Page 23 of Phoenix's Refrain

“You’re pregnant.”

“I know.”

“Well, apparently, it just slipped your mind. Just like my orders for you to remain here.”

“I was with Faris and Grace. Surely, a god’s orders supersedes your orders?”

I glanced back at Faris, but he was gone. So was Grace. They’d both vanished. I’d thought the room had grown suddenly very quiet and peaceful.

Nyx gave me a hard look.

Typical. When I didn’t want Faris and Grace around, I couldn’t get rid of them. But when I actually needed them, they were nowhere to be found.

“They were right here just a minute ago,” I told Nyx.

Nyx sighed, a rare show of emotion. “I believe you.”

“You do?”

“No one is crazy enough to lie about going on an outing with a god and a demon.”

“I might be crazy enough.” Then I added quickly, “But I’m not lying.”

Nyx shook her head. “So was this dangerous, monster-fighting excursion at least fruitful?”

“I guess. Kind of. We were in the Lost City.”

“Didn’t get enough of it your first time around?”

“Well, no. That’s why I went back there. I’ve been having these visions again, like I had back then, and…” I stopped when I saw the look on her face. “You think I’ve lost my mind.”

“No. I’ve had visions of my own.”

“Oh, right. Of me at the head of a demon army.”

Her dark brows drew together. “How do you know about that?”

Oops.

I smiled and shrugged.

“If you’re going to eavesdrop on people’s private conversations, Pandora, you should take care not to admit your guilt later.”

“I’ll try to remember that,” I said quickly.

I didn’t want her to remember what had happened after that conversation I’d overheard between her and Ronan. I didn’t want her to know what else I’d seen that I shouldn’t have. Because then I might have been in actual trouble.

“So the visions,” I said. “They’re coming from this secret place. The Vault, she called it.”

“She who?”

“River. She claims to be a rogue Guardian.”

“Be careful, Leda.”

“I am being careful. I’m not even sure I trust River. She could be trying to manipulate us.”

“So this River is the one who sent you the visions?”

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