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Vanessa barely waited until Theo had pulled out onto the road before she twisted in her seat, her stern gaze fixed on me. "Okay, let's have it."
I took a deep breath, my foot nudging the archival box that now contained both Julian's book and Lilin's. Where to start? With the book? My heartbeat sped up at the memory of that first pulse of light, the heat on my skin when I'd touched the leather. Other memories followed. Theo waking me in the field, blood on my hands. Nearly drowning after throwing myself off a waterfall. Luca staring at me with blood-red eyes; Olryg—
The pressure of Julian's hand on my knee derailed my thoughts, and I looked up to meet his dark eyes.
"You already lived through it," he said in a low voice. "The hard part is over."
I pictured Luca’s green eyes. Not yet, I thought. I took another deep breath and turned to Vanessa.
"Remember when you told me the dig site was cursed?" I said.
She gave a hesitant nod.
"Turns out you were right."
By the time Vanessa's questions petered out into stunned silence, we were halfway across Velarta, the rocky mountain terrain replaced by rolling fields and endless pine forests. The car was quiet save the occasional contented chicken sound and the rumble of the road under the tires.
Retelling the story had worn me out, and after I'd spent half an hour incessantly yawning, Julian had moved over in the seat and lifted one large hand to press my head down against his shoulder. Only minutes later, he was asleep. I leaned into him, grateful for the comfort, but my mind continued to spin.
Even with the car full of people, it seemed somehow wrong. I missed Luca, his playful banter, his sparkling green eyes, his presence. Where was he right now? Was he in pain? Was he scared?
Tears pricked the backs of my eyelids. Part of me felt like this entire trip had been in vain. Because were we really any better off than we had been? Or was everything now worse? We'd lost Luca and Abigor, and I still had a demon inside me, and—
No. The voice came from inside my head, a sharp bark.
I startled, sitting up straight. Julian shifted and mumbled in his sleep.
No, Lilin repeated, a little softer. It is not the same as before.
How do I know you're not going to keep trying to kill me? I asked silently.
Guilt, hot and bitter, surged inside me, but I found it was getting easier to distinguish between her emotions and my own.
I'm sorry, she said. I truly am. After so long trapped in that book…I was not myself. I didn't understand what was happening, and I reacted in panic.
But now…
Yes, she confirmed. Being in my own body again helped bring clarity. I won’t…try to hurt you again.
And you won't take over? I asked.
Not unless you ask me to, she agreed. And if I do, you won't lose yourself in the process.
How do I know I can trust you?
Lilin laughed softly. Look in the mirror.
I craned my neck so I could see my reflection in the rearview mirror. To my astonishment, my own brown eyes looked back at me.
See? she said. Harmless.
I doubted that, but nevertheless, I let out a breath of relief. I'm sorry, I said after a moment. That you're trapped again. That you can't stay in your own body.
A pause. It will be temporary. I'm not giving up. Then I sensed her mood grow lighter. It's better than being trapped in a book. Besides, I'll bet you didn't know we could do this:
There was a sudden pressure against my shoulder blades, the feeling of something trapped between my back and the seat behind me. I shifted to look, and my eye caught a flash of shimmering inky feathers. I lurched forward, spinning as far as I could in the confines of my seatbelt, but they were gone.
What—
