Page 149 of A Grave Not Made For Mourning
I shake my head. “Not like that.”
Calista glances up, a crease forming between her eyebrows, angry that I can sense her jealousy. She hates when Ireadher—as if I have a choice. But the monster believed Desdemona would be its savior.
It came to herforsaving.
There’s something far worse with Desdemona than her relationship with Lucian or Calista’s feelings about it.
Something to do with the monsters. She isn’t their master, but she’s something.
And it wasn’t just the kapha. The moonaro felt the same.
The fatta scorpion might have, too.
I whisper as I realize, “She’s involved.”
Azaire.
“Elaborate.”
“The monsters,” I say. It’s elaboration enough.
Calista weighs her options. Her anxiety feels immovable beneath my skin. Trapping me as steadily as iron bars. Turning my blood to rust.
A long sigh escapes her mouth. Then words tumble from her, her voice small. “After the Gerner, my mom told me to watch her for anything out of the ordinary.”
A queen wanted to watch Desdemona? The queen of Folkara—the same person who ordered Ma’s death and used a monster to do so.
That confirms it, then. That’s why Lucian suddenly hated Desdemona. He knew what I didn’t; she was involved with Lilac’s attack.
She was involved inAzaire’s.
Maybe I didn’t ask her enough questions when I had her. She might not be their master, but she could be working with whoever is.
If a queen is watching her, she’s just as important as I thought.
“I think we have to kill her,” I mumble. “To stop the prophecy.” That’s not all, but it’s all Calista needs to know.
When will the students start to realize Azaire’s absence?
When will they know?
Calista’s eyes widen, looking at me like she doesn’t know me.
“Your jealousy,” I say. “I assume it’s because of Lucian’s interest in her—you fear losing power to her. So don’t look at me like that. I know you want Desdemona dead, too.”
“Fine.” Calista breaks eye contact. “If we get the necklace, I’ll help you.”
The idea of vengeance feels sweet. Too sweet. I hold out a hand to Calista. “It’s a deal?”
Calista rolls her eyes but grabs my hand. “It’s a deal.”
We’ll stop the prophecy. We’ll save the universe.
And I’ll grieve when I’m avenged.
?
When Lucian starts leaving campus more often, I find myself going to Azaire’s tree. I sit under his leaves, watching white flowers blossom with the gray, and waiting for the day that Ifeelhim here as more than a corpse tangled in roots.
