Page 145 of The Art of Exiley

“I understand doing what has to be done for a worthy goal,” Michael says.

There had been a spark of hope inside me that maybe Michael’s involvement was some kind of farce. But with this response, the spark flickers and dies. If Michael is willing to abandon Hilde to the Families, then he’s not the person I thought I knew.

“Were you doing the same to Vanguard?” he asks. “Using him like you used me, as a means to an end? A prince sure is a powerful tool to have in your pocket.”

I feel sick. “It wasn’t like that. With either of you.”

I shouldn’t have said that. I should make him think it was all strategy. But despite what he now believes, Michael’s the one person I’ve never been good at lying to.

He lets out a humorless laugh. “Sure. You just happened to be in Florence the same time we were tipped off to a Sire in danger.” He throws up his hands. “I was so stupid! As if I would just coincidentally run into my perfect girl!” He turns and starts walking toward the station.

His perfect girl.I can’t tell, even now, if this is part of some act. I can’t tell if his hurt is real or just another manipulation. I can’t trust anything about the version of him I thought I knew.

Either way, I now need to pretend to be his ally. I walk after him, practically running to keep up with his long gait.

“Michael, I did all of this for my world, which is hurting and needs a better chance.” I blink as we enter the station, adjusting to the light. “I never meant to hurt you. I lied about why I first came to Genesis, but not about anything else. Our relationship—”

He cuts me off. “Ada, you can’t expect me to believe anything you say now that I know the way you operate.” He says it as if I sicken him.

I didn’t know that I had any heart left to break, but something inside me is cracking and leaking, slowly poisoning my insides.

“The wayIoperate?” I follow him into the elevator. “How could you think my actions are worse than what you’ve done? I’ve known you—this place, these people—for a fewmonths, but this is yourhome. Bloche has been your mentor for years. You’re the only one he trusts with his council key. And that thing is a master key for the whole institute. I bet that’s what you just used to help them escape. Am I right?”

The elevator doors slide closed, trapping us together in the confined space.

“And how did Korach even know I have a council key?” Michael snaps accusingly. “A fact that he was fully aware of when he approached me to work together. How did he also know that I have files, in myprivateoffice, containing the location of provincial Sires?”

I feel a wave of shame.

Michael looms beside me, and his eyes flash as he continues. “I had wondered, and now I know that he only knew becauseyouseduced me to spy on me.”

Anger quickly replaces my shame, and I almost slap him. “I never seduced you. If anything, it was the opposite.”

“That’s ridiculous. I worked hard to maintain appropriate boundaries.”

“So did I!”

“It doesn’t matter.” Michael’s impassioned gaze moves from my face to the wall. “We have a job to do. From what Korach said, it sounds like you attempted to dissuade them from coming here?”

I nod, staring at our matching closed-off expressions in the reflection of the dark glass, the passing flicker of glowing fungi a sinister parody of romantic candlelight.

“Me too,” he says, all businesslike. “I only agreed to free them if they committed to never dismiss my concerns for my people’s safety again.”

That may be so, but he still let them keep Hilde.

The ride seems endless as we silently fidget next to each other.

When Michael speaks again, it’s practically a whisper. “When Prometheus put me in touch with Korach, I accepted his offer because of you. You’re the one who told me to stop making excuses and do something. And you were right.”

I did tell him that. But I would never have wanted him to betray his friends and family or willingly be part of activities that I can’t stomach the thought of being a part of myself. The fact that he had that in him at all means that his kind and loyal persona was all a mask.

He lifts his hand to chew his thumbnail, and I instinctively reach to stop him. We both still as our hands touch.

I speak before I can stop myself. “Why does this hurt so much?”

He releases a long breath and says, “Because we lied to each other, and trust is lost.”

I turn my face so he doesn’t see me cry.

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