Page 79 of The Vampire King's War

“You know why we do,” Caemorn’s voice was soft, but dangerous. “You’ve hidden the soul gems somehow from our sight.”

“And Moonfall is a little dangerous to go traipsing around. It’s huge, you know?” Artemis-Kaly mused. “And there’s this terrible gash right down the center of it. The farther you go down, the stranger things you find.”

“Where did you put my parents?” Julian asked, his voice tight.

“They’re safe,” Artemis-Kaly answered. “For now anyways.”

“Until one of your other selves picks them up?” Julian quivered with rage.

Christian was the one that heard, or more like felt, something in Artemis-Kaly that alerted him. “No… no, the other selves don’t know what he’s done. He’s kept it secret even from them. In fact, they’re angry at all of the secrets you’ve kept, aren’t they, Kaly?”

Artemis-Kaly smiled thinly.

“You’re actually competing with yourself,” Balthazar said with a disbelieving laugh. “You can’t even work together for the same goals!”

“I am not a very trustworthy person,” Artemis-Kaly admitted with no shame. “You see, the others are quite willing to cast me out of the whole, leave me here to whatever kindnesses you’re willing to offer. So I must look after myself.”

“How lonely that must be,” Fiona said with a shake of her head.

“You should know. You’ve only ever trusted Arcius and he betrayed you,” Artemis-Kaly said.

“No, actually I betrayed him,” she answered even as Arcius sent a gentle look her way. “You see, I knew what Arcius stood for and I claimed to stand for the same things. But the moment when what I believed counted, I didn’t stand beside him, because I was jealous.”

“Of good Eyros here? Yes, he is so unworthy but makes friends so easily,” Artemis-Kaly mused.

“He is loyal to his friends to a fault,” Fiona objected. “Yes, he can be a charming rogue, but I can see now that there’s so much more to him. It pains me to think that you and I, Kaly, have anything in common.”

“Your gift allows you to fly away, Wyvern. You don’t have to stick with anyone,” Artemis-Kaly said.

“I’ve decided to stay,” Fiona answered. “It’s the best decision I’ve made in a long time.”

“It’s clear that Kaly won’t be won over with words,” Balthazar said with a disgusted shake of his head.

“Oh, on the contrary, I will tell you exactly where I put the soul gems,” Artemis-Kaly said with an almost happy laugh.

“Where?” Julian stepped towards the cell.

Daemon’s hand landed on Julian’s shoulder to keep him near. “Where are they, Kaly?”

Kaly’s smile broadened. “Does it matter, Daemon? Because we both know that Moonfall is the one place you cannot go.”

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