Page 78 of Xantera
The woman swallows thickly and furrows her brows, wrinkles spiderwebbing like cracks in marble across her forehead.
If I know one thing about my father, it’s that he didn’t trust anyone. He didn’t give that to you. So let me ask again—how did you get it?
I frown down at her as I mull over her question, her tone, and her general urgency. When I first heard Lucan’s voice in my head, I was going in circles trying to figure out if I’d gone crazy, but Diggory’s daughter doesn’t seem even remotely surprised to be communicating mind-to-mind. Only suspicious of my motives.
Your father… I start hesitantly.The sentries were taking him, and he threw the necklace. I picked it up and have been hiding it this whole time. Do you know howhegot it?
She doesn’t answer the question. Not yet. Her eyes gloss over, a single tear welling in one of the corners.They took him? The sentries really took him?
I don’t try to sugarcoat the expression on my face, not when she deserves to know the truth.Yes. I don’t know if he’s still somewhere here in the Blood Moon Palace or…
My thoughts trail off, and she swallows thickly again, her presence already sinking into a hollow type of grief. Her gaze travels down the length of my arm to where the vial is clasped between our palms, though no part of the rest of her body moves.
That necklace. I gave it tohim.
My mouth drops open, and judging by the rustling in my mind, I can tell Lucan is struggling to keep his thoughts reined in.Yougaveit to him?
I guess I should say Ihidit for him. He must have found it. It’s a long story.As she thinks those words, a foreign memory flashes across my mind: my—her—hands, grasping this very necklace by the chain.
Trying to don my healer’s persona, I snap my mouth closed and put on my most comforting smile.Well, I’m a Chosen One now, too. Seems like there’s nothing to do until the balconies open up again, right? Might as well listen to a story.
Diggory’s daughter glances at the closed door over my shoulder.If you’re new, you’ve still got a chance. You should try to escape while you’ve got your strength left.
My smile falters ever so slightly.Believe me. I’m trying.
You call this trying?she snaps.If either of our Guardians walks in here and finds us with this necklace, we’re dead sooner rather than later. They don’t think anyone notices, but there’s been quite a ruckus among them ever since I stole it from the Third one.
Another foreign memory flashes across my mind: the sound of thumping footsteps, shouts, the hallway blurring past. But it’s gone as quickly as it came.
Youstolethe necklace from the Third Guardian?I ask in disbelief.Why? How?
Apparently, Lucan has just as many questions, because his thoughts burst past his mental barrier before I can stop him.Nowthatis a story I’d like to hear.
Diggory’s daughter shrieks internally, and I have the distinct impression that if she could move, she’d be swatting at her ear right about now.Who was that?
Don’t pay him any attention,I grit out.He won’t harm you.
The tone of my voice is more of a warning to Lucan than any consolation to her. If he starts pulling out snide comments like hedid to me when we first met, she won’t want anything else to do with us.
Don’t worry, Lucan agrees.I don’t bite.After a slight pause, he adds,Usually.
If I could smack him right now, I would.
Even though her face hasn’t moved, Diggory’s daughter seems to narrow her gaze at me anyway.It’shim, isn’t it? The one the Third Guardian was always talking to? I never knew who was on the other end, but I thought it might be someone who could save us all. That’s why I…
Her thoughts fade away, and a few memories flash across our connection, too fast for me to grab hold of them. I rub my thumb over her knuckles in soothing circles.
You don’t even have to tell me. Just… close your eyes and reimagine what happened for me. I think I’ll be able to see it through your memories. And then I promise you, I won’t just try to escape. I’ll help you and your father escape, too.
She doesn’t need to read the earnestness in my eyes to know I’m telling the truth. There’s an implicit relay of honesty using this method of communication, and I can already feel her mind caving as she lets her eyes drift shut again.
And her memories burst to life.
A too-warm breeze picks up over the Blood Moon Palace courtyard, making the sticky sweat prickle on my—no, Diggory’s daughter’s—skin. It must be a summer night, when the humidity is so dense you can almost taste it on your tongue.
The Monster’s howling sounds extra vicious tonight. Usually, it’s one of the only sounds Diggory’s daughter can pick up on, especially from the vibrations, and right now it only grows louder when the palace doors open with a booming echo.
My own goosebumps crawl up my arms at the sound of Lucan’s voice, the cadence and tone, and the fact that I now recognize it. It baffles me that it used to frighten me.
