Jax’s voice cracks at the end. “You came for me. That’s all that matters.”
The backs of my eyes burn. I blink the tears away and nod. “Always.” I laugh a little, remembering the Starless Night celebration. “We’re the Cursed Trio after all, right?”
Jax’s smile is lopsided. “Emphasis onCursed.”
“The gods be damned if that stops us,” I say. “Come on now. Daegel said Vera is in danger, too. We need to get to her and make things right before he does any more harm than he already has.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
PHOENIX
I’m thankful as ever that Vera keeps her entrance door unlocked.
Jax and I violently barge into her studio.
I stumble, and because I’m keeping most of Jax’s weight on me, he loses his balance. We both topple over onto the floor in Vera’s entryway. I can only imagine how we look, all bloody and beaten. Jax is barely conscious.
I push myself up on all fours and look up at the dining table where Vera sits with Noire. They share a pot of steaming tea.
“They’re coming for you,” I say, panting.
I look around the studio, but there are no signs of trouble. The fact that Noire is here means Vera’s safe. At least for now. I scramble back onto my feet and make my way towards them.
“What the fuck is going on?” Vera finally recovers from shock at such an entrance. “Who’s coming?”
When I approach the dining table, I point at the cup in Vera’s hand. “Put that down.”
I lift the top of the teapot to see how much she’s already drunk. It’s the first cup, thank fuck.
Vera doesn’t put the cup down, so I snatch it from her hand. I sniff the tea and take a small sip. After swishing it in my mouth, I return the cup to Vera. She stares at me in disbelief.
I don’t miss the worry in her gaze. She might be angry at me and Jax right now. But she still cares.
“It’s not poisoned.”
“What?Why would it be?” Vera blinks. “What happened to you two? No—you know what, I don’t care. Neither of you are my business anymore.”
“Vera—” Noire says, but I cut him off.
“You don’t fucking mean it and you know that,” I snap at her.
Vera blinks at me rapidly but says nothing.
“She doesn’t mean that,” Noire says and rises to his feet. “She’s angry, which she has every right to be. But anger passes, and conflicts get resolved. At least, some of them do.” He eyes Jax’s limp body in the entryway. “What happened, Ezkai Phoenix?”
“Caligos fucking happened,” I say with a sigh. I turn to Noire. “I’m guessing you were tipped off by someone about Jax’s involvement in the Ezkai General’s assassination, right?”
“Yes. My spies got a tip a few days ago, which led to us uncovering the truth,” Noire says calmly.
“Of course. Yeah, well, Daegel is the one who orchestrated that tip to reach you so you would then go to Vera and tell her the truth, so that she would then kick Jax out. He tried to break apart my support network and he had plans to kidnap me and keep me locked up until the trials conclude,” I say, breathless.
“I told you so. Nothing good can come from Caligos.” Vera crosses her arms.
I can’t breathe. I’m overwhelmed with emotions. I rub the middle of my chest, trying to get enough air down into my lungs.
Vera’s right. Of course she’s right. But the heartache is too raw.
“Fuck you, Vera,” I breathe. “I fucking made a mistake. I fucked up. He played me, and he played me fucking well. He fed me lies about things, kept me in the dark, all under the name of love and trying to protect me. I gave him the benefit of doubt, because I love him. You might not understand it, but it was horrifying going through all these trials. I know you offered your hospitality and support, but the path I walk is lonely. It’s terrifying and lonely, and nobody but someone who is also on this path can understand how it feels. Daegel used that against me.”
