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The Academy of Blood & Shadow

Page 65

by Océanne Rhéaume

"Yes?"

"I'm hearing your voice."

I freeze. "I'm talking."

A pause. "No. Another one." Nyra explains.

My stomach tightens. "What is it saying?"

"That we should turn left."

"I'm not saying anything."

"I know." The bracelet remains silent. Then— "Eirea." My own voice. From somewhere ahead. Perfectly mine. "Come this way." The hairs on the back of my neck rise.

Rowan whispers, "That wasn't you."

"No."

Cassian's expression changes. I cannot see it. I hear it. "The emotions are wrong." He says.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Eirea's voice should make you feel..." He hesitates. "Steady." A pause. "This one feels..." He searches for the word. "Hungry."

Silence. None of us moves. My own voice laughs softly. "You're wasting time."

Nyra grips my sleeve. "I'm ignoring it."

"Good." I sigh.

The voice sighs dramatically. "Disappointing." Then disappears.

It doesn't stop. The Trial begins borrowing all of us. Rowan hears Nyra ordering her to run. Cassian hears someone crying for help. I hear Caelen telling me to separate from the group. None of it is real. The problem is proving it.

"We need something." Nyra whispers after a few minutes.

"A signal?" Rowan asks.

"No. A way to know." She says.

"Ask questions." Cassian says after a few seconds.

"The Trial hears us." I answer. "It also hears our memories."

He falls quiet. "You're right."

I stop walking. "I have an idea." I say.

"What?" Nyra asks.

"We don't ask about the past." Silence. "We ask about choices."

"I don't understand." Nyra says.

"The Trial knows facts. It might even know memories. But..." I think back to the bridge. "It doesn't know who we've become together."

Cassian immediately understands. Recognition enters his voice. "So if I ask you what did we decide after the bridge only you know."