Page 114 of Hunger & Harmony

“A traitor to who?” Silas continues, scoffing at me. “You’re a human, Cadence Monroe. Mortal. You’re a vampire’s dinner before you’re his equal.”

I pause. Taking in his putrid words, I let my fingers curl into fists. My whisper lashes out towards him, and every Hunter who dares show their face here.

“I am no such thing.”

“Look, you don’t have to pretend anymore,” he continues, shrugging casually. “We’ll take it from here. Your mission is complete.”

I no longer shake from fear. It’s rage that sinks its teeth into me. I take a few more steps closer to the Hunters, closer to Niko.

If I didn’t want to listen to a prophecy, I definitely don’t want to let this Hunter continue his lies.

“Cadence, wait!”

I stop short, searching for that familiar voice.

Cass stands in the front row, not far from the Court. He’s dressed in Sancte Noctis attire. I hardly recognize him outside of his hoodie and glasses.

“The prophecy!” he calls out, even as Hunters zero in on him. “The real one! You've heard⁠—”

Before he can finish, a man apprehends him. Out of the corner of my eye, Selene’s body jerks.

“What’s this? Some sort of human informant, huh?” Silas says from where he stands.

Cass doesn’t deny it. His eyes remain on mine, like he’s trying to get me to understand. Everything’s happening too fast, and there isn’t much time. Still, I try to focus, my eyes darting from him to Niko’s unnerved frown.

The real one . . .The real prophecy.

Archduchess Imara said the Dissonant Queen rises in silence.

Silence harbors the end.

That song. A lullaby that echoed at the company building, the voice I scorned for mocking me. Was it the answer all along?

I need more time.

“You can claim my connection to you, but you can’t prove it,” I say, and Silas pauses. “The prophecy, on the other hand⁠—”

“Is false.” He shrugs again, shaking his head. “As much as we’d benefit from it being true.”

Remaining calm, I speak before any of the Hunters continue.

“Do you think love binds me to him?”

My words sweep like arrows across the room. Silas glances between me and Niko, his irritation climbing.

“This bond was never my choice,” I continue, squeezing my fists at my sides. “It’s only fate. Only prophecy.”

I pray to any star that’ll listen that Niko understands. We need time, and it comes at a steep price. A public one.

“Ask the king’s right hand,” I say. “She holds Mendax, an artifact that tells lies from truth. Go on. I can prove you wrong.”

Silas’ smirk has faded, replaced by an unimpressed frown. Still, he gestures for the Hunter closest to Selene to release her.

I meet her stare, nodding subtly. More than anyone, she must understand, right?

“Mendax is under my shirt,” she says as she reaches in, announcing her actions to avoid further chaos.

When she pulls out the amulet, my first encounter with it feels so far away. Its dark liquid reflects shadows as she raises it up. A few sobs swell from the crowd.