Page 66 of Ties of Deception

I nodded to the box and the poison within. “A helpful reminder then, and a gesture of friendship.” I stood. “May the best goddess win.”

Charity said nothing as I saw myself out. It wasn’t much in the way of justice, but I didn’t have enough evidence. And maybe now she would leave and stop bullying others.

My eyes were already shutwhen a thud of staggering footsteps made me sit bolt upright in my bed. That was not the usual graceful sound of Ethen sneaking into my rooms. I grabbed my dagger from under my pillow and slipped out of bed. The curtains billowed from one wall like dancing ghosts. And through them came a short, dark figure.

My breath seized as I raised my dagger, parting my feet and preparing to scream.

“Purity!” The person lifted her hands to stop and calm me. “Purity, it’s me. It’s Ava.”

I lowered the dagger, but my eyes narrowed. “Is everything all right? Has something happened to Ethen?”

She shook her head. “No, nothing is all right. Things are too dangerous. You need to leave. Now. Travel wherever you want. Be free. The Aidis is moments away from forcing you to go with him to the Unseen Lands whether you want to or not. I’ll help you. But if you continue like this, you’ll get yourself killed. Again. For once, don’t be reckless. Live, Purity. Live the life you truly want. You used to be so full of vitality and energy before he sucked it all away from you. Be free.”

I swallowed. “If they try to do anything to harm me, Ethen will rescue me. He can overpower anyone here.”

She made a disgusted noise in the back of her throat. “Your faith in him is blind and foolish. Why are you so dependent on him? Can’t you see he’s using you?”

I shifted. “He’s not using me. We’re doing this together.”

Her face twisted in anger. “Did he ever tell you about his parents? Do you know his mother wasn’t a Fated? She was just a normal Grace that his father got to know during his time in Atos.”

My breaths became lighter. No, he hadn’t told me that, though I’d guessed something had gone wrong. I’d seen Ethen’s fear and the pain when he spoke of his father’s trial to find his Fated, but hadn’t realized… “What happened to his Fated lover?”

Ava scrunched her small nose in disgust. “He failed to protect her. She died. Our king took years and years to find her, and by then she already had her own new life. Things…went wrong. She was incredibly powerful, the most powerful Grace in Atos. Of course, the empress didn’t want her to leave. The Aidis was pulling her toward her past vows and the Unseen Lands while her new life and her duty to Atos pulled her the opposite way. Things got nasty. And guess what? She ended up dead. Her soul destroyed forever. She would have been fine if he’d just left her alone.” She narrowed her eyes at me, giving her words a chance to sink in. “He didn’t save her, Purity, he did the opposite. You shouldn’t rely on your Aidis to save you. You have a new life now. A new start. Don’t make the same mistakes you did as Snow.”

I stared at her. No wonder Ethen had been so eager to find me quickly. And no wonder he kept such a careful watch on me. Yet despite his fear, he still wanted me to choose my future.

A noise behind Ava made me raise my eyes. Ben leaned casually on the balustrade. Ava scowled at him. “Here to spy on me? You know I wouldn’t harm her. I’m the only one here who wasn’t complicit in her murder.”

Ben folded his arms but said nothing. Ava turned back to me and held out her hand. “This is the only chance I’m giving you, Purity. Come with me now. Save yourself.”

I stared back at her, unflinching. “I might not know everything about what happened between Ethen and Snow, but I’m not a coward. I won’t leave now when I still have a chance to find out why they’re stealing souls and stop them.”

She shook her head as if disappointed. “Fine.”

She turned on her heel and gave Ben one final glare before climbing over the balcony. Ben nodded his head to me before disappearing after her. Ava had come here and waited three years in an unfriendly country just to warn me against Ethen. She truly believed the words she spoke.

I put my dagger back under my pillow and rubbed my arms. There was a cold edge to the sea breeze that I’d never noticed before.

I couldn’t sleepat all that night and rose early, rubbing my gritty eyes and wishing I could Bless myself with a bit of good fortune. Flavia woke when she heard me open the door. She helped me dress then left to fetch an early breakfast from the kitchens.

I stared at the gardens and the red roofs of the city from my balcony, struggling to find calm. I turned the simple gold band Ethen had given me around and around on my wrist.

The door crashed open, startling me, and I turned. Flavia ran into the room, flustered. She didn’t have any food with her. She closed the door quickly behind her.

I stood up in surprise. I’d never seen her like this before. “What’s the matter? What is it?”

She was gripping her hands with white knuckles. “It’s Charity. She’s unwell.”

I frowned, struggling to comprehend. “But she’s a Grace. She can’t be unwell.”

Flavia was pale. “I know.”

“So that means…You don’t think…” It couldn’t be. My stomach contracted, and I felt sick.

A knock sounded at the door, and Flavia opened it to reveal a serious-looking Amazone. She gave me a curt nod. “Lady Purity, the empress has summoned you to the council room. Please come at once and allow me to escort you alone.”

I threw a worried look at Flavia and followed the guard out of the room.

---