The Veil Between Lies

t sleep. Sh

missing Hemlock Ring, more than the theft itself. Whoever had take

bo

nched around the edges of the porcelain sink. Her mask-the

ad pierce

she neede

genta – Council J

the place. In many ways, he did. He didn't need magic to command a r

y. No tie. Open collar. Pow

voice called

't stop. "No

The Minister is calling for a fast-track on the Spe

awa

r, glancing around. No o

ce on th

ated. "Wh

o took the Hemlock Ring from containment. I want full surve

just a thie

dn't

n the Ar

a trick her mother had taught her-encoding hex numerals into old data. The securi

g that time. But ther

ely erased her presen

eant on

expose her. They w

me-stamped entries from the physical containment

tagged to t

ian

aught. Her h

't being

being

ning – The

h the glamour tonight

lready at the booth, one leg cros

Archives," she sai

lowly, smooth

d

a cursed

rrowe

ft me a

You're playing in deep waters, Nyx. I

at him in

use

ired

u l

t. Profes

t in his gaze. Just calculation... and so

said quietly. "I know what

think I don't see it-the raw power you try to cage under gloves and cl

stif

d her re

ou been watching

u're a legacy. Your mother was Ilyra Vale-executed without tr

her chest lik

nothing

And I know she died tryi

oat and slid a thin f

at somethin

Elira's

le until hours later.

ding in a field of burning s

etailing an operation c

etain Subject E.V. if magi

arely

e Sanctum again-only this

as wo

. Drawing power from the ley lines b

eone was co

know if it wa

r Ca

e – Cassia

nforcement was waiting

the leash," he sa

mine," Cass

is she sti

ow breath. "Becau

wh

esit

veryt

site surveillance, District Twelve. Someone's been resurrecting ol

ed the file o

ared, was a woman kneeling

sn't

wearing El

ooftops of

d tugging her coat. Below, the city shim

red behind he

idn't

were watching

to prot

"By threatening me?

scared. Alert.

l do

I didn't expect you

nally, eyes g

don't know

brow. "Enl

r hands, but with her magic. Wr

red in his

u're hunting

ing that h

a's magic slid into his mind

d've screamed. He just stood there, br

-not from fear, b

olding back,"

hy

t ready for what I

neath his suit jacket-not a standard weapon, but a Council-modified stunner made of

tared

to hurt you?" he as

"I think you're wai

ighing two sins: one he wanted

e dang

neces

lways this

w and sharp. "Onl

too fast, too confide

rested his foreh

make a mistake

hink I

n't-and that's

artment (Nex

er kitchen table, bare legs curled beneath her, Cassian's jacket draped arou

d at the

ct Re

t with bloodlines, resurrection rituals, and magic

just a r

been

... Elira suspected

wer and opened it. Inside was a single page he

t if you remember who you

ed slightly as she

asn't

e had

– Council Br

table of high-ranking

tain her," he

ster Harlan. "If we don't act

lied coldly. "She's not the

rk, bitter. A woma

you, Mr. Rhys?

met he

aid. "I'm

Archives – L

like nothing had happened,

tact. The sensors flickered with odd surge

as waiting for

bo

ark

in hum

nized it

odex

stroyed during the War. It had been in the vau

e-activ

cover, and the sigils

n her mind: "The

d turned

dn't speak unless it

bandoned Chapel

agreed. Neutral ground. No

not visi

shadows, arms cros

he said, eyeing

t have a

for a long moment.

I'm just r

it sca

t should s

epped

o know so

n nodd

ou really

t hesitation. "Build a case. Prove you were Ny

jaw ti

d something was off. The Council didn't just want to arrest you

wh

who ask q

loser, lower

ject Revenant. But they didn't f

breath

ey want to

met he

rn you into a vessel. Resurrect

pa

e your body to b

– The Spark

, the Codex open before her. Her fingers tr

hem have me,"

one," Cassian

ng with the same fire

you to protect

t you," he replied. "I'

out hi

awyer. Not

osing the flames

a to

ent, the Codex

nt sigils

n life and deat

p below the city,

t remembere