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Costas looked at Hayes, his brows lowered, waiting for his confirmation. When Hayes gave it, followed by a confirming nod from both Clay and Luna, he let out a long breath.
“They were all adamant that we return to find you both and seek out the true story.” Costas made eye contact with Nik for the first time. “You have loyal friends.”
“I think it’s loyalty to my father more than me,” Nik said caustically.
“Your father?” Costas frowned, clearly confused, and for the first time it occurred to me that he might not know Nik’s full identity. That particular piece of information had been lost in the many revelations.
I glanced at Amara and read confirmation on her face. With a sick feeling, I realized she hadn’t been quite as confident in Nik as she claimed. She had remained silent about his status, afraid of a powerful foreign mage finding out his family had been murdered by the son of Tartora’s king.
But how could I blame her? I had been the first to accuse Nik, and I still couldn’t shake the guilt of that or the echoes of the moment that still lingered in my mind. I should never have made such a terrible assumption, and I couldn’t blame Amara for doing the same in the face of Costas’s testimony.
“My hands aren’t completely clean,” Nik said in a low voice, bringing all eyes snapping to his face.
“But you were acting to defend yourself and others,” I said quickly.
Surely he didn’t feel guilty for defending himself against murderers who wanted to make him their final victim? Was that why he’d been acting so strangely ever since?
“You didn’t attack anyone for revenge,” I added.
“What does that mean?” Costas asked, taking a step toward me, his eyes intent on my face.
I hesitated, unsure how to tell him the full truth. I glanced beseechingly at Amara. “I’m not sure if this is the best place for this conversation. And I have some important things to tell you about what’s happening on the island right now as well. Perhaps we should—”
“No!” Costas cut me off, not aggressive but firm. “I don’t care how painful it is to hear, I want to know the truth without delay.”
ChapterThree
Iexchanged another look with Nik. Given what was happening in town—an ever-present pressure in the back of my mind—it would be best to get this whole conversation out of the way as quickly as possible. But that didn’t make the words any easier to say.
Nik remained silent, indicating for me to continue with a nod. I sighed. I might not want to be the spokesperson, but I could understand why he thought it would be more sensitive for the story to come from me.
“Ignatius followed Grey and me out into the garden,” I said.
“Ignatius?” Amara interrupted, looking to Costas.
“My younger brother,” he said heavily. “And the heir apparent to the Constantines. Well…” He shifted uncomfortably. “He was heir apparent before Grey’s appearance, at least. Although even then, not without opposition.”
I sighed. “I can only assume that was the problem.”
Costas looked at me, his forehead creasing. “What are you saying?”
“Sorry, let me start at the beginning. Ignatius overheard Grey and me talking and learned I’m a healer. Grey could tell his deceptions were all exposed, so he decided to sacrifice me to give himself time to escape.” My face tightened at the memory, but I pushed myself to continue.
“As I already said, I had to pretend to be dead in order for them to leave, and I still appeared dead when Nik reached the garden and found me.”
Amara’s eyes widened, and I caught her uneasy expression as she looked toward Nik. I hurried on, all too aware of what she must be thinking.
“Nik hurried back to the party after Ignatius and his guards, but unfortunately he was just a little too late.”
“Wait,” Costas said, interrupting me again. “Who are these guards you keep talking about? My family never had any guards. They didn’t need them,” he added, his tone dark.
I paused, struck by his comment. It was true that I’d never seen any other guards before the party or since. In all the chaos, I hadn’t given it much thought.
Nik spoke up, looking from me to Costas. “Grey chose the party as his time to make a move, but it appears he wasn’t the only one of the Constantine cousins to think that way.”
“What did my brother do?” Costas’s face was pale, his look of exhaustion deepening.
Nik finally took up the tale, relating the part I hadn’t witnessed.
