Page 97 of Thorn Season
“Alissa, let me explain—”
“I can explain well enough. Erik began targeting the Capewells upon each Hunting, and you didn’t want to be next. You needed me stationed at court to find the keeper, but your oath band bound you to silence. So you arranged my kidnapping for a night when Capewell Manor would be empty. And, knowing my father would need you to access the hold, you finally had enough leverage to put him in your debt.”
Tonight gave me an opportunity, Garret had said that night.I told your father I wouldn’t retrieve those prisoners until he unlocked the band.
“You pretended to fight for me.” The words soured on my tongue. “After all, it wasn’t just the Wielders you needed to convince.”
Garret raised his palms, breathing heavily. “I did what was best forallof us. I’d caught rumors that a group of Wielders were attempting to rescue our prisoners. They would’ve died trying to break them out. But if I anonymously leaked the information, a peaceful exchange would—”
“Apeaceful exchange?” I laughed roughly. “You gave them the means to kidnap me. You stole the mining records from my father’s study and told them which tunnel to hide me in.”
“I had to influence where they kept you,” he said desperately, “to make sure you were safe. They didn’t know about your specter. I knew you could escape if you had to.”
“I wasunconscious!”
He faltered. “Th-they weren’t supposed to give you nightmilk. I said you were untrained, could be easily bound and subdued. When I realized—I knew it was too dangerous—I swear, I tried to stop them—”
“Father wanted me to stay home,” I murmured, eyes glazing over. “For my eighteenth season. I should’ve stayed home.”
Instead, I’d buckled under Garret’s manipulations. I’d let him convince me to join court—to wage war with these copycats.
And now Father was a casualty of that war.
Garret slowly approached, his movement blurring in my eyeline. “You know why we had to do this. You know the copycats could’ve discovered you with the compass just as easily as they found the rest. Alissa, please understand.” He stood before me now, one handreaching toward my cheek. “I was afraid for you—”
My specter smacked his hand away before he could make contact. He gasped, stumbling back.
“You were afraid foryourself.” My gaze refocused on his eyebrow scar, pulling taut with the pained gathering of his forehead. I met his stare with fierce loathing.
Because if it weren’t for Garret’s deception, my father would still be alive.
“You were right,” I said quietly. “You’re not like Briar. You are a far greater demon, Garret Capewell.”
He recoiled. It was the first time I’d tagged their name onto his. Because, for the first time, I believed it belonged there.
I pushed off from the desk, and he tried to reach for me again. At the look I gave him, he instantly dropped his hand.
“A person changes after their first kill,” he said. “Believe me, I know. When the remorse fades, you’ll remember that whoever ordered this is still out there—using the compass to Hunt countless Wielders. We have to finish this for them.”
I glanced numbly at my attacker’s body.A person changes after their first kill.Garret didn’t know how right he was. Somewhere along the way, I must have changed.
Because I felt no remorse at this man’s death. Only satisfaction.
“Is that what you’ve been telling yourself?” I asked. “That you’re doing it for them? How many ofthemwould you kill if Briar told you to? How many would die before you grew the backbone to turn the knife on her instead?”
Garret’s nostrils flared with the pressure of unspent emotion. “That’s not fair.”
“The truth rarely is.” I scanned him up and down, sneering. “Lookat yourself. Did you really think I was going to hand the compass to someone likeyou?”
I must have appeared as wild as I felt, coated in the blood of the man I’d killed. And yet my harsh words—look at yourself—made Garret’s shoulders bow inward. Made him appear just as small as he’d always been.
“You lied to me,” he rasped, his deep-rooted shame warring with anger. “The king—”
“What the king does to the Capewells is irrelevant.” I gave him another scornful once-over. “I have nobody left for him to hurt.”
Garret’s neck reddened, anger winning out. “You can’t keep the compass, Alissa.”
“I wouldn’t recommend trying to stop me.” With a bitter, hateful smile, I said, “I’m not in my right mind.”
