Page 115 of The City Of Fractured Memory

“I thought we were friends,” I choke out, tears brimming in my eyes. “Why go to such lengths to hurt me this way? How did you think Vesper dying in my arms would make me feel?”

She chuckles darkly and he grimaces, his flinch unmistakable.

Could it be possible he didn’t know she faked her death after all?

“Yes, well, after he got cold feet, how better to motivate my dear brother than to make him think Riven killed me?” Vesper mocks, and hurt flashes in Xavier’s eyes.

So his grief was real. How could she do that to her own twin? And how could he possibly be still standing by her side after finding out?

“I also hoped my death would point you towards Riven again. Xavier was heartbroken, of course, blaming Riven to further his guilt in front of witnesses, and I thought the act would seal your hatred for him too, but even that didn’t sway you.” She releases a harsh, angry breath, narrowing her eyes at me like I’m the one at fault.

“I knew I’d lost you, that you’d never come willingly,” Xavier says, regaining his composure, though the tension in his shoulders remains. “But our fathers had it all wrong. Thanks to the prophecy, everyone always assumed you were the key, but now we have the Codex, we’ve discovered the ritual simply requires powerful Echofae blood to be completed–”

“And imagine our surprise when we discover your friend is not only an Irithys, but the royal princess of the Echofae!” Vesper cuts in, throwing the Codex in the air and catching in with a flourish.

I stop breathing. “How could you know that?”

“Because I told him.” The familiar voice echoes through the chamber behind me, and my stomach goes leaden.

Just as I thought my heart couldn’t take any more, Amari steps out into the light from the throng of cult members, her white hair glinting as she lowers her hood and joins Vesper and Xavier on the dais. The woman I’ve spent my life dreaming about, calling for me, desperately trying to bring me home, and now we’ve been reunited at last and she immediately betrays me.

My aunt looks down at me, her lips pursed. “I’m sorry, Octavia, it was the only way to save you. When Xavier comes into his new power, he will create a new council, one he has promised me a seat on, so things will be equal now, just like you wanted. You will be free of the prophecy and we won’t be trapped anymore.”

I gape at her in shock. “This is the trap, can’t you see? If the ritual is completed, he will have immeasurable power. He’ll destroy you, destroy all of us!”

She shakes her head sadly. “No, my sweet. We have come to an…arrangement. The ritual requires powerful Echofae blood, so if using hers can save you from the same fate–”

“Take me instead,” Riven shouts, stepping forward with his hands held out before him. “Take me and let them go. My blood is linked to the prophecy too.”

“No!” I shout, but Vesper laughs derisively.

“I think not, brother,” she spits. “You cursed us, so now we will curse you to watch, to live your life imprisoned, knowing you could’ve saved them.”

Three of the cloaked figures step forward and grab him, holding him tight as he tries to fight them off.

“Come now, Octavia, what will it be? Offer yourself to us in exchange for your friend’s life? Or let her die, and allow the Echofae—your own family—to join the council and become our equals? Us women need to stand together, prove our strength to these men who have constantly underestimated and belittled us. We could do such wonderful things together, you and I.”

It’s all a trap, I know it is. But my options are severely limited and panic is blinding me to reason. Xavier’s gaze catches on mine, and he bites his lip, indecision plain on his face. The sight makes me see red. He must know this has gone too far, that he’s in way over his head, but he clearly won’t stand against Vesper to do the right thing, even if it means having to hurt me.

“This ends now!” I scream, lunging forward, but a sudden glint of light on metal sparks through the air as Xavier brandishes a knife and I stop dead. The moment Xavier’s blade touches Stryx’s throat, the world collapses into silence. Not the silence of peace, but the kind that roars, that presses into your marrow until every breath feels like betrayal.

“Come to us, Octavia. Join me and I will release her,” Xavier shouts, the knife pressing harder against Stryx’s throat, a single droplet of blood dripping down to her collarbone.

“Don’t do it, Octavia!” Stryx screams as I take another step forward, but her words are cut off as Vesper punches her in the stomach. She lurches forward in pain, the knife almost slicing her open, but Xavier holds it away from her at the last second, tugging her back upright and placing it back against her blood-stained neck. He grips her hair tight in his fist, and she looks to me desperately, her eyes pleading for me to go.

“Fight them, Stryx! You’re more powerful than they are,” I beg.

“Leave me,” she sniffs, tears sliding down her porcelain cheeks. “I’m not worth it. Your life is more precious to me than anything.”

Despite Vesper’s threat over my life, I’m sure she could easily overpower them if she shifted; how could she possibly think my life is worth more than hers, to the point where she won’t even risk trying?

I swallow, a lump forming in my throat as I shake my head, words failing me.

“I’m so Gods-damned proud of you, my beautiful, brave friend, and if it is my fate to enter the Veil for you, then it would be the highest honour.” Her eyelids flutter closed and she starts whispering under her breath as Xavier presses the knife harder against her skin.

“No, Stryx, I can’t let you die for me, I won’t,” I plead, tears flowing freely down my face, their bitter bite dripping slowly over my lips.

“You must,” she cries before Xavier pulls hard on her hair again and she falls back into her whispered chant.