Part 40 (1/2)
”I think you should step down,” he says. ”At least for now.”
My mouth drops open. ”I hardly think you're in a position to give me advice,” I tell him. But even as I say this, part of me believes he's right. So far, under my guidance, things have gone from bad to worse.
”It's for the best.”
I purse my lips. ”For whom? The person who takes over?”
”For the State. For both of us.” He catches my hand and his fingers fly over my skin, drawing tighter and smaller circles.
I jerk my hand away. ”Is that why you wanted to see me? Not to help me, but to convince me to give up everything I have?”
”Just until things are sorted out. The people need someone they can trust and they don't trust you,” Beck says, his voice matter-of-fact.
”They think you killed my mother!”
”And most of them think Malin was a monster who thought nothing of starving them.”
”And I think you killed my mother.”
He grabs at the bars, enraged. ”You know I didn't. You know that.”
I shake my head. ”I don't. Plus, you're a Sensitive. The thing that lives in their nightmares. They'll never accept you.”
Beck slams his fist against jail cell. His rage rolls through me and I savor the feel of it.
”Can't you hear them whistling that d.a.m.n song? They want you dead. The Splinter group is growing, Lark, and you need help.”
And there it is: the truth. I can't lead because no one, other than a handful of Dark witches will follow me. People fear me. But they don't respect me.
”This is bigger than us,” he yells and I startle. Beck doesn't yell. Ever. You know I'm right, Beck hisses. Just consider what I'm asking.
His knuckles turn white as they clench the bars. I turn away. Kyra's still curled next to Maz's cell.
This is what I have: a best friend who thinks I'm a monster, two guards, and a State council that will toss me aside the first chance they get.
The world's on fire and I don't know which way to run.
The garden is still. I inhale deeply, savoring the sweet scent of jasmine and try to clear my mind. Decisions are piling up, and I have no one to help me choose the right one.
Next to me, Annalise walks stiffly, lost in thought.
”Oliver was my oldest friend. We were raised together,” she says softly. I stop walking and turn to face her. I had suspected they were close. It makes sense that they were raised together. The State likes to keep housemates together as much as possible.
Tears s.h.i.+mmer in her eyes and she flicks them away. ”I'm sorry. I shouldn't burden you.”
I rest my hand lightly on Annalise's arm. ”It's fine. I miss him, too.”
She closes her eyes. ”I shouldn't say this, but once, I had hoped he'd be my mate. Of course, the State selected Callum for me.”
It's an oddly personal confession from my normally distant sister-in-law. ”Why do you think you were picked for Callum? He's a Light witch.”
A long sigh tumbles out of Annalise. ”Malin. I think she had her eye on me for a long while. I don't think she liked the fact that Callum is Light and she thought maybe I could somehow fix him.”
”You don't love him?”
She shakes her head. ”He's my mate, but no. I don't think I do.” A light wind brushes through the garden releasing the scent of roses and jasmine. ”Sometimes, I think he hates me.”
I suck on the inside of my lip. In many ways, she and I are alike. Both bound to Light witches. Both highly ambitious. Both despised by our mates.
”Can I ask you something?” She nods at my question. I want to ask if she killed Mother, but decide to be less direct. ”Why did you keep Beck's secret?”
She gives me a lopsided smile. ”Mostly for leverage. But also because I wanted you to have happiness. At least one person in this family should have that.”
”Didn't you think it was dangerous?”
A light breeze sends her loose hair fluttering around her face. ”I saw how he looked at you.” She b.a.l.l.s her fist to her mouth. ”It's how Oliver looked at me. So, no. I never believed he'd hurt you.”
The stars create a canopy of light above us and I tilt my head back, trying to find the North Star. It blinks at me, like a beacon.
”Why don't you send Dawson out and take the rest of the night off.”
Annalise's body becomes rigid. ”I'm capable of doing my job.”
”You need rest. Since Mother's death, you've been on duty every day. You run interference with the State, oversee the security detail, and who knows what else. Take a few hours for yourself.”
When she doesn't move, I press my wristlet. ”Dawson, can you please relieve Annalise? She's taking the night off.”
He appears next to us within seconds. I give Annalise a rea.s.suring smile. ”Everything will be fine. Go.”
She sniffs quietly before disappearing. I turn to Dawson. ”Where did she go?”
He pulls up her data on his wristlet. ”She's at home.”
”Good. Hopefully some rest will help.”
In a nearby tree, a bird trills and whistles. Its sweet song fills the night air. ”What's the name of that bird?”
Dawson searches his wristlet. ”It's a nightingale.”
”It's pretty.”