“Fuckthe right and proper way of things, Xander,” she hisses, setting her cup down in its saucer with a click. “You belong with your mates, although I’m sure some of them need more convincing.”
“I don’t think they hate me,” I say honestly. “But I don’t think they will ever forgive me. And rightfully so. I…will never forgive myself.”
The golden hall lights flicker across her fair face as her eyes glimmer with tears. “Wild Goddess.” She slides to the floor on her knees, and I slide down with her.
“Selene, don’t. I will be fine.” I take her hands in my own.
She squeezes them back, staring down at our fingers. “There’s nothing I can say that will make things better for you. But yousavedme, you must know that. You alone stood by my side when all things were dark. The hatchlings do love you so.”
But I haven’t hurt them yet. I swallow the lump in my throat. “You saved yourself in the end. The hatchlings will always have you to protect them.”
“And I could not protect you.”
I lean down, pressing my forehead to hers. “We must all pay for our darkness. As Ragnar paid for his.”
She hisses, rearing back from me. “That is different and you know it!”
“Is it?” I ask ruefully. “I don’t think it is.” Selene leaps to her feet, getting away from me and my offending words. “Leave me to my fate, Selene.”
My older sister gives me a look. Part warning, part terrible, terrible hurt before she whirls around and storms outside. From my pocket, I slide out the envelope Connor gave me and pull out its contents, looking at the drawings the youngest of the freed captives did for us.
I brush my fingers over the gift I was given. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to thank Connor for this. After a moment, I too leave the dining hall for the library. I need paper and a pen.
Chapter 92
Aurelia
Xander and I are patrolling the skies at midnight when the guards raise the alarm. The head wolf sends a beam of thought towards me and I catch it up.“We’ve just been notified of an escapee, my lady,”his gruff voice says.“The prisoner under the school, Etienne.”
“How?”I snap, circling my way to the ground.“We need to assess the cave.”
“No need,” comes the reply.“Mr Pardalia has the accomplice in custody.”
When I touch down, Lyle is already striding out of the main academy building with a sobbing Stacey. “I’m so sorry, Lia!” she cries, her hands reaching out for me.
I take her by the shoulders, searching her body for signs of injury. “Are you alright, Stace? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“No,”she bemoans, turning her distressed face up to me, eyes rimmed with red. “No, but it’s all my fault.”
“I think he rex-commanded her,” Lyle says, frowning.
“I know I’m not supposed to visit him alone,” Stacey sniffs. “But I felt so lonely tonight, and he asked me about what I know. I didn’t tell him at first, but then he said my name and my headwent all funny and he told me to unlock the cuffs and of course I knew how because Sabrina taught us all!”
“Obsidian can’t deter a regina or rex command,” Lyle says in his therapist voice. “Then what happened?”
Stacey sobs again, clutching at my waist. “I’m so sorry. He told me to tell him everything I know, and I just started blabbing.”
My stomach plummets into my feet as my head snaps up to look at Lyle, then Scythe, who stands in the shadows of the dining hall. “You told him about Eugene’s memories, didn’t you?”
Stacey nods. “Lia, I’m so sorry. Then he got out the only way I knew how, which was when you were planning your escape from here when we first arrived at the academy. The grocery truck from this evening. He’s long gone by now.”
I tilt my head back and close my eyes.“Minnie?”I call into the ether.
“Already here,” my best friend says, striding onto the path with Marduk at her heels. “I’ll take her. You guys deal with Etienne.”
Stepping away from Stacey, I let her fall into Minnie’s arms as I turn away from my lioness friend and try to contain my thoughts. Scythe is at my side in an instant, his eyes dark. “Etienne will have gone up the chain of command. That means right to Mace, regina.”
I swear under my breath. “So my father will know that we know his plans with Ghoul.”
