Luc and Sef are the only people who would be willing to lie for me and say I was here, in Widow’s Hall, the night of the murder. But Luc has selectmen with him at all times. They know he wasn’t with me. And there are at least ten members of the staff who will attest they saw Sef leave—she always makes the rounds, saying her goodbyes before heading home.
Fear clogs my throat. I say nothing.
“Mira, I know you. You’re not a killer.”
“You’re right. I’m not.”
“Then tell me where you were. I’m trying to protect you. I can’t do that if I don’t know what I’m protecting you from.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“You can’t tellme?” Luc’s eyes shine with hurt. “I’m your brother. We tell each other everything.”
Not everything. I purse my lips.
“What happened to ‘every lie I’ll ever tell’? Or was that just for me? I trust you without reservation, and you keep something from me?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“What secret could be so bad that not even I would understand? If this is something to do with the Shadow Queen—”
“It isn’t.”
He waits for me to say more. I don’t.
Slowly, he shakes his head. “I can’t lie for you. My guards know I wasn’t with you that night. Surely, you wouldn’t risk going to prison just to avoid telling me the truth?”
“The only truth that matters is I didn’t kill Arliss Vale.”
Luc looks so, so hurt. “I want to believe you, but I don’t have your gift. If you don’t give me something, they’re going to arrest you.”
“I know.”
“I can’t protect you from this, Mira.”
It’s not like he ever has anyway. “I know that too.”
Luc’s shoulders sag, and his expression is weary as he reopens the door.
General Fain looks first to Luc. “Sir? Has she revealed where she was on the night in question?”
Luc gives me a last, desperate look. Silently pleading with me to confide in him.
I have to look away. This is a truth he would never understand.
With a resigned sigh, Luc ducks his head. I think he’s holding in tears. “No.”
The world moves in slow motion as a decurio secures my arms behind my back with rope. “Remira Kyler, you are under arrest for the murder of Honorate Arliss Vale.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
LESSONS ON REVENGE
The dungeons are darker and colder than I remember. Probably because it’s my first time here as a prisoner. And probably because my cell is across from Kaidren Vale’s.
He stands against the far wall of his cell, expression shifting between surprise and anger as the decurio lock me in. “What areyoudoing here?” He settles on anger. “Gloating?”
“Pretty sure gloating would be more effective from the other side of the bars,” I say.
