You've been through alot. I'm going to make some calls, start figuring all this shit out, and see how much truth there is to Octavian's betrayal."
"Come on, I'll help you," Lyra says, standing and offering me her hand.
I take it, letting her pull me to my feet.
"And Declan," Callum says, "keep him alive until we know for sure."
Declan gives a sinister smile. "Find out quickly,” he says.
Lyra and I walk out of the room and down the hall in silence.
My legs feel like lead. Every step sends a fresh wave of exhaustion crashing over me.
Lyra leans into me, her voice soft.
"Do you think he really did all that stuff?"
I shrug.
"It seems so. He didn't deny it."
I feel tears threaten to slip, burning at the corners of my eyes.
"I just don't know anything anymore. What to think. How to feel."
Lyra stops and turns to me, pulling me into a hug. Her arms are warm and steady, and for a moment, I let myself lean into her.
"If there's one thing I've learned from this world," she says, pulling back to look at me, "sometimes there are complex answers. And other times, they're just assholes."
She smiles, and I force one back.
