“Harrison—”
“Adrian, help me out!” Harrison’s gaze shot to me.
I gaped at them both, glancing from him to his brother and back.
“Oh, I—” I stuttered. “I don’t think I should get involved.”
“I agree,” Graham spat, his glare vicious.
“Graham,” Sophie hissed.
“This is foolish,” he said as though he hadn’t heard her. “Taking those Oaths, swearing your life away, just to make yourself a prime candidate for the Culling. It’s ridiculous.”
“The Culling doesn’t pull from just Oathtakers anymore.” My voice was low, full of grief, even to my own ears.
Sophie’s gaze lifted and there was sorrow there, an apology she wouldn’t voice aloud. Dante squeezed my hand where it rested in his own.
Graham’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Adrian—”
“You’re right, Harrison,” I cut in. “It’s your choice. Yours and no one else’s. But I didn’t make mine because I wanted to advance my family, nor because I wanted glory or thought Icould make it. I made a promise to Darius. I made a vow that I would join him when the time came, and when it did, even though he was no longer here, I honored that vow. But if I’d never made that promise, I wouldn’t have entered.”
They all stared at me, silent.
“Do what you have to do,” I told him. “But don’t let anyone else tell you what that is.”
I turned and left them standing in the living room. I retreated to my bedroom, already reaching for my clothes as Dante entered behind me. I slid into my jeans and then pulled off Dante’s shirt. I tossed it to him as I slid into my own. He held it against his chest for a moment, watching me, before putting it back on as well.
“Adrian,” Sophie said, appearing in my doorway. I glanced over to her and her eyes widened as she took in the rumpled sheets and the man dressing himself beside them. But then her gaze snapped back to mine. “I’m so sorry.”
I shook my head as I sat on the edge of my bed and slid my boots back onto my feet.
“Don’t worry about it,” I grumbled.
“You were…busy and we just barged in—“ she started, trying not to glance at Dante again and failing.
“It’s Harrison’s apartment too. He’s free to come and go as he pleases, no matter howbusyI am.”
Dante snorted.
“Still—“
Boots on, I stood and wrapped Sophie in a hug that surprised her so much she straightened.
“Thank you for the party, Sophie,” I told her. “It was really fun.”
“I’m glad you…had fun,” she replied, eyes trailing back to Dante again.
My partner grinned cockily as I told her goodbye and we headed out of my room. He seemed to understand my need to escape without my having to verbalize it. It had been nice but the mention of Darius in that apartment once again had me running in the opposite direction. I would face it, eventually, I knew I would. But not tonight.
Dante fell in beside me on the walk back to the Eastern gate and all the way up to the First Ring.
It was very late when we arrived at the estate. We hadn’t spoken a word to one another on the walk back, but I’d caught him glancing my way once or twice as if checking on me, and I’d done the same for him. We were both yawning by the time we set foot in the foyer, but we froze the moment we crossed the threshold.
Myrine stood in the center of the foyer, wearing her pajamas, bare feet and all. Her hair had come loose from its bounds, her face was paler than usual, and heavy bags rested under her eyes. She looked sick, sick with worry.
“Mom?” Dante asked tentatively, fearfully.
She blinked at him. “We need to talk about the fifth Trial.”
