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Naomi had gone still. Her eyes were full of shadows as she stared at me. “Is it theni’meresagain? Do you . . . do you know whose bodies you saw?” There was a slight tremble in her lips as she sat up, placing her feet on the floor. “Do you?”
A slice of panic and fear lanced my chest. “I couldn’t see who they were or ifni’meresare involved. I don’t know all who will be . . . will be caught up in what I’m seeing, but I . . . I think it’s going to happen during the Feasts. I saw masks, and . . .” My gaze followed her fingers, to the collar of her robe, where the silver chain she normally wore would be. Anyone could’ve been wearing that sapphire necklace, but . . . “You should leave Archwood. I don’t want you here.”
“Lis—”
“You know I care about you, right?” I twisted toward her. “And you care about me.”
“Yes. Of course I do.”
“And if you thought something bad might happen and I could be caught up in it, you wouldn’t just warn me. You’d do something about it,” I said. “The difference is that Iknowsomething bad is coming, and it’s going to hit a lot of people. Maybe you’ll be fine. I don’t know, but I don’t want you here. At least for the Feasts.”
“You want me to leave, but what about you?” Her voice dropped. “Grady? Claude?”
“I’m going to ask Grady to do the same, and Claude.” If I could find him.
“And what about you?”
“I . . . I can’t.”
“Why?” she demanded.
Because Thorne claimed that it was I who would save Archwood, and even if I couldn’t believe that, Hyhborn didn’t lie. And I wasn’t even sure if that was the reason I couldn’t leave. Ineededto be here when Thorne returned. I knew that.
Naomi’s lips pressed together as she looked away, head shaking. “If you don’t leave, neither will Grady.”
Another cut of fear sliced through me. I also knew that. My fingers dug into my knees. “If you don’t want to leave Archwood, at least go spend some time with your sister.” I took a deep breath. “And youreallyshould do that before it’s too late.”
Her gaze swung back to mine, her skin paling. “You told me she would recover from the fever. Sheisrecovering.”
“I know, but . . .”
Naomi’s chest rose with a heavy breath. “But what, Lis?”
I briefly closed my eyes, hating myself a little for using her sister like this. “But you only asked if she would recover from the fever, and she will; however, you should spend time with her.”
“Because?” Her chin lifted as her lips trembled.
The back of my throat stung. “You know why.”
Her eyes turned glassy. “I want to hear you say it.”
“She won’t live to see the end of the Feasts,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Her eyes squeezed shut and several moments passed. “So, you’re telling me this now to get me to leave the manor?” Her lashes lifted, eyes glimmering. “You should’ve told me this before.”
“I know,” I agreed. “I really am sorry.”
Naomi huffed as she looked away. She pressed her lips together, shaking her head. “I know.”
My heart cracked a little. “Will you do as I ask?”
“Yes.” When she faced me, her eyes were damp. “And you need to leave my quarters.” She rose, turning from me.
I stood. “Naomi— ”
“Don’t.” She whirled toward me, the robe fluttering around her feet. “You knew what I asked when I came to you about Laurelin. I wasn’t just speaking of the fever, and you lied. I could’ve been with her more— ” She sucked in a sharp breath, fisting the skirt of her robe. “Please. Leave. I need to pack.”
I stepped toward her, but she turned again and walked through the curtains. I stopped myself, breathing through the sting. Blinking back tears, I left her chambers, hoping that she would heed me. That she would leave the manor and that whatever damage I’d done to our friendship wouldn’t be in vain.
