August shook his head, leaning in closer. “That’s what the council wants everyone to think. The secret is there’s a way to break them.”
My eyes went wide. So this was the secret the Order was willing to kill for, and now I was its supposed guardian. “If you learned about the secret months ago, why not just give me the journal back?” I hissed. “It would’ve been a hell of a lot more efficient than leaving me to puzzle through useless riddles and clues.”
“My bargain with Devereaux…” His throat bobbed. “He forced me to vow not to interfere with the ritual, and he forbade me from assisting you outright. So even though I stole the journal?—”
“You couldn’t give it back,” I finished.
So that was why he’d been so cryptic, so restrained when tryingto warn me. His tongue was held by his bargain with Devereaux.
There was a tense pause. “I don’t expect you to forgive me,” he said quietly. “What I did—violating your privacy and taking the journal…”
There was still one glaring error in his confession that didn’t add up.
“How are you telling me all of this now, if your bargain forbids it?”
“The bargain didn’t prevent me from telling you about the Heir outright, only from helping you stop the ritual tonight.” He looked troubled by this admission. “I suppose telling you would have threatened the ritual, somehow.”
I frowned. “I still don’t understand why you took the journal in the first place. You found me in the Labyrinth later that night to end things. You didn’t care what I thought about you. You wanted me out of the way.” I searched his eyes for confirmation.
August bit his lip. “I ended things because once I realized how much trouble I’d gotten myself into with Devereaux and the Order, I knew I couldn’t drag you down with me.” He gave me a timorous smile. “I stole the journal because selfishly, I wanted to keep a piece of you with me.”
I shut my eyes against his words, but they struck me like a punch to the gut anyway. All this time, I’d believed the worst of him. That he was a selfish, social-climbing prick who ditched me for a chance at social status, when in reality, he’d ended things to keep me away from Devereaux and out of danger.
I glanced up at him to see pain mirrored in his dark eyes.
“You broke up with me to keep me away from the Order?” I said. “You really expect me to believe that?”
He nodded once, looking more devastated than ever. “Do you hate me for it?” he asked softly.
I hesitated, wracking my brain for the answer. I wanted to hate him. But how could I, after such a confession? “I could neverhate you, August.” I sighed. “I just wished you would’ve told me you were in trouble. I might’ve helped you.”
August released my arm, his eyes blazing with emotion as he stepped back. “Please go, Arden. Before it’s too late.”
The next second, Casimir was at my side, a tense expression on his face. He reached for my hand and drew me closer, his eyes trailing August as he moved further into the crowd. “I couldn’t hear anything over the noise. What did he say?”
I hardly knew how to reply. Drawing back, I scrutinized his expression as the question unfurled like an accusation.
“How long have you known I’m the Keeper’s Heir?”
35
Evren appeared at my side like a dark apparition. Casimir’s body tensed, but when he slid his icy gaze toward our intruder, his expression betrayed irritation, rather than fear.
“What the fuck do you want?” Casimir snarled.
Evren’s expression was smug as he slid his emerald eyes to me, ignoring Casimir. “It’s time to pay up, girl. I’m calling in my favor.”
Shock and dismay registered plainly across Casimir’s face. “What favor?”
I felt the blood drain from my cheeks.Shit. I’d hoped Evren would find me in private, not go gallivanting his leverage over me in front of Casimir. I suppose I should’ve expected it, given the bad blood between the two Daemons.
As I turned away, intending to follow Evren, Casimir snatched at my wrist, his grip like iron.
“Casimir.” I tugged against his hold. “I need to go with him. Evren needs me for this part of the bloodbargain.” Then, in a lower voice, added, “He’ll want to show the others that he can glamour me.”
Please, let Casimir believe just one more lie, I thought.
A war of emotions played out over his face as he tore his eyes away from the Bloodweaver’s to meet my gaze. As far as Casimir knew, I was being dragged off to be tortured by Evren in front of the Order. He knew the Bloodweaver’s glamour wouldn’t actually harm me, and other than my own humiliation, there was little risk of injury, unless Evren decided he was dissatisfied with my performance. Yet it was clear from the hard lines in his face that he didn’t want me going anywhere with Evren.