Page 271 of The Sins of Silas

“Kayin,” I breathed. “Ryia.”

She laughed through her nose.“So, you finally know the truth,”she murmured.“That's good.”

“My mother is speaking to you?” Silas whispered.

I knew we didn't have much time. “Tell me what to do,” I pressed. “Tell me how to save you.”

“There is so much suffering to come. And there are answers I am not allowed to give you. You have to find them yourself in order to stop him.”

My frown deepened, and I stifled a frustrated groan. “I need direction. Just tell me where to go.”

“Temple Ravaiana.”She choked on a sob.“I wish things could go differently.”

The tempo of my heart quickened. “What does that mean?”

“Lena, are you talking to my mother?” Silas asked impatiently.

“Tell Silas…tell him I love him so much,”she wept.“Tell him I'm sorry for the hell he has been thrown into. Tell him I am proud, so proud of him.”

“Kayin—”

I felt the connection sever, felt the silence.

“Godsdamn it,” I growled.

“Lena.”

I turned to Silas, facing his broken expression.

“She told me to tell you that she loves you so much and that she is so sorry for all you've been through.” I cupped his cheek, our faces both crumpling. I kissed his lips softly, then smiled. “And she told me to tell you that she is so proud of you.”

He began to cry. “No, she doesn't actually feel that way.”

I kissed his tears, stroking the scar on his face. “She does. She just told me so, I swear it.” My eyes bore into his. “I will never lie to you again.”

Chapter Seventy-Four

MERRICK

Istepped out to one of the many balconies in Temple Tithara, where I finally located Era, her hands tightly gripping the white railing. I felt every bit of the betrayal, hurt, and shock that she felt. I wanted to turn it off, the feeling unbearably unpleasant, but I knew if she saw me with my darkened eyes, saw me using my gift, she would know I understood.

“Era,” I said softly, touching her arm. She shrugged me off.

“You knew.” Her voice was hoarse as she turned to glare at me, unreleased tears just begging to spill out. “You fucking knew all this time. Everything that happened in the Valley…was it because you felt guilty?”

“What?! Of course not.” I grasped her hands in mine, and when she tried to pull away, I tightened my grip. “It was with great effort I kept that a secret, especially from you.”

I laced my fingers in hers, and she bit her lip, tears finally overflowing as she gazed out at the ocean, the sunlight sparkling across the waves.

“I told you before when we were trapped there that you deserve somethingreal, not just some mutual agreement.”

She let out a humorless laugh. “And, what?” Those beautiful brown eyes burned into mine. “I deserveyou?” She pulled her hands away while giving me a skeptical expression. “How are you any better than Silas? Continuing to stay with Viola when you’ve slept with me?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I took a deep breath as I recalled our time together in the Valley of Awakening, as I recalled her writhing beneath me, her moaning my name.

The truth was this. Era and I were not in the Valley of Awakening for a few hours.

We were there for forty-three days.

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