She shrugged. “It’s a gift.”
“We shall see how well it aids you.” Turning to her, he placed his hand on her shoulder.
She felt the dream begin to fade.
“Rest, Ava. Now, I fear, your journey begins in truth.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ava woke up, feeling almost as exhausted as she had when she had gone to sleep. She was seriously going to have to work out a schedule with Serrik, or else he was going to have a very tired andverycranky Ava on his hands.
And nobody wanted that.
Groaning, she rolled onto her side, and wished she could just bury her head underneath the giant pile of not-pillows and not-blanket and go back to sleep.
But she had to go find a magical not-door.
And go start releasing her magical not-friend.
So she could get access to more not-hers magic.
So she could murder the aforementioned not-friend.
Who she was definitelynotattracted to.
Fuck.
Ava wanted off the stupid ride she was strapped to. One thing at a time, she supposed. Climbing out of bed, she brushed her hair, got dressed, and shoved her finally-dry clothes into her bag. Part of her was terrified to leave the relative safety of Nos and Ibin’s rooms.
The other part of her reminded that first part that they’d tried to sell her off to Rig against her will. And that they weren’ther friends. The first part patiently reminded the second part that she was the one who’d agreed to help Serrik murder all the faefirst,so really, who was the asshole in this relationship?
Slinging her bag over her shoulder once everything was zipped up and put away, she went and picked up Book from where it was sitting on the nest of blankets. “Don’t worry. I’m not neglecting you.” It felt a little warm in her hand. She opted not to think too much about that. “At least when I finally lose my mind and start talking to myself, I can always just claim I’m actually talking to you.”
Tucking it under her arm, she headed for the door. Should she say goodbye? Ask for food for the road? Directions? She didn’t know what the etiquette was for this kind of situation. She didn’t think it was in a pamphlet anywhere.
The question was answered for her when she reached the door to the main hallway of the Web. Ibin was sitting on one of the sofas, her hands clasped in front of her. Nos was across from her, staring dourly at the coffee table.
At the first sight of her, Ibin shot to her feet. “Ava. Wait.”
“I—look.” Ava shut her eyes. What was she supposed to say? She couldn’t tell them the truth—Serrik was watching. Any hint that she might betray him would backfire immediately. “I need to go and…I need to help Serrik. It’s not you, and it’s not personal, it’s?—”
“It’s that you are selfish. And that you are set on killing us all.” Nos grimaced. “I told you, Ibin. This is pointless.”
“It’scomplicated,Nos.” Ava ground out. “Look, I don’t want to kill you all. I don’t. And it’s not that I’m only looking out for myself. This isn’t just about me. But I’ve seen what you people can do—what you have done. Shit, I’ve been here for what, two? Three days? How many horror stories have I heard?” She laughed. “Yeah. Pass. I’m trying to save thehumanrace,Nos.And if I don’t try, he’ll just get the next idiot to help him. And the next idiot after that.” She shrugged. “Might as well be me, right?”
That had been what she’d believed before Book had shown her the true cost of Serrik’s genocide. Before she’d changed her mind. But a part of her still believed that it was worth it—that the fae still needed to die.
They were monsters. In the literal and figurative sense.
But she couldn’t do either thing—help Serrikorkill him—without starting to unlock the door that kept him prisoner. So, she figured she had time to make up her mind.
Besides, chances were good she was going to die long before she got to that point, anyway.
Ibin and Nos simply stared at her in silence.
Hanging her head, she shook her head. They didn’t understand. Why would they? She wouldn’t understand, either.
“I don’t have a choice,” Ava said, trying to convince herself as much as them. “Look, both of you got dragged into this shit show too.”
