Relief flooded her face, but it was followed quickly by guilt.
“I was hiding in the alley that night,” she whispered. “During the ceremony. I watched them call Calder onto the stage. Iknew he had no choice.” Her voice cracked. “But thenyouvolunteered. You stepped forward when you could have walked away, and it broke something inside me.”
The accusation in her tone stung.
“What was I supposed to do?” I shot back. “Let them hunt you?”
“I thought we were family.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “You think I don’t know what the Venatori oath does? You have to kill me, or you die.”
“It never demanded life. Hunt, not kill. We are family,” I said fiercely. “I was—” Foreign magic pushed against my ribs.
An insidious voice that said:Kill her.
End this.
I shoved it down hard, gasping.
“Why do you think he used my daggers in the blood oath? A weapon. An oath sealed with blood. There can be only one payment, and you know that.”
She’s right there.
Just reach out and?—
Calder's dark fingers were locked around the chair with enough force to make the wood groan beneath his grip. “Syn?”
“I’m fine.” I wasn’t. The oath was demanding payment, screaming at me that the target was within reach, that all I had to do was act. “Keep talking, Vitoria. Please.”
She studied me with knowing eyes. “The blood oath. You’re fighting it.”
“So is Calder.” I glanced at him. His jaw was clenched tight enough to crack teeth. “So talk fast before we lose the fight.”
“I killed Eda Mire.” The words were soft. Gentle. Like she was confessing something sacred instead of murder. “I didn’t want to. Syn, you have to know I didn’t want to. I didn’t have a choice.”
I heard my own heart break. I knew it was her, but I didn’t want to believe it. I’d survived the death of my grandmother thanks to Eda Mire. And the death of Eda Mire simply by holding on to the hope that it wasn’t Vitoria.
“Why?” My voice cracked.
“Because the Master commanded it.” Vitoria’s hands twisted together. “He controls me. Not with a spell. I’m not possessed or enchanted. But he has power here. Real power. And he marked me. Bound me. I can’t disobey direct commands without...” She trailed off, but the fear in her eyes finished the sentence.
I had a thousand questions for her. A million why’s and how’s. But none came to me as I sat in heartache. Suddenly, not a single one mattered.
“The Oracle,” Calder said quietly. “You tried to kill her, too.”
“Yes.” No hesitation. No excuses. “The Master wanted her dead. Wanted to destabilize the city, create chaos. I tried to fight it. It’s why I missed.”
The oath pressed harder.
She’s confessing.
She’s admitting guilt.
Kill her.
End this.
“And now?” I forced the words out through gritted teeth.
“Now I’m marked to die.” Vitoria’s laugh was bitter. “He doesn’t need me anymore. Whatever plan he had, it’s moved past the point where I’m useful. So he’ll dispose of me. Probably publicly. Probably painfully through your oath.” She looked at me with desperate eyes. “I need you to break it. The binding. Please. I know you’re mad. I’m sorry about Eda Mire. But please. I love you. You have to find another way.”
