“They voted no?” Viri was surprised. Reeve’s proximity to the Priest was enough that even Sarielle would see the value in getting him to talk, no matter what—orwho—it involved. The Magistratus might be Viri’s guardian, but protective or not, she had a moral obligation to put the good of the many before the good of the few.
“They haven’t voted yet,”Meera answered for Darik. With a dry look, she added,“And there’s no need to now, is there?”
Viri squirmed in her seat.
“We know Archer took you to see Ashton,” Darik said, disapproval lacing every word. “He hasn’t admitted to anything, butthere’s no point denying it.” His tone shifted with warning. “Your friend’s loyalty is going to get him in real trouble one day.”
“It wasn’t his fault,” Viri said quickly. “I made him do it.”
Meera snorted.“Soren Archer doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to. Try again.”
Before Viri could reply, Darik interjected, “We can discuss your blatant disregard for the rules later. For now, we only have two questions.”
Just two?Viri wondered. Her head was buzzing with thousands, all of which remained unanswered thanks to the arrogant reaper imprisoned beneath her feet.
Darik’s hands moved to his hips. “Why did the Reaper Priest’s most loyal servant request to speak to you”—his gaze was shrewd, suspicious even, as he emphasized—“onlyyou, and what did he say?”
Viri hesitated, knowing she needed to be careful. Darik and Meera hadn’t become captain and commander by chance. Both were perceptive enough to sense deceit—Meera especially, when it came to Viri.
Keeping as close to the truth as possible, she answered, “Ree—Ashton didn’t say why he wanted to speak to me.” True. “If I had to guess, it was so he could taunt me.” Also true, just not in the way Meera and Darik would think.
Sure enough, Meera’s features softened. She rubbed the thick, jagged scar across her throat as she said,“Because of your parents?”
Darik’s expression darkened at the mention of Amity and Jorth, but then he turned thoughtful. “Of course—Ashton would know all about what happened to them. And your reputation is growing among reapers, so it makes sense that he’d target you.”He paused. “But it still seems very personal. Why not another hunter? Or a Nox? Or a council member?”
Viri found herself wishing Darik were just a little less adept at his job—or at least less intuitive with his line of questioning.
“He didn’t say,” she repeated, unwilling to offer more.
“Whatdidhe say, then?”Meera asked, steepling her hands on her desk.“Did he tell you anything about the Priest?”
This answer was easier for Viri, if still infuriating. “I tried to get him to talk, but he was toying with me. Playing games.” In a mutter, she added, “He’s so full of himself that it’s a marvel his head can fit in his cell.”
“Think hard, Solace,” Darik urged. “Are you sure he didn’t give anything away?”
Viri shook her head. “There was nothing. He was very clear that he would only answer my questions if—”
“If what?”Meera pressed, leaning forward into her palms.
“He tried to make me a deal,” Viri admitted. “His freedom for my answers.”
Their reactions were predictable: Meera sighed with annoyance, and Darik’s lips thinned.
“Hardly unexpected,”Meera said,“but still, disappointing.”
“I can try again,” Viri offered, albeit reluctantly. It had been seven years since she’d last seen Reeve; she’d much prefer to wait another seven—or more—for their next encounter.
“We’ll consider it,” Darik said, though his frown said otherwise. “For now, we’ll keep him isolated. Once he comes to terms with his new living situation, he might be more inclined to share what he knows.”
Viri doubted that, but she nodded anyway and stood, eager to venture outside and start her hunt. Reapers dwelled in the mountains and undercity, too, but today, she needed fresh air and sun on her skin. She needed to feelalive.
“If that’s all—” she began, moving toward the door.
“It’s not,” Darik said, making Viri pause. He didn’t continue immediately, instead taking his time to straighten his black leather gloves, something he was never seen without. Meera wasn’t the only one with scars—no one knew where Darik’s came from, just that they were grisly enough for him to keep them concealed at all times. “There’s still your punishment to address.”
Viri spun to Meera, hoping to find an ally in her mentor. Instead, there was an apologetic yet unyielding expression on Meera’s face as she stated,“You visited a high-security prisoner without clearance.”
She knew Viri well enough to understandwhy, but even so—
