“You spiked my drink!” Vanessa’s voice goes up an octave, which is unsettling since she never loses her composure.
“Oh, calm down. It’s just a truth serum, not poison. Well, not deadly, if you cooperate. Though, honestly, I’m starting to regret not making it that way.” Kai’s voice is cold and flat, completely devoid of remorse.
“Regret? That’s rich.” Vanessa snaps, her face flushing a deep red. Thunder rumbling outside, shaking the walls, the storm itself answering her fury. Her eyes flare with an intense purple light, rawpower barely contained.
“Oh no, no, no,” I mutter as my stupid brain finally catches up. “You didnot!” My voice cracks sharply, full of disbelief. But Kai won’t meet my gaze. He looks away, dodging my disappointment.
“Kai Brackwell, you’ve gone too far. We never agreed on this.” Nalaka’s voice cuts through the chaos as she shoots him a deadly look.
“You all agreed to the interrogation, last time I checked,” Kai replies coldly, arms crossed over his muscled chest, making him loom even larger than his six-foot-something frame suggests. And he dares call me stubborn, he’s maddening. My hand itches to twist his neck. I can’t believe he thought dosing someone withtruth serum was a good idea. But with Kai, it’s never impulsive; it’s calculated.
The truth serum is the perfect tool; odourless, harmless. Until you realize you’ve swallowed it, and by then it’s too late to resist. I can’t help but think back to his blood promise. Kai could’ve taken this path from the beginning instead of selling his soul to prove himself. Is this already a consequence of the blood oath? Before I can spiral further, Wyll’s voice breaks through the tension.
“Listen, Vanessa, I get that my buddy’s technique might be doubtful, but?—”
“Doubtful? He drugged me!” Vanessa snaps, her voice razor-sharp, cutting him off before he can finish.
“Yeah, yeah, questionable, I know,” Wyll retorts quickly, holding up both his hands. “But look, we’re at war, alright? Better to be safe than sorry. And honestly, better to be alive and grumpy than dead and regretting it. The Legion have moredoubtfulmethods, so really it’s in your advantage.” He winks at her, a smile tugging at his lips. “Did someone ever tell you you’re a real ray of sunshine?”
She stares him down, unblinking.
“Only once. He’s buried somewhere unpleasant now.” Van tilts her head, voice flat and eerily calm. “If that was supposed to be flirtation, I suggest you try something less...Clichéor risky of deadly accidents.”
Wyll lets out a low whistle. “That’s what I call dirty talk.” Then, almost to himself, he adds with a grin, “I think I’m in love.” That gets the edge in Vanessa’s posture to falter; her lips twist into a reluctant pout as the truth serum works its magic.
“I hate this,” she mutters, jaw tight. “I hate the feeling of saying everything without thinking. As if my mouth is on autopilot and I’m just here to watch, like a puppet.” Van crosses her arms a little tighter, her walls cracking open against her will.
Wyll’s smirk fades into something sombre, more serious.“Oh, come on, Sunny. I promise this beats whatever trial the council’s got lined up for you.”
Vanessa’s glare sharpens, frustration barely contained, before she lets out a slow, drawn-out sigh. “Fine. Ask your questions,” she mutters, crossing her arms with resignation.
Kai steps forward, but her icy gaze pins him in place. “Not. You.”
44
Avilyna
PROOF OF DURABILITY
After goingover it again and again, it’s clear. Vanessa didn’t know about Kvirr until a few days ago. She had never heard of Vordak or Nekros, and the only evil she knew was her parents. Just mentioning them made her flush three shades of red: rage, shame, and the tight-lipped restraint of someone desperately trying not to bleed out secrets.
But the truth serum doesn’t care. The moment she tries to resist, it punishes her like poison. Vanessa’s breath catches, blood boils beneath her skin as she gasps for air, her eyes shot with burst vessels. Light flickers over our heads, matching the sudden shift in pressure as some candlelights get blown out. Outside, the wind claws at the windows, strong enough to break down tree branches. Watching her like this, in pain, isunbearable.
“How did you survive the attack?” Wyll asks, voice low, as if he hates to keep pushing, but push he does. Vanessa blinks slowly, struggling to keep her composure.
“Lyna and I loved to watch true crime documentaries. We concluded that so many tragedies could’ve been avoided if the victims had just shared their location with someone who cared...” She pauses, jaw clenched tight. “But my parents don’teven notice I exist, and Lyna’s always alone... So it made sense for us to share ours.” She swallows hard, her gaze fixed on nothing, voice steady but forced. It makes my blood boil, knowing the one person who’s always been there for me is being torn apart because ofme. “Since Avilyna went missing, I never stopped looking. But when her date was found dead, that’s–”
“Her date?” Kai objects a little too loudly.
“Yes,” Vanessa replies coolly. “Lyna has an unfortunate pattern of collecting men with the charm of a pig and the lifespan of a fruit fly.” That erases any expression from Kai’s face and leaves him unimpressed.
“Hey!” I protest, mildly offended.
“Sorry,” Van says, without a trace of remorse. “But not really.”
“How did he die?” Wyll cuts in.
“His head was severed.” The room goes still.
