“Did you know?” I ask, each word tearing up my throat on its way out. “This whole time, while you were telling me we’d find him, while you were promising to help—did you know my brother was dead?”
“No,” he says, hard and immediate. “I sat across from you two nights ago and promised you blood. If I’d known, you’d have known the same night, and I’d already have a name and a body to show for it.”
My scanning locks onto him, searching for the thermal spike that would tell me he’s lying. It doesn’t come. His signature’s running hot with rage—not guilt—and I’ve catalogued enough of both on Kieran Cross to know the difference.
“I believe you,” I say, and his shoulders drop a fraction, just enough for me to know my belief was the only verdict he was waiting for.
Then Callie’s laugh cuts through the chaos, bitter and broken.
“Oh, please.” She’s leaning against the remaining mast, her arms crossed. “Kieran’s half in love with you. Of course it wasn’t him. Because it’s alwaysthem—Logan and Jade. The two of them against the world, keeping their precious secrets while the rest of us suffer for it.”
My gaze snaps to Jade.
She’s so pale she looks like she might faint. Her mouth is open, but no words are coming out. And she’s moving, just slightly, an instinctive shift toward Logan, so subtle she probably doesn’t realize she’s doing it.
Logan’s hand twitches toward Jade, guilt flashing across his carefully blank face before he locks it down.
Just like that, the pattern clicks into place.
Jade changes the subject every time I mention Oliver. She couldn’t meet my eyes when I talked about searching the islands. She’s never said we might be able to find him—not once.
Because she and Loganhave known Oliver was dead since the night of the storm.
“Is it true?” The words come out hollow. “This whole time, while I was searching, while I was hoping… you knew?”
Jade’s face crumples. “You have to understand?—”
“Yes or no,” I say, flat and emotionless, like a switch has been flipped and the part of me that feels has gone dark. “Did you know Oliver was dead?”
Jade’s chin drops to her chest.
“Yes.”
I stagger, grabbing the railing again to keep from falling.
Because she knew he was dead, and she let me keep hoping.
“How did it happen?” I ask, and it comes out as barely a whisper. “How long have you known? And why didn’t you tell me?”
23
JADE
I knewthis moment was coming. I just didn’t know it would feel like being flayed alive.
Now the words are right here, crowding my throat, fighting to get out.
Thad attacked us on the Crown. He killed Oliver. Logan and I tried to save him, but there was nothing we could do.
But what would any of that change?
“I’m sorry.” The words scrape out of my throat, pathetic and worthless. “Evie, I’m so sorry.”
She doesn’t respond. She doesn’t even look at me. She just stands at the far end of the boat with her arms wrapped around herself, heat shimmering off her skin in waves.
I open my mouth to try to explain, but the Seer of Origins speaks first.
“The storm touched.”
