Page 32 of The Night Prince

Ah, to have the Glass Scholar respond to him in that way!Or, better yet, to gesture for Finley to join him in looking at what he was reading so that they might discuss the book’s contents.Maybe Finley would have some insights that the other Mages would not.His human mind would look at things differently than an Aravae one.And Neldor–being wise and powerful and kind–would know this and value Finley for it maybe just a little bit more than he did his other students.Finley sighed deeply.

“Finley, I’m old enough now to know what happened.I was there.I should be allowed to know,” she protested quietly, realizing he didn’t want this conversation overheard.

He wrenched his gaze from Neldor.He understood her pain.Knowing things for him was crucial, too.But this was different.

“You were there with us, Gemma, but your mind doesn’t want you to remember.There’s a reason for that,” he said quietly.

“Yeah,badones.”Her lower lip stuck out.“The biggest one is that I was little.A child.I’m not anymore.”

“I know. But though I’m twenty-three now and I was only eighteen then, I still can’t really handle what happened then.”

Finley didn’t insult her by saying that twelve was still a child.Gemma was incredibly mature for her age.She often seemed older than him.But the horror of that day when the Leviathan came–when her aunt was slaughtered in front of her–was not something that Finley wanted to have her remember.

“I’ve never said anything about that day to anyone.Not even Dad and Mom.And I know Dad would really like to understand how…” Here, her eyes slid to Neldor, too, and she lowered her voice further, “how we made it through.What I’m trying to say is that I know how to keep a secret.But it should be a secret thethreeof us share. I have…”

“Have what?”

Here, she rolled her lips together.“I havedreams.”

Finley bit his lower lip.Her dreams were likely her mind’s way of trying to show her what happened.

“What kind of dreams?”

“I’m in the house with Aunt Rachel.”Gemma crossed her arms over her chest.He could feel the tension rising in her as she spoke, “The Sun is out.It’s pouring through the windows in the front room.It should besafe.”

The Leviathan did not like the light.It could destroy them, but there were plenty of shadows even during the day that they could flit between, sneak up behind a person, and… end them.

“I’m sitting on the floor cross legged.Aunt Rachel’s on the tan sofa.I can even feel the nubby carpet underneath my palms.”She rubbed her palms together as if to wash the sensation off.“We’re playing a board game.Clue.I was winning.”

“I bet,” he grinned.

Gemma was notoriously good at strategy.Probably got that from Michael.

But she didn’t smile in return.Instead, faint lines creased her brow as she tried to remember.“Aunt Rachel was laughing and–and then there was a shadow that crossed outside the window, cutting off the light.Or maybe… maybe it wasinthe house.It was a Leviathan.I’m sure it was.”

This definitely sounded like a memory.Not a dream.Maybe theyshouldtell her what happened.Fill in some of the blanks so that her mind didn’t conjure up worse things than what did occur.

Are there worse things than seeing your aunt enveloped in darkness?

Finley sighed again.Even if he decided that she should know, it couldn’t be his decision alone.Declan would have to agree as it was really Declan’s secret that they were keeping.And who was he kidding?Declan wouldneveragree.Not because he thought that Gemma couldn’t keep a secret.On the contrary, he would know that she could.She’d never tell.But Declan would not want Gemma to have to lie to her parents.Theirparents.Declan would rather she be angry with them than that.

“I can’t really remember the rest,” she said with a final shrug, but there was frustration in the line of her back.

“It sounds disturbing,” he admitted lamely.

What could he say?She was living that day in her dreams.When would her mind let her see a little more?When would that dream become a full-blown nightmare?

“It was.Itis.”She tightened her hold on herself and looked up at him with beseeching eyes.“I can handle whatever it is that happened that day.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“Gemma, you’re one of the bravest people I know, but this isn’t just something I can tell you without…”

“Declan,” she whispered, sudden understanding dawning in her dark face “Doesn’t he trust me?”

“What?Of–of course, he does!It’s not a question oftrust, it’s… complicated.”

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