“But there are older legends.” His eyes didn’t leave mine. “Stories that predate the written archives. Tales that got buried because they were too dangerous to remember.” He tilted his head. “Tell me—have you ever heard the shadows whisper before?”
I could lie. Should lie. The instinct was there, ready and willing.
But I was so gods-damned tired of lying.
“Yes,” I breathed. “Since I arrived.”
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Cindrissian stared at me. Not with fear—worse than that. With something like recognition. Like he’d just confirmed a theory he’d hoped was wrong.
“What?” I demanded, hating the edge in my voice. Hating how exposed I felt under that look.
“I don’t want to guess,” he said quietly. “But we need to get out of here. Now.”
“Why?”
“Because if I’m right...” He stood, movements sharp and deliberate. “You’re more dangerous than any of them realise.”
“What doesthatmean?”
“It means what I said.” His voice was clipped. Sharp. “You’re dangerous. And you do not tell anyone else what you just told me. Do you understand? No matter what happens—don’t tell anyone. Okay?”
There was something in his eyes that made my blood run cold.
Panic.
And that scared me more than anything he’d said.
“What the hell is going on?” My voice cracked. “Cindrissian?—”
“I’m not sure,” he cut me off. His hands were shaking. Just barely, but I saw it. “When we get back to Luceren, I promise I’ll explain. But not here.” His gaze darted to the shadows pooling in the corners of the chamber. “Not where anyone might be listening.”
My throat tightened.
Listening.
Every instinct screamed at me to push. To demand answers. To make him explain why he looked at me like I was about to detonate.
But the fear in his eyes was real.
And I wasn’t stupid.
"Fine," I said, voice rough. "Fine. But youwillexplain."
56
Iwoke to the hard nudge of a boot against my ribs. My body tensed instinctively as I scrambled back, pressing against the damp wall of the cell. The guard sneered down at me, his face half-hidden in shadow.
“Get up,” he ordered. “Now.”
I glanced around the cell. The others were sleeping, huddled together for warmth in the perpetual chill of our prison. Varyth’s eyes opened immediately, then narrowed at the guard standing over me.
“Where are you taking her?” he demanded, the arm he had wrapped over my waist tightening possessively.
The guard ignored him, grabbing my arm and yanking me to my feet. Pain shot through my leg, and I couldn’t bite back the cry before it escaped my lips.
“Move,” he growled, shoving me toward the door.
