"For the greater good," Cypher cut in. "For the survival of the Nytherian people. One family's hardship against the salvation of thousands? The math is simple."
"Not to me," Jask said quietly. "And not to Kora, when she finds out."
I must have made a sound—a gasp.
My foot caught on the wooden floor, sending me stumbling against the door. It swung open with a loud creak, revealing me to the men inside. My heart stuttered as Cypher's eyes met mine, widening with horror as he realized what I'd heard.
"Juno—" he started, rising from his chair.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Everything I'd believed about him, about us, about this entire journey—it was all a lie. He'd arranged my father's imprisonment. He'd manipulated me from the beginning. Used me. Used my family.
I turned and ran, my vision blurring. Behind me, I heard the scrape of chairs, Cypher's voice calling my name, but I didn't stop. I couldn't face him. Not now. Maybe not ever.
I burst into my quarters, slamming the door behind me. My hands shook as I yanked open drawers, grabbing my few possessions and shoving them into my pack. I had to get out of here. I had to go home. I had to help my parents.
Vic. I needed to find Vic. He could send a message to the Prime Realm, arrange transport. Anything to get me away from Cypher and his lies.
The door opened behind me. I didn't turn, knowing exactly who it was.
"Get out," I hissed, shoving clothes into my pack with trembling hands.
“Scavenger, please?—"
"Get OUT!" I screamed, whirling to face him.
Cypher stood in the doorway, his face pale. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, turning the lock with a decisive click.
Something in me snapped. I lunged at him, my fists connecting with his chest. "You fucking bastard!" I screamed, pounding against him. "You liar! You manipulated everything! My father's arrest? Was my mother's illness your doing too?"
He didn't defend himself, didn't try to stop my attack. Just stood there, taking every blow, every word I hurled at him.
"Demon!" I spat, tears streaming down my face. "Was any of it fucking real?" My strength was fading, my blows growing weaker as sobs wracked my body. I stepped back, chest heaving, and pointed a shaking finger at him. "Tell me exactly how you knew I was a rift. How did you find me? What else haven't you told me?"
I hated that even furious, he was beautiful. Hated that my body remembered the heat of his hands before my mind remembered the lies.
Cypher's expression was shuttered completely, his eyes shadowed with something that might have been regret—if I believed he was capable of it. "Sit down," he snapped. "I'll tell you everything, but you need to fucking listen.”
"I'll stand," I spat, crossing my arms to hide how badly my hands were shaking.
For a long moment, he was silent, as if gathering his thoughts, or perhaps constructing more lies. "It was me," he finally said. "I was the one who pulled you from the Gallery all those years ago."
I stared at him, uncomprehending. "What are you talking about?"
"When you fell into the Gallery by accident and drifted for three days. My magic—my Nytherian soul magic, what little I have left, felt you calling out for help. I followed it and brought you back to the Prime Realm."
The room tilted beneath my feet. I remembered that day, remembered the terror of falling, the endless darkness, then waking up on solid ground with no memory of how I'd gotten there. "That's impossible," I hissed.
"I knew from that moment you were special," he continued. "Your connection to the void was unlike anything I'd ever seen. I knew you were the answer to my problems—to my people's problems."
"So you've been watching me for years? Waiting for the right moment touseme?"
"I kept track of you," he admitted. "Made sure you were safe. When the time was right, when I had everything else in place—the codex, the crown, the coordinates for a suitable realm. I needed to make sure you'd be willing to help."
"So you had my father arrested." The words tasted like ash in my mouth.
"I didn't order his arrest," Cypher clarified, as if that made any difference. "I simply made sure certain Assembly officials received information about his under-the-table crystal sales. What they did with that information was their choice."
"And you knew I'd do anything to save him. YouknewI'd take Gideon's job, that I'd end up on your ship, in your debt."
