“Yes.”
“I still don’t understand why, though.”
“No,” Fly says, scratching his head and looking confused. “We’ve been told all our lives that we need the shadow weavers to protect us from the demons, right? So why kill students with powers – powers that could be used to help protect us?”
“Because they’re a threat to their position, and their powers,” I say. “They don’t want to give up what they have in Onyx. They don’t want to share it. That’s why.”
Clare turns her gaze to Fly. “You should have seen it,” he says. “Everything was gold and sparkly and luxurious. It was like stepping into a whole new world. I never knew such riches existed before.”
“You have to tell everyone,” Clare says with a determined look on her face. “You have to reveal the truth. Everyone deserves to know that this whole place,” – her gaze sweeps around the confines of Fly’s small room – “is one big massive lie. That there is no chance, no opportunity, that we’re all going to end up in the same shitty Quarters we always did, while the shadow weavers live in luxury in Onyx Quarter. That isn’t fair.”
“It isn’t,” I say. “But even if people were to believe me – and I’m not sure they would,” I think about how unconvinced the other students in the academy have always been about me, how ignored and invisible I was back in Slate Quarter, “even if they did believe me, what then, Clare? The shadow weavers are strong and powerful. They won’t want to change the system. And how would we make them?”
“We couldn’t,” Clare says. “But you could. Briony, you’re a lumomancer. You have a dragon. And four powerful fated mates.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. All I want to do is find Beaufort, Dray, and Thorne – for us all to be together. I can’t think of anything beyond that.”
“Fate bound you together for a reason,” Clare says, in a voice that sounds remarkably like a teacher’s. “Fate has its reasons, and I think this is it.”
I shake my head again, and Clare stares at me crossly.
Fly holds up his hands. “Let’s start with one step at a time, shall we? The Princes. Whatever happens next, this one,” hepoints at me, “is going to need them. Which means finding out how we’re going to get them out of the Black Tower alive.”
“That’s why I was hoping you might be able to help me, Clare,” I say. “If anyone knows a way, then surely it has to be the library.”
Clare sighs. “I just… I don’t know, Briony. The library’s always been so helpful about everything – every little question I’ve had. Even when I went looking for love-life advice about my relationship with Damien.”
“You went to the library for love-life advice,” Fly says flatly, “and not me?”
Clare shrugs and adjusts her glasses. “But when I went looking for information about the demon realm – information that I thought would help you fight the demons and rescue Fox – it was like the library was holding back on me.”
“How do you mean?” I ask.
Clare sighs again. “I don’t know. I guess I could be imagining it. But it felt like she wanted to tell me something, but she couldn’t.”
“I think I’d better come with you then,” I tell Clare. “Talk to the library myself.”
“Whoa!” Fly protests. “Lessons start in half an hour, and if Clare misses one…” He trails off. A flicker of fear enters his eyes. “Sterling’s a monster, Briony. Way stricter than Bardin.”
“Then I’ll go to the library alone.”
Clare shakes her head. “No way. I’m not afraid of Sterling and I’m coming with you.”
Fly groans dramatically and yanks off his hair net. “Guess that means I’m coming too.”
Chapter Seven
Fox
I groan when I find my bed empty the next morning. The little brat has sneaked off, and I can only assume she’s gone to seek out her friends. I lie in my bed for a moment, reliving the moments from last night, still not quite able to believe I’m back here at the Academy, that I’m alive, that Briony Storm is still mine.
I stretch my arms above my head and then let them fall to my chest.
My heart’s beating.
That’s not unusual. It often does when I think of Briony. It’s like a natural reaction, something the damn muscle just can’t help. But then I remember what she said last night – that my skin was somehow warmer. Is that true? I try to feel the warmth in it now, but I can’t tell the difference. And I wonder if the girl was just imagining things.
I think it unlikely that anyone will come and check my room. No one knows we’re here, after all. But I decide it would be foolish to hang around. So I dress and then head to the oneperson in the academy that I trust nearly as much as I trust Briony – the one person I think might be able to help me.
