“Now, as the heir to Clan Tower, she will pick up her sister’s mantle. She will seek both justice and revenge for Emilia’s death. At the end of this academic year, she will make her third and final sacrifice to the Chalice early. She will not return for her third year at Arcana Academy but will lead the charge against our most deadly foe, Clara Graysword.”
Biting back a sigh, I keep moving to where Kaelis signaled for me to go earlier: a section of the veranda that is the most obscured from the inside. My prince maneuvers Liam effortlessly as the celebration inside becomes polite praise to the Ventall family.
“…quite surprising, I know. But Alor is an incredibly talented student,” Kaelis says. I hover, holding my position just out of sight.
“At least her clan won’t be impacted much, since she was going to Clan Tower anyway.” Their footsteps draw near and stop. Liam asks, “Who was it you wanted me to meet?”
“Ah, yes. A moment, let me fetch them.” Kaelis leaves.
There’s no time to waste. The majority of the party is inside still after Ravin’s announcement, celebrating Alor. Kaelis is ensuring no one else emerges. This is my chance. My opening.
Soundlessly, I climb onto the veranda, slinking under the railing. I close the gap between us. I suck in a breath, and he turns. There’s no way he could’ve heard me; it’s as if he sensed my presence.
Liam’s eyes widen slightly. Then his whole expression relaxes. He even smiles.
“It would be you,” he says softly, every muscle easing. Liam leans against the railing and looks over the city. There’s no sign of resistance. No struggle to his voice or pose.
“You know who I am?” I whisper. I’m hooded, masked.
“I’ve known since I walked into that gathering at the academy and you pushed Luren to me,” he replies, just as soft.
“How?” No one else—outside of Majors—saw through my disguise.
“Because it’s you. Love sees through everything.” A pause, a huff of amusement. “And you told me luck would be on my side.” He continues to wear that sad, small smile. “Promise me you’ll make it quick, all right?”
I’m too stunned to move. “You…you think I’m here to kill you?”
“It’s your name, isn’t it? You told me it was special,secret,what feels like a lifetime ago…but I thought it was because of some petty crimes. Ravin came around the clan asking about books on the Minor Arcana and relics, but it seemed to be a front for an attempt to get close to me. Then he started asking questions. He’s been relentless. And when Luren was clearly looking for our letters—”
“Youlet hertake them?” I whisper.
He nods. “I figured it had to be you behind everything, and my instinct was correct. It was all too specific. Too orchestrated. Had that special brand of planned-out that is your mark.”
“And yet, you didn’t tell him…” I’m glad I didn’t come here to kill him in the end. There isn’t much time left before the world is remade. But I’m glad that I don’t have to be as fearful before it is. Glad that he can enter the new world, even if he remembers none of this. But if he does, him being on my side is even better.
“I didn’t tell him,yet,” he corrects, and my hopes shatter.
“Are you threatening me?”
“No.”
“Blackmailing me?” I narrow my eyes.
“Hardly.”
“Then what?”
He sighs softly. “We both know you will never know peace unless I’m dead. I don’t know why the prince wants your real name so badly, but I know it can’t be good.” His eyes shine in the low light. The noise from within is growing as the party returns to full swing. “And we both know I’m not strong enough to endure torture if—whenhis patience runs out. I could tell you all the promises in the world, but when it comes to that, I can’t promise anything.” The night grows colder as he speaks.
“You wouldn’t hurt me,” I whisper. Even if we are just a memory, itis a good memory. It meant something then, so it’s something now. Different and not romantic in the slightest. But a type of love, I suppose, in its own way.
“I can swear to you I don’t want to. Or intend to. But not that I won’t. If he tortures me, I don’t know what I’ll do. If he threatens my wife, Iwillbetray you, Clara. But I don’t want to hurt you or her. So, kill me, it’s cleaner.”
I look away. The one time I come with peaceful intentions…I press my eyes closed and fight a surge of pain that rips through me.
He closes the gap between us, catching my eyes once more as they open, and whispers, “You were right. We should’ve left through the Desert Reaches when you could’ve gotten us out. Maybe in the next life.”
“Maybe,” I reply with a breath. Then I cast my first card.
