Even if that means giving up the one piece of information that gives us an edge right now.
I spin around Graylen, facing him as I place a hand on his cheek, forcing his face down so he has to look at me.
“Trust me,”I send into his mind.“I have a plan.”
I can see the war raging in his mind as he weighs how much we can trust Daimon. If my plan will be enough to get us out of here.
The truth is, I don’t trust him at all. But it’s our only option, and the longer we stay here, the more likely Vidaris is to figure out Graylen is no longer in the Vale. Graylen must come to the same realization because he dips his chin down, his gaze shifting to behind my shoulder.
Graylen is still unsteady on his feet, but when I try to slip my arm around him, he reaches for my hand, clasping his fingers around mine to stop me. He looks like he needs food—and water. Probablyseveraldays of rest.
But he isn’t going to look weak in front of Daimon, no matter if he looks like he’s about to fall over. I feel Graylen’s fingers give mine a small squeeze and pray to any Divine who will listen that Daimon isn’t about to betray us.
Thirty-One
Nefrítis
I takea deep breath as I meet his gaze. My chin lifts. I look into the eyes of the man whose blood runs through my veins. The man who almost killed me and all of my friends the first and only time I’ve seen him.
And now I have to convince him to let us go.
“I have something you might want to know,” I start, my voice steady as I hold his gaze.
But maybe I have enough now to convince him. A bargaining chip. The location doesn’t helphimmuch—not when he can’t leave the Shadow Lands. But maybe it could be valuable enough knowledge to let us go.
Daimon blinks, then barks out a laugh. “There isn’t anything Iwant. Nothing worth enough to give you freedom—nor the release of those other little souls who don’t belong.”
My nostrils flare, and I slide my dagger back into its strap.His gaze flicks down to it, but his eyes are empty when he looks back up at me.
“Not even where Nightfall is?” I ask.
Graylen’s head snaps to me, his shoulder pressing slightly into me for support. I keep my gaze on Daimon, a tiny spark of hope in my chest as his eyes widen slightly.
He won’t know only I can wield it—well…that IhopeI can still wield it. I don’t truly know how much my connection to my magic has dulled.
“The dagger.” Daimon huffs a laugh void of emotion.
The spark of hope inside of me begins to flicker.
“The dagger is where it’s meant to be,” he continues.
Either he knows where it is or he’s bluffing; either way, he doesn’t seem like he’s going to bite.
He starts to turn away, his gaze bored.
“Wait,” I growl.
Daimon pauses and raises a brow, waiting for me to continue.
Even if he’s bluffing, he doesn’t know I have a shard from Nightfall. I’ve spent my entire life bargaining with merchants and lords in positions of power. If there’s one good thing that came out of my time in Crea, it’s knowing how to do this.
“You thought that was my big play?” I smirk, carefully sliding the mask I know how to wear so well into place. “A location that I may or may not be lying about?”
His eyes narrow, and he crosses his arms, letting me continue.
“Whatever your plan is, do it soon,”Graylen says into my mind.
“I have this.” I reach into my vest and pull out the wrapped piece of the dagger. “A piece of Nightfall, found in a cave with a depiction of the dagger.”
