The words cleave into me. I drop my hands. Look away. Bite my lip against the tears that spring to my eyes.
"You don't know what you're saying."
"Will you please just tell me what changed?"
I swallow past the knot in my throat. Nod. "I will. But I need to ask you something first."
"Then ask me, Ada!" His voice rises. "I'll tell you anything. Everything. Just—" He stops. Closes his eyes. Takes a breath. When he opens them again, his voice is controlled. "Just ask."
Ada. Not Menace.
Hearing him use my name shouldn't hurt this much. But I suppose I should get used to it.
"Have you sacrificed healers?"
Surprise crosses his face. Then he looks away. My heart hammers as the silence stretches. It feels like an eternity before he clears his throat.
"Mortiana told you this?"
"Did you kill them or not?" My voice is barely above a whisper. "That's all I'm asking."
The anguish in his eyes almost makes me take it back. Almost.
"Do you think I killed them?" He searches my face. "You must, or you wouldn't ask. You think because I'm a warrior, a Rook, desperate to save his kingdom, I'd slaughter innocent people?"
"Just answer the question, Malachi."
"I will. But I want to know what you think." He leans forward. "You know me better than Mortiana does. You know me better than ..." He shakes his head and lets out a humorless laugh. "What do you believe?"
"I don't believe you'd kill innocent people. But the way she said it …" I exhale shakily. "I know what this curse has cost you.I can't imagine the frustration. And I thought, if I'm going to flay myself open for you, I might as well make you do the same."
He's quiet for a long moment. "I didn't kill them, but they were inhabitants of Tenebris. Under my protection. And I did nothing to stop their deaths." He looks at me. "I suppose that's the lesson Mortiana wants me to learn."
"What is your bargain?"
He sighs. "Do you remember when I told you I'm only woken from stasis during Reckonings? Or when Mortiana needs something?"
I nod.
"I transport souls for her. The souls of loved ones who died because of the curse." His jaw tightens. "I assume healers have been among them. Along with my grandparents. My uncles. Aunts. Cousins." He swallows hard. "My niece."
My breath catches. "Why?"
"It's part of my?—"
"No." I cut him off. He looks up, startled. "Why doyouhave to pay these debts? Why not someone else? Why you?"
"Because I'm the prince of Tenebris."
The words land like stones.
"Prince Malachi Bain Malvorathis." He watches my face. "That won't mean anything to you. You don't learn our history. But that's why."
The air leaves my lungs. I scoot back, needing distance. "You're the prince."
He nods. "You know how the Sages give children they visit three fates and a name? I'm Prince Malachi Bain Malvorathis, the Cursebearer." His mouth twists. "Prince Bain the Cursed."
"The prince of Tenebris," I whisper. My vision blurs. I stare at my black-stained fingernails.
