Page 71 of A Deception of Courts

“Why did you savehim?” I asked. “Of everyone in Imeria, you chose Duncan to save. Why?”

“Because he means something to you.”

His reply hit my chest like an iron bolt, striking deep into my soul.

“Everything,” I corrected. “Duncan is everything to me.”

Erix nodded, although I saw the pain and regret mix across his haunted expression.

“It was an easy choice to make. I was in the wrong place, admittedly, at the right time. No, it has not cleansed my soul of my sins or balanced the scales of justice. I did it because there was no other choice. My will is my own, Robin. This was my decision to make, my act – that is what is important. I do with it what I wish. That is whatyouhave blessed me with. After everything, you gave me another chance and I have taken it.”

“You have another to thank for your freedom,” I said. “I didn’t kill Doran.”

“Then who?” Erix looked genuinely surprised.

“Elinor Oakstorm had as great of a reason for seeking revenge as I did.”

Erix’s jaw gaped open, exposing the slight points that each of his teeth had formed. In that moment, for the first time, his face looked monstrous. “She lives?”

“Very much so,” I replied, glad for the change in subject. “A lot has changed since you gave yourself over to Doran.”

“From those creatures that attacked Imeria, I gathered as much. I have never seen anything like them before. And the woman you fought beside…”

“Nephilim,” I said, glad the conversation was shifting this way.

“Nephilim,” Erix repeated, testing the word on his tongue.

“Have you ever seen one before?” I asked, reminding myself of the last question I had for him.

Erix’s brow peaked. “No, never.”

I tilted my head, watching him through narrowed eyes. “Which is strange because one of them was recently brutally murdered. We’ve since been unable to discover who would have the power to overwhelm a trained warrior whilst ripping her skin to shreds.”

Erix caught on quickly. He recoiled, both hands raised in surrender, raising the very points of nails that had the power to do such a thing. “And you believe that has something to do with me?”

“I don’t know what to think.”

No, I hoped. But the killer was still out there, and Erix had a history. Perhaps I was searching for a reason to hate him, when in that moment, it was the furthest emotion I had for him.

Erix dropped to his knees, hands clasped together in some form of prayer. It was the same position I had seen Abbott Nathanial take up all those weeks ago. “I swear to Altar and everything beneath him, I have never seen or done anything against these Nephilim. There is nothing you owe me, Robin, but believe that I have not harmed anyone since my will was given back to me.” He bared teeth, spittle hissing down his chin. “I wouldn’t… I couldn’t…neveragain.”

No matter how much I wished he was lying, I knew Erix spoke the truth. I sensed it deep in my bones as his honesty flooded out of him. That didn’t stop me from holding back my reservation. “Rafaela, the warrior I fought alongside, has the nifty ability to pass judgement. To seek the truth in places that truth wishes to hide. As much as I may believe you…” Erix’s silver eyes widened. “It is not for me to deem you innocent or not… she can if you let her–”

“I will do it,” Erix snapped. “I will do whatever is needed for me to prove to you I had nothing to do with this murder.”

“Is that everything?” I asked matter-of-factly, hung up on the way he referred to me when needing to prove his innocence. Other’s opinions didn’t matter to Erix, but mine did.

“If you are satisfied with what I have had to say,” Erix replied.

We stood there, staring one another down at opposite ends of the room. How had we got here? The thought was heavy with sadness and regret. If I didn’t start walking for the door now, I might never have gathered the courage to do so.

I spun on my heel, turning my back on him, ready to flee. That was the moment the back of a hand brushed mine. A wave of shivers passed from where he touched me, encompassing my entire body within seconds.

“Robin?”

I stopped moving, finding it difficult to calm my breathing. “Yes?”

“You did not need to listen to me,” Erix said. “It means a lot that you have taken the time to do so.”

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