Page 57 of Silent Oaths
Becauseshe’s the only personIhave a soft spot for.
It’sdangerous, this pullIfeel toward her.Itgoes against everythingI’vebuilt myself to be.Butthere’s something about her that makes me hesitate—something that reminds me of myself in waysIdon’t want to admit.
“Ican’t,”Ifinally say.
Hersharp inhale is loud in the quiet hallway. “Why?”
Icould lie, tell her it’s because of the deal we made, because she’s a loose end we can’t afford to let slip through our fingers.Butinstead,Itell her the truth.
“Becausewe need you.”
Shescoffs. “Forwhat?Tokeep your bed warm?”
Thecorner of my mouth twitches. “Tempting, but no.”Ilet the silence stretch beforeIcontinue. “Youwant to know why we need you?Fine.Youdeserve that much.”
Ipress my forehead against the door, voice dropping lower. “Iwas an orphan, left at an orphanage as a baby.Noname, no history.Idon’t rememberanything.”
Shedoesn’t respond, butIhear her shift, like she’s moving closer.
“We’vespent our whole lives chasing ghosts,Isabel.TheWhitmoresraised us with secrets.Andthose secrets?Theylead back here.ToVanguard.Tothe things my family buried deep enough that most people would rather pretend they never existed.”Myfingers tighten against the doorframe. “We’retrying to dig them back up.Andwe need you to do it.”
Along pause.Then, quietly, “Whyme?”
“Becauseyou’re a thread in the middle of all of this.Whetheryou want to admit it or not, you’re part of this now.AndIthink…”Itrail off, my mind racing with everythingIsuspectbut can’t prove yet. “Ithink you’re connected to this more than you realize.”
Anotherpause.
Then, to my surprise, her voice softens. “Idon’t know anything about my parents either.”
Somethingin my chest tightens.
Forthe first time since we took her, she doesn’t sound like she hates me.
“We’renot so different, then, you andI,”Imurmur.
Shelets out a small breath. “Maybenot.”
Thefragile moment stretches, a delicate thread between us that could snap at any second.
Then, she sighs. “Istill hate you.”
Ismirk, stepping away from the door. “I’dbe disappointed if you didn’t.”
Palmagainst the door,Ilean in, even thoughIknow she won’t do the same. “That’swhyIneed to do this.Becausefor the first time in my life,Imight finally be uncovering who my family truly is.”
“Iget it,”Isabelsays. “Ireally do.Butthat doesn’t change the fact that you’re keeping me here against my will.”
Abitter smirk tugs at my lips. “What’swaiting for you out there, huh?”Iask, forcing my tone to stay even. “Aman?”
Iknow it’s pathetic to even ask, but the thought coils hot in my stomach.Theidea of her running off to someone else makes my jaw clench.
Shescoffs. “No.”
Idon’t know why relief washes through me, butIshove the feeling down before it can settle.
“Valeria.”
Inod, even though she can’t see me. “Shemeans a lot to you.”
