But as soon as she saw Griffin’s face she removed it. “Oh god, it is you. Griffin, where have you been? I must tell you—”
“I need your help.”
“Listen, Griffin. Listen to me!” She was screaming, her eyes unfocused. “I tried to contact you, but I couldn’t. I sent spies but they were intercepted. There is an imposter in your group. Girl, come here!” Illiyana’s typically serene facade was shattered as she breathed heavily. “We have a girl. Player 32. She was thrown from your brother’s ship, but we were there. We found her.” Illiyana whipped the camera to a woman. Griffin had seen her face in the pictures that came out after they escaped the game.
The woman with Illiyana was the exact replica of those pictures. Except she wasn’t injured at all. Her face unbandaged, no scars, no missing hair.
“Amelia.” The panic that clawed at his throat was almost too much. “Oh god. Oh god.”
He didn’t end the call, choosing to run to his quarters, to where Raven should be getting prepared, but by the time he made it there…
She was already gone.
Chapter 38
There Was Some Good in this World
Raven
An Hour Ago – Grypheem
Twirling in the dress—my wedding dress—I attempted to calm my nerves and accept this was happening. I hadn’t seen Julian or Griffin since the ceremony. The one we had apparently passed.
My mind flicked further, to Levi.
To Jayce. To Sparrow.
My heart ached, but we would be reunited soon enough. I just needed to finish this act and then I wouldn’t rest any longer, I would force action.
“Knock, knock.” I expected Amelia at the door, so it was a surprise to hear Matty’s voice.
Gathering the billowy material, I moved across Griffin’s quarters. I had been the only one allowed in here for preparations.
“Hey, I was expecting Amelia,” I said, looking back and forth in the hallway. This part of the castle was the typical empty I had grown to expect.
“She got held up.” Matty offered a quirk of his lips. “Want a chaperone on your big day?” He reached across the doorway grabbing hold of my wrist.
The move was a shock, the speed, the grip, his appearance.
My hackles rose. “Matty?” I reached with my other hand to his wrist, attempting to peel him off of me, raising his sleeve in the process.
Goosebumps pricked up along my entire body at the sight of his skin there. At the familiar scar. “Fuck, you weren’t supposed to see that. You were supposed to follow me willingly to visit with Levi.”
“No.” It was a cry, a plea, an attempt to believe there wassomegood in this world.
But there wasn’t. There never had been.
Matty was exactly like Quinn.
A friend from my past sent to destroy me.
“Let’s go.” Matty’s grip tightened as he yanked me from the room, as he led me towards the hidden stairs. I dragged my feet into the ground, but the heels I wore made it impossible to keep my balance and easily enough, he was able to wrench me along.
I was in too much shock. Too startled. Too unprepared to fight him. To stop him.
I wasn’t sure if I could.
“Please Matty, you don’t have to do this. Wherever he is, you can just say you couldn’t find me.”
