Page 74 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
“I don’t know, but she has made it abundantly clear that there are to be no executions in her territory without inviting her retribution. I can’t afford to start another conflict. The wraith must be brought here.”
“E-execution…”
Executing Raith. Killing him… The thought horrified her.
“It has to be done, child,” Darya said softly. “It’s the only way. He isn’t what you thought he was. Do you understand that now?”
Harrow could only nod numbly. Could only feel emptiness, aching in her chest, burning, stabbing pain. Confusion. Loneliness. Betrayal.
“I need you to tell me where you’re hiding, Harrow, and I’ll pass on the information to Salizar. You’ll be released from the dream and awaken. I’ll continue to hold the wraith under. He won’t wake until after you’ve left. Head back to the circus grounds directly, and Salizar will go to the Underground and recapture the wraith.”
Harrow just nodded.
“Where are you staying, child?”
“You can’t just use magic to find me?” Why did she even care? Why was she hesitating?
“Your escape plan worked well. Using the Water to divine your location has given me some results, but the Underground is a vastly populated area and Allegra is so doused in Ether magic, it’s nearly impossible to track anything within it. Half the streets disappear as soon as I start to get close in my scrying, as if the city itself is trying to hide you from me.”
Finally, Harrow forced herself to say it. “I’m upstairs at the Ouroboros tavern.”
Darya shut her eyes briefly. “That complicates things. However, if you are quiet and careful, you should be all right. When you leave, no one must see you. There are people searching for you—people who do not want you to rejoin Salizar. If they find you, they will take you. Do you understand?”
Harrow nodded numbly again. It didn’t occur to her to ask more questions. She only wanted to be alone where she could hide from the world and try to make sense of the mess that was her entire life.
“Do you understand what you need to do?”
“Wake up. Leave the tavern without Rai—without the wraith seeing me.”
“Without the wraithor anyone elseseeing you.”
Another nod. “Return to the circus grounds.”
“Exactly. We’ll get you out of Nashira’s territory as soon as possible.”
“I don’t— I can’t be near—”
“You’ll be nowhere near the wraith, I promise. I’ll do everything in my considerable power to ensure you never again have to set eyes upon him after leaving that tavern. And soon he won’t be able to hurt you ever again.”
Hurt? Did Darya think Raith had violated her in some way? If only the truth were that simple.
“I went with him,” she admitted, the shame burning her skin like fire. “Willingly.”
“I know, dear, but you mustn’t blame yourself.”
“I thought we were connected. I thought the Water was telling me we were connected. I thought I l-loved—” Her stomach heaved again, and she swallowed hard.
Darya’s voice was soft. “You were confused, child. A gentle heart like yours was never equipped to handle such a devastating loss. Your longing for family distorted the connection you felt to the wraith.”
“I didn’t— I was so certain he wasn’t—”
“It doesn’t matter, dear. No one is blaming you. Wraiths are beautiful, alluring creatures for a reason. Furie created the perfect killer. Death that arrives at one’s doorstep in an appealing form is much more likely to be invited inside, don’t you think?”
Death at her doorstep.That was exactly it. Beautiful, sweet Death had come knocking and tricked her into inviting him in.Desperate for love, Darya had all but said. It was true. All Harrow had ever wanted was to belong. All she’d ever wanted was to feel loved.
Death had taken that longing and twisted it into something foul. Even now, her body was back in the tavern in Allegra, no doubt encased by Raith’s strong arms, lulled into a false sense of security.
She had to get away. Far, far away. She had to run until her legs gave out and she collapsed in exhaustion. She had to scream until her voice broke. She had to wash herself for days. No, she had to burn all her skin off and regrow it anew so not a single cell in her body remained that had ever touched him with love in her heart. Love for the very thing that had murdered her mother.
