Page 67 of The City Of Fractured Memory

“Forgive me, I’ve been drinking. I shouldn’t have told you any of that,” he growls. “You need to leave. This conversation never happened.”

I hesitate, shock rolling through me at his sudden shift.

What did he see?

I clear my throat and straighten, horror leaching into my veins as I realise how close we came to–

Nope. Not thinking about that.

My mind reels from everything I’ve learnt, too many scattered thoughts for me to think clearly. If he’s telling the truth, it means I can’t trust Xavier. And if he’s still sympathetic to his parents’ cause, then Stryx could be in danger…

Fuck.

I feel sick.

I slowly make my way to the door, but I pause on the threshold as something else occurs to me.

“When those Echofae disappeared, the Kaelvara that died, he told me to find Corvus. At the time I assumed he was pointing me towards his murderer.”

Riven slumps back down into his chair and takes a big drink from the bottle of whiskey.

I continue when he stays silent. “He saw my hair and must have assumed I wasn’t mortal. So if he was pointing me to you, then…you saved them, didn’t you? You got them out of there somehow before more could die?” He still doesn’t speak, staring at the swirling contents of the bottle. I sigh, assuming he’s done talking and open the door, but his voice carries to me as I exit, his words filling me with dread.

“It is no coincidence you met the Irithys when you did, Miss Wren. She knows why I saved her.”

Thirty

Iopen the door to our apartment in a daze, my mind reeling from Riven’s confessions. My cloak is drenched from the storm that’s starting to brew outside, my cheeks red and numb from the blowing gale. The Veil has always caused frequent electrical storms, the whole expanse of the mists often lighting up from the barrage of lightning within.

My gaze immediately snaps to Stryx, the blood draining from my face as Riven’s last words ring through my ears. Before I can question her though, I notice Xavier isn’t there.

“Where is he?” I say, my voice as numb as I feel.

She twists her fingers and grimaces. “He woke up and demanded to know where you went when he realised you had gone. I didn’t tell him of course, but he figured it out quickly. He left immediately to stop you, even though it was too late.”

I sigh heavily. Trying to stop me talking to Riven only cements his guilt further, though for what he’s guilty of when it comes to this specific case, I’m still not sure. Even though I’ve finally got some answers out of Riven, I’m more confused now than I’ve ever been, and my conflict must show on my face as Stryx looks at me and pales.

“What did Riven tell you? What’s wrong?”

I look at my best friend, my heart palpitating as I consider Riven’s words. Surely she wouldn’t betray me too? Not her. But self preservation wins out, and before I can stop myself, I ask the question that I know could break my heart into pieces.

“Why did you really leave Lunoreth, Stryx? Why did you come here?”

She swallows thickly, and tears start to well in my eyes.

“You,” she says with a heavy sigh. “I came here for you.”

“Why?” I choke out, a tear finally breaking free and falling slowly down my face. Riven was right all along.

I can’t trust anyone.

She sees the betrayal in my eyes and stalks over to me, grabbing my hands and pulling them to her chest, fixing me with a firm stare.

“I love you, Octavia. Look into my eyes and know that is true. I’ve never lied to you, but yes, there are certain truths I have omitted, for your safety and your sanity. I was waiting for the right time, but it seems my hand has been forced.”

“What is this?” I breathe, gulping down air as I try and fail to regulate my increasingly rapid breathing.

“What did Riven tell you?” she asks gently, cupping a hand against my cheek.