Page 101 of Of Daggers and Deceit

I dipped my head in acknowledgement, masking my cringe at that name. I hated it. It didn’t resonate with me at all anymore.

The group turned and moved quickly across the sand towards the shield. I remained rigid, my emotions a roiling mess as the finality of what I was doing struck me with blistering force.

Silver disappeared last through our shimmering barrier, carrying my beautiful baby sister in his arms. I stepped forward a few steps, watching them leave. There was no turning back now.

I prayed to our Goddess, to whoever would listen, that I would one day see her face again, that I would one day get the chance to apologise for everything I had done. Hopefully, we’d meet again in a kinder, more equal world.

I closed my eyes, inhaling a deep, shuddering breath, counting to eight and releasing it. My fists clenched at my sides. I stayed for a few extra moments in silence, repeating the process near Sly, who had been a patient and confident rock during the exchange. When I felt myself settle back into my body, grounded once more, I opened my mouth to thank him, now a few steps behind me.

“Sly, I…”

A gun clicked.

I spun on my heels, confusion surfacing as I stared wide-eyed down the barrel of his gun aimed right between my eyes. He jerked his head towards the barrier, his Adam’s apple bobbing when he spoke.

“You too, Riley.”

I gaped, mouth opening and closing, trying to process the scene before me.

Shock paralysed me. Anguish devoured me whole. My stomach dropped out from beneath me, pain ravaging its way through my system.

Tears pricked at my vision as I blinked them away rapidly, a familiar reminder of the time we first connected. I honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or sob at the irony of the situation I had forced Raya into moments before, one I was now facing.

I was stupid, so very trusting and stupid.

I pushed aside the pain, digging deeper to find my mental grit and purpose. A flare of defiance shot up, and I shoved it to the surface, forcing a singular, firm word out through gritted teeth.

“No.”

He frowned at me, no emotion visible beyond the depths of his eyes.

“I’m not asking you a question, Riley. I’m telling you. Now, move.” His words were cold and cruel, slicing deep into my skin.

He flicked the barrel of his gun ahead, prompting me to turn. I held my ground, my head high despite the twisting of my gut at his betrayal. Loyalty was worthless. I knew that well.

Sly’s haunting eyes dropped down to my sides, noticing the flex of my hands as I prepared myself to fight. He brought the barrel of the gun to rest directly against my skin as he leaned closer, leering at me.

“Don’t bother, Riley. I will always best you.” My gut twisted to the point of pain, but still, I held. I would prove him wrong.

He grabbed my arm and hauled me around to face the barrier Raya had disappeared through moments ago. His grip was firm, his fingers digging into my skin. My arm throbbed from the constriction of blood flow. He was right about one thing: he had bested me once. Unfortunately for him, there was so much he didn’t know about me. There was so much I hadn’t been willing to tell.

“Hand me the crystal, Riley,” he commanded with a dominance I had yet to see from him, though I should have expected it. He was the head of the Zander’s guard, after all—a position only for the callous and cruel.

Perhaps he had been the better actor of us both all along.

I stared at him, noting all the shadows I had once missed on his face. How easily fooled I had been under the guise of a tender hand wrapped up in a beautiful face, one who complimented and cared for me. He was just like the rest of them, sitting high and mighty in the Haven. A beautiful and devastating illusion.

I clenched my fists and released them, trying in vain to control my anger.

“You forget your mother is here, Riley. I am sure you would not wish to jeopardise her life.”

I wavered in my resolve.

Drawing my hands up, I dipped my blood-red nails into my bra and pulled out the tiny wooden box, holding it to the side in offering, not bothering to look over at him.

The pads of his fingers gently brushed against my own as he took it from my hand. I hated the way his touch made my skin tingle with awareness.

“Move forward.”

---