Cyph only grunted.
Taking a deep breath, I sank into the presence of the Revered and threw the cell door wide.
Vale sat on her bed, chin resting on the windowsill, observing the clouds drifting through the blue sky. When we entered, she turned, spine straightening as she took in our trio.
Gone was the demure girl who looked at her feet during the Rapture, who averted her eyes when spoken to. Before us sat a woman dripping with confidence, albeit with a tinge of guilt coloring her eyes. Still, she locked her stare to mine, and for long silent moments, we stood like that.
Finally, I said, “The truth, Vale.”
“If I talk to you, I’m betraying the man who has given me everything.” She sniffed, lifting her chin—but she hadn’t denied me.
“You’ve already started to talk,” I reminded her.
“It won’t take us much effort to figure out the rest,” Malakai added.
“Or at least to create a story we find plausible.” I tilted my head, my voice fading to a heartless taunt. “Rumors spread like wildfire once given a little kindling.”
“Are you threatening me,Revered?” she sneered my title. A partof me wanted to remove the dagger from my thigh and remind her who she spoke to, but I didn’t think threats would convince her.
No, I’d collected pieces of Vale’s character for months now. Seen her for the secrets she’d tried to hide and the truths she’d let slip as she got comfortable in our presence. Vale was clever and unafraid. She’d faced horrors and risen above them. Threats would not frighten her into handing over information.
“I would if that would work, but it won’t. Not with you.” I crossed the room and sat on the bed beside her. Malakai followed, his disapproval dripping from his slow gait. He’d advocated for punishing Vale in ways I wasn’t comfortable with, but in the end, I’d convinced him that it wouldn’t be necessary. “You’ll tell me because it’s the smart thing to do. For us…and for you.”
“And why would I think that?” Vale toyed with the ends of her hair, crossing her arms then uncrossing them.
“Because I know it was you that conducted the session in which Titus claimed to see my destruction.” A smug smile spread across my face when she stiffened.
“How did you figure that out?” Reluctant approval glinted in her eye.
“I suspected for a while. Once my friends informed me you’d been lying to us, I was nearly certain. You confirmed it just now.” I relaxed against the wall, crossing my feet on her bed. It was comfortable to be in my leathers after fighting a battle in a dress. These garments were a luxury I’d never take for granted again. I ran my hands over the skirt, the material cool beneath my fingers, and waited for Vale to form her response.
“I suppose it was only a matter of time until you threw me in this cell, then.”
“For the love of the fucking Angels, Vale, tell us what this is about,” Cyph snapped, speaking for the first time since we’d gathered upstairs.
Vale flinched, pursing her lips. I flicked my eyes between Cyph and the door, silently telling him if he could not control himself, he would have to leave. He nodded back.
I made a mental note to tell him I was proud of him for standing up to her, though. He deserved answers for being lied to—we all did.
“What Cypherion means to say is we know there is more to your story. And we have ideas of where it begins and ends, but it would be a cleaner process for you to share the truth.”
“A cleaner process?” And there was a sliver of fear shaking her voice as she looked at the sword on Malakai’s hip. The small ax beside it.
I gripped her chin, turning it toward me. “Not like that…at least not yet. I can’t promise it will never come to that.” Searching her eyes and not finding any hint of weakness, I added, “You’ve seen what I will do for my people, Vale. Do not become a threat to us.”
Her lips quivered for a fraction of a second. “I can’t tell you. I’ll lose my home.”
“A cage is not a home,” Cyph said, much more collected than before. His eyes were on her shoulder—the spot where the tattoo covered the brand marking her as a slave.
Vale turned narrowed eyes on him, her chin still in my hand. “It is if it’s all you know.”
Realization snapped into me. I dropped the girl’s face, standing from the bed. “Is there anything else you’d like to share today?”
She bit her lips, but her eyes landed on the emblem hanging from my necklace. “You figured it out, didn’t you?” Her voice was low.
I nodded once, not needing her visions to confirm the truth my bones already screamed at me.
“I can honestly tell you that I haven’t figured out what that vision meant. I’ve tried, ever since I’ve stopped suppressing them, I’ve attempted to recreate it. There’s been no explanation—just darkness and you, Ophelia. But if I had to guess, I’d say it’s all connected. The emblems, the queen, the Angelblood…and the reading.”
