Page 121 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

“Especially not now,” he chuckles.

“You’re not helping.”

“I’m sorry, I forgot that was my job description. Help Desdemona.”

I glare at him. Then drop my head in my hands. “What am I gonna do?”

“About your utter lack of charm or the students knowing you’re a septic bum?” he asks me with a smile.

“The latter,” I say. “They’re gonna hate me.”

Leiholan leans in and whispers, “They already do.”

My palm connects with his shoulder, and I push him back. “Then they’re gonna hate me more.”

“Good,” he says with a small shrug.

“Good?” I stare at him while I’m slumped against the wall, half lifeless.

“You’re not good at being liked. We’ll make you formidable.” The idea excites me a little more than I think it would excite a normal Folk. “Still, you’ll need to be careful. No one is going to care if you die. The law isn’t here for you, the staff won’t be here for you, and the kids are gonna be out to get you. Got it?” The way he speaks is intense, growing in emotion with every word. Like he… cares. Why would he care?

“Hence making me formidable?” I say like a question, but we both know it’s not.

“Exactly,” Leiholan says with a small smile—different from the others in terms of sincerity—that I’m sure is only for my benefit. I probably look like a mess.

“Could you do me a favor?” I ask with a small smirk, and the simple gesture of it all makes me feel marginally better.

“Depends,” he grumbles.

If formidable is what I’m gonna be, then there is something I’m going to need.

“Can you get me some throwing knives?”

Chapter 25

Let The Hero Die

LUCIAN

After half a Collianth cycle (commonly referred to now as 6 months) of strife that cost 70% of Elysia’s entire population, Mabis Aibek, the queen of Soma, obtained the Soul Ruby and created a new universe to house the Arcanes.

– WARNING: FORBIDDEN TEXT

The first week after Lilac’s attack, I didn’t sleep more than thirteen hours. From the moment I woke up to the moment I blacked out, I had a bottle of vesi in my hand, dripping down my throat like the IV drips into Lilac’s veins. I sparred with Yuki, and when Azaire pushed me to talk, I pushed him away.

“Lucian,” Azaire said on one of the first nights post attack. “Talk to me, man.”

“I can’t,” I said, “think about anything other than Lilac and her sliced-open stomach.”

I couldn’t think about anything but the vision of Desdemona and the moonaro. I couldn’t think of anything but the possibility that I’d invited and allowed the culprit to stay.

I couldn’t think of anything but the hope that I was wrong.

I couldn’t think about anything but Lilac and the part I’ve played.

“Cause you’re cooping yourself up and hiding from the world,” Azaire responded. He didn’t look at me—he looked at the bottle on my bedside.

“I’m putting together a plan.”

---