Page 54 of No Greater Sorrow

She kissed him again, this time more fiercely, as if she could wake him with her anger alone. When he didn’t stir, she pulled the bedsheets high to cover the black marks on his chest and left the healer’s tent to join the others.

* * *

“How is he?”Violet whispered, standing outside the flaps of the tent where the other Dark Saints were gathered. A part of Aleja knew this was an olive branch—that Violetwantedto be forgiven. Not to mention that Violet had volunteered for the most dangerous job in the raid; it was possible she’d saved not only Nicolas, but all of them.

“He’s fine,” Aleja said, unable to muster more than a half-smile.

“Can I talk to you for a second… in private?”

Aleja hesitated, trying to peer into the tent. She caught the gleam of Taddeas’s axes and Val’s winged mask. For the first time, he was no longer in chains.

“It’s important,” Violet pressed.

She let Violet lead her into the trees Bonnie had grown around the camp. Up close, they were incredible—with trunks so thick it looked as though they’d been there for decades if not centuries, and canopies so wide, they almost hid the silhouettes of three Avisai circling overhead.

Leaning against one of the trees, Violet blurted out, “I wasn’t just able to rile the Authorities up. I was able to plant thoughts in their head.”

Aleja crossed her arms. The idea had already occurred to her, but she hoped it was something—anything—else. Violet’s connection with the Astraelis already made Aleja queasy.We could use this, said her inner voice, but there was an unspoken second half to that statement. Violet’s connection to the Astraelis had consequences and as of yet, no one knew what they were.

“I could help with the war. I can turn them against each other. You saw what I did,” Violet continued, her voice low and urgent. Aleja hadn’t realized Violet was clutching her arm until her nails dug in. When Aleja tried to pull away, Violet held her firm.

“We need to talk to Nicolas before we do anything else,” Aleja said, searching Violet’s face. She looked nothing like the bubbly young influencer Aleja had once lit the black candle for. A tremor in her left eyelid wouldn’t stop, even when Violet tore her hand away from Aleja’s arm and took a few steps back. Perhaps the Second’s well water was still alive in her veins.

“You’re afraid of me,” Violet muttered, looking at the network of roots weaving beneath their feet.

“Of course not. We just need to be careful. They know what you can do now. Don’t you think they’re going to be prepared next time? Don’t you think they’re going to try to influenceyou? One of them was already able to.”

Aleja didn’t expect the fury in Violet’s eyes when she turned, and they faced each other again. “I’m sorry I’m not Our Lady of Wrath, but I can do this. I promised myself I wouldn’t lie to you anymore. I’m trying to be honest, Al.”

Aleja bit the inside of her cheek to keep from speaking. If Violet was right, it might turn the odds in their favor, but Aleja remembered the strange way Violet had appeared to sleepwalk while she was possessed—the way the Remnant had lodged in her head so that even after she tried to run, Violet had willingly returned to the village. A lamb wandering to the sacrificial altar all on its own.

“I know,” Aleja finally muttered. “Look, it was a shitty Trial, but we did what we had to do, and we’re still here. But if you can connect to the Authorities’ hive mind from a distance, what makes you think they won’t try to exploit that? That they won’t spy on us through your eyes or command you to slit the Knowing One’s throat while he sleeps?”

Violet stared open-mouthed, as if she couldn’t believe what Aleja was saying. “You think I would do something like that?”

“I don’t thinkyouwould do it. But I think the Messenger might.”

Violet threw her hands in the air. “I saw the Authorities’ orders. They weren’t to kill you or Nic, just the other Dark Saints.”

“Just the other Saints? What the hell is wrong with?—”

“Al, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

“What?” Aleja snapped.

Violet’s eyes quivered, but Aleja could no longer tell if Violet’s expression was genuine or if she was trying to manipulate her.

“What if the Astraelis aren’t what we think they are?—”

“Fuck, Violet. This is what Nicolas was afraid of. This is why you aren’t allowed into the meetings. You let them get in your head—again. Remember what happened the last time you listened to what one of them whispered to you.”

For a moment, Aleja wondered if Violet was going to punch her again. Her hands curled into fists, before flexing open.

“I’m sorry,” Violet said, her voice soft once more. She looked at her hands, confusion on her face, as if she’d been holding something that’d vanished. “I didn’t mean to yell. I need to get some rest.”

When Violet stalked off into the brand-new forest, Aleja neither called nor followed. There came the soft patter of paws against the ground, and Garm licked her hand before she turned to face him. “Are you coming? They’ve already started.”

“Yeah.”

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