“Like passing through a waterfall,” Draven said suddenly.
“What are you talking about?” Ary shot Draven a confused look.
“A curtain of water falling, drenching anyone who passes under.” The odd cadence to Draven’s tone had me looking to him, only to find him staring blankly at the table. “But if someone was to hold an outstretched arm through the water, another could pass underneath it to avoid the deluge.”
Ary, Emil, and Nyx stared at him. The rangers didn’t bother to hide the suspicion on their faces, but whatever Ary was thinking was behind a mask of cold indifference.
“That actually makes sense,” I said slowly. “We’re used to passing through the wards, so we don’t feel it anymore, but there is a thin veil of magic rising from where we root them in the earth. Draven is suggesting”—my gaze darted to him to find him staring intently at me, as if urging me to continue my line of thinking—“that the wraiths aren’t breaking the ward nor temporarily disabling it. They’re finding a way to block the upward flow of magic in one specific place and slipping through.”
“They can’t interact with the wards at all,” Emil pointed out.
“A Moroi could,” Ary said, his voice hardening in understanding. “You think a Moroi is helping the wraiths. That’s why you’re being so secretive about all of this.”
“Yes, but we don’t know why someone would help them.” I kept my tone even, but I didn’t look away from Draven either. It had to be him. He was responsible for letting the monsters in. “Why would a Moroi turn on their own people? There werechildrenin those outposts. Who could do something like that?”
The tension in the air increased until I could practically feel it on my skin. I didn’t say anything else, just silently begged Draven to tell me I had this all wrong. That he wasn’t responsible for the slaughter of thousands of innocent Moroi.
“A monster,” he finally said, still never taking his eyes off me. “A well-trained monster.”
I let my fangs slide a little further out of my gums. “Even a monster can refuse.”
“Maybe they did.” He flinched as if a phantom pain had raised up his back.
Hope and dread warred in my soul. If he had willingly helped the wraiths kill our people, I would never be able to forgive him for it, but if he’d refused . . . what had it cost him?
“How many times did the monster say no?” I asked quietly.
Draven opened his mouth to speak only to snap it shut with a hiss before he rubbed his temples. Ary’s expression remained locked down, but Nyx and Emil continued to eye him warily. I just waited. Finally, he dropped his hand away, his eyes dark and bleak. “Who knows what monsters say or do? Does it matter? They’re still monsters at the end of the day.”
“Drav . . .” I trailed off, unsure what to say.
“I’m tired.” He rose from the table. “I’m going to rest for a bit.” Then he stepped away before pausing and turning his head slightly so I could just make out his profile. “I’ve never really liked waterfalls. Refused to go through them nine times. Turns out your body can still be used to block the water even if your soul is unwilling.”
A sharp pain struck my chest as he walked away without another word.A well-trained monster. Maybe he wasn’t so much well-trained as he was beaten down.
“What in the moonsdamned fuck have the lot of you been up to?” Ary stared after Draven, a hint of frustration leaking into his expression.
I pursed my lips together. We’d have to trust others eventually, and Ary had already seen too much tonight.
“Emil and Nyx will fill you in.” I looked at both of the rangers. “Tell him everything. I’m going to check on Vail.”
Nyx shifted uncomfortably. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” I smiled at Ary. “If you betray us, I’ll make you beg for death, and even then, I won’t give it.”
An actual smile blossomed on the Tepes Heir’s face. “Honestly, threats like that are the only reason I both like and trust you.”
“You’re seriously fucked up.”
He smiled wider. “It’s more fun that way.”
“We have two rooms, Samara,” Emil said. “You should go rest in the other one after you check on Vail. If you’re okay with it, Nyx can sleep on the floor in your room. The rest of us can stay with Vail. I don’t think he’ll wake, but in case he does, somebody should be there.”
“I’ll stay with him.” The words rushed out before I could think better of it. Nyx arched an eyebrow, and Ary laughed under his breath. “Fuck you both,” I muttered.
“Is that an actual offer?” Ary cocked his head and then let out a sharp exhale when Nyx elbowed him in the gut.
“No,” I said wryly. “I’ll see you all in the morning.”
