“You’re one of them, aren’t you?” I ask, but it comes out more like a statement. Somehow, I already know the answer, as impossible as it is. Lucan is ashborn, too.
His silence screams the truth.
I laugh bitterly. Why is it that, out of everything today,thisis what makes tears well in my eyes? But I refuse to let them fall. Not for his lies.
“You played me,” I whisper.
The remark is so sharp, he leans back as if I’ve slapped him. “Isola, please—”
“You’ve clearly been working with them a long time. You lied to me. Over and over. Even as I gave you my secrets.” My words are level and as cold as a Mercy dagger.
“Is she always like this?” Ember asks dully.
Lucan gives her a sharp look.
What?she mouths in reply and shrugs.
But I don’t take my eyes off Lucan. I study him the whole exchange so that when his gaze returns to mine, I search his eyes for a scrap of the man I thought I knew. But there’s something…different. It’s like I’m seeing him for the first time.
“What was I supposed to tell you?” he whispers, clearly at a loss.
“I told you everything, Lucan,everything. My hopes, my fears, my treason. And you couldn’t trust me with just one of your secrets that really mattered.”
He opens his mouth to speak again but stiffens as somewhere beyond the main door of the room, a low chime sounds. I can only imagine this is the call to prayer as Myla and Ember shoot glances at the door.
“We have to leave,” Lucan says. “We’re not getting a second chance.”
“And where would we go?” I ask. “Vinguard is controlled bythe Creed, and the Mercy Knights will kill us on sight. There’s nowhere to hide.” Yet, even as I say it, I think of what Father said about Mum going missing. If the vicar had found her, he would’ve gone out of his way to tell me.
I hate that Lucan still knows me well enough to read my thoughts, because he says, “We’re going out of the wall. Your mum is waiting.”
Mum. “She’s waiting? Outside the wall?” The words are soft, barely a whisper.
“We got her out to keep her safe.” Lucan takes a small step closer, and the only reason I allow it is the thought of Mum. “We’re going to bring you to her, Isola. We’re going to keep you safe, too.”
Safe. The one word I’ve grown to associate with Lucan comes back. The knot of distrust eases some.
“If you stay, they’re going to do far worse than kill you,” Ember cautions. I give her a wary look. But she turns to Lucan. “Prayer isn’t that long. We need to go.”
“Vicar Darius is planning on taking your power—” Lucan starts.
“I know,” I interrupt. “My father told me. But clearly you could’ve warned me, too.” Anger flares back through me with quickening heartbeats.
“I couldn’t risk telling you earlier.”
“Andnowseems like a good time?” I gesture at the iron bars.
“Now is the only time—our one chance to leave. You might not like me right now…” He fights a wince as he speaks, and I fight the urge to correct him. “But I’m the best shot you have at getting out of Vinguard.” When I say nothing, he continues. “At least stick with us long enough to get out ofthisplace. Once we’re out, I’ll tell you everything. You can speak with your mum and make your choice then.”
I can do that much… Mum is beyond the wall. The truth isbeyond the wall. And the only thing that’s here is a madman vicar who wants to take my power for himself.
Right as I open my mouth to agree, the door opens and a hooded figure steps in.
“Why are you all still here? Is she giving you trouble?” The prelate. My blood turns cold. But she doesn’t move or raise an alarm. Which means…
She’s in on this.
“Yes,” Myla answers.
