“And here I thought you’d be used to it by now.” She sticks her tongue out at me and tosses the pillow back in my face.
I’ve missed this. I’ve missedher.
When we’ve finally talked our heads off, she wraps her arms around me, and the tears begin to fall once more. Though I’vesomewhat mourned the loss of my father for years, there’s an agonizing pit forming in my chest, knowing he’s truly gone from this world. I close my eyes and hold on to the thought of him reuniting with my mother. It’s the only sentiment that seems to comfort me now.
Chapter 23
Ryder
She hates me. She really hates me and there’s no coming back from it this time. The look of pain on her face is all I see when I close my eyes. I should’ve never told her about the promise I made to her father. I should’ve just left it with his death. But then there would be more lies between us, whether she knew it or not. Even now, I’m still lying to her because omitting the truth is just as bad.
How am I supposed to tell her Damien is here in the Shadow Lands? After everything he’s done to her, there’s no way she’s going to be okay with it. But saving my father’s Collectables means saving him, too. He may not have been trapped in the dungeons with the others, but he’s just as imprisoned.Maybe even more so.
“How’s it going this week?”
“I’ve finally started to break through, but his mind is pushing back. It’s almost as if he doesn’t want to remember what really happened,” Slader reports.
“Maybe he doesn’t want to remember how much he betrayed the woman he loved,” I consider.
“In order to make him fall out of love with Reign I had to manipulate every single one of his memories of them together. I’ve only just begun repairing the damage. It’s going to take quite a bit of time to undo it all.”
I reach for the door and motion for Slader to head out. “Come back in an hour. There’s something the two of us need to discuss.”
He nods and slithers out, leaving me to it. Damien is waiting for me just beyond the stone wall that separates the two empty rooms. Night Renderer magic is no joke. The spaces under his eyes have hollowed and dark circles have taken form. Although the magic is mental, it still takes a physical toll.
I know I should feel sorry for him. After all, none of this is really his fault. But still, I can’t stop the feeling of disgust from creeping up when I look at him.
“How are you feeling?” I ask out of polite obligation.
“Like every part of my mind has been scooped out and stretched to the max.”
“Well, the good news is Slader said he’s finally making progress,” I offer.
“He keeps telling me how awful it was for him to have to sit through all of my memories with her. That watching the lovebetween the two of us made him want to jump off the Baltaire Viaduct.”
“He’s a dramatic one, isn’t he?” I take the seat across from him and he sits up a little when he registers this isn’t just a stop-in visit.
“Maybe so. I just don’t see how someone could erase the kind of love he speaks of.” Damien’s expression is contemplative like he really is trying to work out what is real and what isn’t. I’m sure it’s not easy having your own mind betray you like that.
“Slader told me your mind has been fighting back. Maybe he didn’t erase the love, but simply put up a blocker. Now, it’s almost as if your mind is trying to protect itself from the pain that is going to follow, knowing the truth of it all. I don’t know too much about love, but I do know Reign and she’s not someone you just stop caring for, no matter how strong Slader’s magic is.”
His brows furrow at my words and I think I may have said too much again. I need to learn to stop when I’m ahead.
“You didn’t come here to talk about all of this. What are you really here for, Ryder?”
“I’m here to talk about the soul binding curse.” His entire body stiffens at my mention of it. “How badly do you want to break it?”
“I would do anything, but you know I can’t.”
I’ll take that answer as confirmation. The least I can do is make his death as quick and painless as possible.
“Have you seen Reign today?” I ask Artemus when he comes waltzing into the war room with Jace.
“Not yet, but Akari was going to show her around the Center this afternoon. They’re probably there now.”
“Thanks.”
As I pass by him, he grabs my arm. “Don’t you think you should give her some space after everything that happened yesterday?”
