“Mortals are clumsy. She still has a lot to learn.”
“You could have healed her.”
“My primary concern is trying to figure out what she’s up to. Sneaking around my house. Potentially putting us all in danger.” Hunter turned to him. “You know the risk she could pose. I can’t get an honest answer out of her, but you can.”
There was a beat of silence before Archer moved around Hunter and took measured steps towards me. At that moment, I couldn’t decide who I hated more. Both of them hid behind a facade of niceties. Both of them deserved to rot.
“I want to know what she’s looking for,” Hunter instructed him. “What is it she’s hiding?”
Archer looked me in the eye, and my jaw clenched. We’d never been friends, but there was a level of trust with Archer. I used to believe that his meddling came from a place of care. Now I knew better.
“You know,” he said, “a marriage should be built on a foundation of trust.”
“Get on with it!” Hunter barked.
Archer came to a stop in front of me. When he raised his arms and his aura unwound from them, I flinched. Deep plumes of green stretched towards me like sinister rope, ready to bind me and extract my truth.
He dropped his voice to a whisper. “It’s only going to hurt if you fight me.”
I didn’t believe him. Archer would probably take the same pleasure as Hunter in seeing me suffer.
“Lift your arms,” Archer instructed.
When I didn’t move, Hunter stepped closer. “I suggest you do as he says.”
My gaze flitted between the pair before I slowly lifted my arms, the cuff sliding slightly down my forearm. Archer gave a curt nod before lifting his hands and his aura finally reached me. It wound around my arms and my sense of autonomy left me as Archer read me. This was it. Archer would unearth all of my secrets and lies and convey them to Hunter. There would be no coming back from that.
Dylan Thomas once wrote about not going gentle into the good night. If they uncovered my plans, I would fight until my last breath. Powers or not, I would make sure that I didn’t take my punishment laying down.
Images flashed through my mind, fresh and clear. Walking through Hunter’s grounds and digging through the plants. Carefully pushing aside sheets of paper in the drawers of the house. Taking steady steps through the house and pushing open door after door. Each of the recent memories was tinged red with anger and murderous intent. As the memories changed to include Hunter and the violence he unleashed, they faded into a blue colour and shame and embarrassment took centre stage. This was a secret I hadn’t intended to share because of the way it made me feel helpless. Powerless.
My vision cleared until Archer came into focus before me. His face remained impassive. No shock or betrayal. No concern or smugness. Archer wasn’t stupid. When I asked for his help, he probably connected the dots. Now he had confirmation of my treachery. Hunter would have proof that justified his propaganda that demigods were dangerous and orchestrating the downfall of the rest of them.
“She’s confused,” he said, still looking me in the eye.
“What?”
“She’s confused. Part of the trauma response for mortals, I imagine.” Archer turned away from me, so I stared at the back of his head. “Their minds can’t handle the situations the same way we can. I imagine simply being in Elysia is something she is still adjusting to.”
I didn’t dare breathe. What was he doing? The memories were clear as day. There was no reading between the lines and even if there were, Archer could uncover it with his gift. Yet, there he was, lying to Hunter without a shred of hesitation.
“She was looking for something,” Hunter argued back. “I know it.”
“Her room,” Archer replied, sounding bored. “Tell me, Hunter, have you noticed any other strange behaviour from her? Forgetting things. Freezing. Barely holding her attention.”
I didn’t want to move, but I was desperate to know whether he was buying it. Unfortunately, Archer’s head blocked my view, but I heard a disgruntled sound from Hunter’s throat.
“Like you said, she’s still part mortal. She will continue to have her weaknesses.” He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “We need to push on with our plans, Hunter. If you’re suspicious over every breath she takes, then you’ll mess this up before it begins.”
“I—”
“I’m telling you what I saw. It’s up to you if you choose to believe me. But we’ve been working towards a common goal for a long time and I’m not about to lose my chance at getting justice when it’s finally so close.”
The room was silent and all I could hear was the erratic thumping in my chest. I did well under pressure when I understood all the rules. Archer, as was typically his style, had gone completely rogue.
Hunter eventually spoke. “You can leave.”
Archer didn’t argue. He walked away from me, stopping briefly next to Hunter before saying, “That bruise on her face won’t do you any favours with the rest of Elysia.”
