“No, just killing kids to steal their magic,” Viri spat. “There’s certainly nothing casual aboutthat.”
Reeve said nothing, his silence telling. His veins might not be streaked with black at present—nor was the hunter’s mark on Viri’s palm searing with his proximity—but that only meant he hadn’t siphoned recently enough for there to be any stolen ellixen left in his body. It didn’t change what he was. What hedid. Reapers were addicts—once they had a taste of power, they never stopped hungering for it. Reeve was no different from the rest of them.
“No comeback?” Viri taunted. “You’re not going to defend your choice to prey on children?”
Reeve unfolded and refolded his sleeves, taking his time before responding. “Reapers can siphon from adults, too.” His eyes captured hers. “You know that better than anyone.”
Grief burned through Viri like fire, but she stifled it as fast as she could, shoving more bricks into her mental wall and refusing to let any memories surface. “It’s not a matter of if youcan, but if youwill,” she retorted. “People older than fourteen don’t have enough ellixen left to tempt your interest.”
“Maybe you can speak to someone about that,hunter,”he goaded. “Get them to change the laws, raise the age of Impartation, and reapers will have more of a range to sample from. If it’s only kids you’re worried about, then you should have a solid argument up your sleeve.”
Viri sent him a disgusted look, making it clear how she felt about that idea. The Impartation—a ceremony where children, on or before their fourteenth birthday, surrendered their magic to fuel the obelisks warding the city from blackmist—was the only thing that all but guaranteed protection from reapers. The human body required a mere drop of ellixen to survive, so that was all that remained after the sacrifice, the reduced power not enough to entice reapers and therefore eliminating the threat of being attacked. It was also what kept the reaper population in check, since they had to be willing to prey solely on children—tomurderchildren—in order to start down the dark, addictive path of siphoning. Very few could stomach it, but for those whodid…
Reapers were monsters.
All of them.
And as much as Viri wanted to look at Reeve and see the innocent boy she had once known, it wasn’t possible. Because that boy was gone.
Forever.
“Enough stalling,” Viri said, stepping closer to the glass. “I answered your question, now it’s your turn. Where’s the Priest?”
Reeve cocked his head to the side. “You didn’t actually answermyquestion. I think we both know you answered a different question. That means it’s still my turn.”
Viri slammed her hands against the barrier, ignoring the sting of ellixen-suppressing magic beneath her palms—a standard requirement in all Underlock cells. “I’m not playing your games,Reeve. Tell me what I want to know, or I’m gone. It’s of little consequence to me.”
“You always were a terrible liar.” He grinned. “Nice to see some things haven’t changed.”
Eager to put a dent in his confidence, Viri spun on her heel and began walking away, praying he wouldn’t call her bluff. She nearly wilted in relief when she heard his soft “Wait,” and paused to look back over her shoulder.
“Are you finally going to cooperate?” she asked. “Or just keep wasting my time?”
“Time is a construct, so ‘waste’ is a matter of interpretation.” When she started walking again, he quickly added, “But yes to your first question. The one about cooperation. Lucky for you, it’s my word of the day.”
Certain she would regret it, Viri returned to his cell, tapping her foot as she glared at him in expectation. “Well?”
Reeve placed his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels, looking way too comfortable given his circumstances. “You want to know where the Reaper Priest is?”
“Yes,”Viri hissed. “I’ve only asked about a thousand times.”
His lips twitched. “So dramatic. I missed that about you.”
Viri felt a stab of pain, but it was quickly replaced by anger. “Three seconds and I leave again. This time for good. One. Two—”
“You used to be so much more patient,” Reeve said, as ifshewere the one being difficult. “But fine. You want the answer? I’ll tell you everything I know about the Priest. I won’t even make you finish our game—just you asking the questions, and me revealing all. Is that what you want?”
Viri didn’t dare get her hopes up, not as she caught the calculating look on Reeve’s annoyingly handsome face.
“There’s just one small condition,” he said, removing one hand from his pocket to inspect his nails. The move made the dim light glint across a ring on his middle finger, the band as black as onyx and etched with silver runes. He’d never been one to wear jewelry when they were kids—yet another of the million things that had changed since then.
“Look around,” Viri said, repressing the urge to step through the barrier and shake some sense into him. “You’re not in a position to make demands.”
“Let’s call it a new game, then.” Reeve dropped his hand to look straight at her, his eyes like thunderclouds as he declared, “Get me out of here, and I’ll tell you anything you want. That’s my offer, Viri—my freedom for your answers.”
For a long moment, she just stared at him, but then she couldn’t help laughing. It was a bitter, humorless sound.
“Enjoy life in a cell, Reeve,” she said, turning away. “Or don’t. I really don’t care.”
