Viri whipped back around. “Where is he?”
“With Meera. They’re talking to witnesses from last night.”
“Witnesses?” Viri’s brow furrowed. “What for?”
Soren ran a hand through his hair, mussing the pale strands, only for them to bounce straight back into a near-perfect coif. “The reaper—it’s like he just…appearedhere.”
He.
The reaper was male.
Viri’s skin tingled, her desperation to know more rising with every passing second.
“No one has claimed credit for his capture,” Soren went on. “Captain Farrow thinks they’re afraid of retribution from the Priest and keeping quiet to protect their family. But whatever their reason, we have a high-ranking reaper in custody and nothing but unanswered questions.”
“Has he been interrogated?” Viri asked.
“Of course,” Soren said. “But he’s refusing to speak. Says there’s only one person he’ll talk to.”
“Who?”
“The captain didn’t say. He and Meera are staying quiet until they have more details.”
Frustrated, Viri spun on her heel and began walking back toward the elevator.
“You better not be thinking what I think you’re thinking,” Soren warned, keeping in step with her.
“I want to see him,” Viri said.
“Absolutely not.”
She ignored the unyielding words. “I don’t need your permission.I—”
“Actually, you do. He’s in a high-security cell so deep in the Underlock that only Nox with valid clearance have access.”
At the odd note in her friend’s voice, Viri halted on the marble walkway between two empty cubicles and squinted at him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Soren seemed to debate within himself. “The reaper isn’t just someone in the Priest’s inner circle. He’s…more than that.”
Viri’s heart stuttered, a strange premonition coming over her, sharp with dread. “Who is he, Soren?”
There was a long pause, as if he regretted saying anything, but then Soren met her gaze and declared, “It’s Reeve Ashton—the Reaper Priest’s most loyal servant and right-hand man.”
Reeve.
Ashton.
For a moment, Viri heard nothing outside the ringing in her ears, her mind besieged with images of a young boy with tousled black hair and silver eyes that shone like stars. Other memories began to take form, but she shoved them away before she could see anything—or anyone—else.
Swaying on her feet, Viri was vaguely aware of Soren going on to say something she already knew: that Reeve was infamous among Nox and hunters, considered a high-level target after whispers of his name and position had started circulating years earlier. The Priest was another matter—his identity was a carefully guarded secret, known only to those close to him.
Reeve Ashton was close to him. Perhaps closer than anyone.
Viri swayed again, prompting Soren to call her name worriedly. She snapped back to herself, her throat hoarse as she repeated, “I want to see him.” Her features hardened with resolve. “You can help me, or you can report me. But either way, I’m going.”
Seeing her determination, Soren swore under his breath, before saying, “He won’t talk to you.”
“Maybe not. But I still need totry.” Her voice broke on the final word, the only evidence of the emotion she was struggling to hold back.
