“And what would you know about losing a loved one?” I ask, and it’s almost a snarl. “You have no family, and you’ve never been honest enough to have a real friend. You’ve never had anyone to lose.”
His eyes grow round with disbelief, but they quickly revert to their normal size as he reins in his emotions. It’s so easy for him to bypass his heart; he doesn’t care that abandoning Nishi is killing me because he can’t possibly understand the pain I’m going through.
“So your solution is to turn your back on all of humanity?” he asks tonelessly. “To save Nishi you’ll damn us all? That’s how you’ll honor your brother and your father’s sacrifices?”
I don’t feel the sting of his words because they’re not true—but I’m not surprised to learn that’s what he’s thinking. It’s almost liberating to hear the truth from him for once. “If you really believe I would damn you all, then you’ve never known me.”
I used to think Mathias was the one who had no faith in me, but now I see how na?ve I was. Hysan was only ever fine following my lead if I was doing what he wanted. This whole time he’s never trusted anyone but himself.
A dozen Ariean Majors and Libran Knights suddenly march out from the trees and encircle us, and I realize Hysan must have been hailing them through the Psy. They’re armed and in uniform, and they came so quickly that there’s no doubt Pandora was right—Hysan already knew I’d make my move tonight.
“Rho is trying to breach The Bellow to break out Ophiuchus and take him to Aquarius,” says Hysan, his voice hard and unforgiving. I flash back to the Hysan I met in the Sumber, the one who plunged a knife in my chest, and I’m not sure which one I’m seeing anymore.
“She’s not herself right now and needs to be seen by healers.”
I can’t believe I ever thought I loved him. Darkness fills every part of me, feeding the barricade of numbness protecting me from my feelings until it grows thick enough to completely separate my words from my body.
Until my mouth is no longer connected to my heart.
Until my voice is a weapon.
“Nice try, Hysan.”
I don’t sound angry or afraid; I sound somber and sad, like a disappointed parent. “No one—including General Eurek or Lord Neith—is going to believe I would ever free my sworn enemy, the destroyer of my world, the monster I gave up everything to pursue.”
I take a measured step toward him, and the Zodai around us fidget like they’re not sure what to do. “The real question is,” I say softly, “why were you about to free him?”
Hysan is so shocked by my accusation that it takes him a few seconds to respond—enough time to cast doubt on his innocence.
“If that were true, why would I call for reinforcements?” he asks, his voice hoarse. “Why did I ask this team of Zodai to be on guard tonight?”
“Because you knew I was on to you,” I say, still speaking in the calm voice of authority that I’ve heard him use so many times. “But I’m not going to let you get away with this.”
Hysan’s whole face goes slack, like his brain has suddenly stopped producing thoughts. “Rho . . . you’re lying.”
“I’m lying?” I ask incredulously. “I have no secrets! I’m the Wandering Star—everyone across the Zodiac knows everything about me. But who are you?”
Hysan’s glassy eyes widen with horror, but I don’t stop there.
“Where is Lord Neith?” I press. “Why hasn’t anyone seen him?”
Most of the Knights turn toward Hysan, and from their suspicious reactions it’s clear they’ve already been discussing this amongst themselves. But rather than try to protect his secret, Hysan just stares at me, openmouthed yet speechless—like for the first time in his life he’s been outplayed.
“I believe Hysan Dax has done something to the Guardian of Libra,” I announce, looking to the Ariean and Libran Zodai, “and now he’s trying to escape with Ophiuchus. Please hold him for the night, and tomorrow morning Eurek and I will question him. No need to ruin everyone’s one night off.”
The nearest Major cuffs Hysan’s wrists, and his golden face betrays no emotion as he’s flanked on all sides; he just keeps staring at me in disbelief.
“And for the record,” I add, forcing myself to meet his gaze, “Cancrians don’t lie.”
Light footsteps approach, and a girl in a purple robe creeps out from the tree line, looking paler than usual.
“Pandora!” Hysan seems to come alive at the sight of her, and he starts struggling against the Majors who are trying to march him away. “Please—tell Mathias Rho was trying to break out Ophiuchus! She’s not well. She needs help!”
Her astonished gaze jumps from Hysan to me, her orb-like eyes glowing like stars.
“Pandora—” I start, but she rushes back into the woods before I can explain myself.
I glower at Hysan as the Zodai march him away, and he watches me the whole time. Once he’s completely out of view, Pandora steps out from the trees. “Are you good from here?”
Her voice quivers, and I wonder if she’s going to sell me out the moment I turn my back.
“Why are you helping me?” I ask.
She takes my hand in her cold one, and her hold is firm and unwavering. “Same reason you’re going after Nishi. . . . It’s just what friends do for each other.”
Her loyalty kindles too much warmth in my chest, and I squeeze her hand before dropping it. “Can you just make sure they let him out by morning?”
She nods. “I’ll tell Mathias everything at sunrise. He’ll sort it out.”
“Thanks, Pandora. Stay safe.”
I activate my Veil as she bows. “Good fortune, Wandering Star.”
? ? ?
I copy everything I saw Skarlet do to enter the mountain and access The Bellow.
Once I’m standing before the wall of Black Truth, I let my silky white robe fall to the ground, and I stay in my blue Lodestar suit. I put away my Ring so Mathias and the others can’t contact me, and then I pull out one of the trinkets I stuffed in my pocket—my only hope for getting into the prison: the turquoise Psy shield Hysan gave me as a birthday present at the Libran embassy.
Until the armada no one but Hysan knew of the existence of Psy shields. And as there’s been so much going on since then—and given that the Ariean shields were sabotaged—I doubt the Majors have had time to anticipate this loophole.
This crab-shaped, cristobalite-bead brooch must be one of the few functional Psy shields in existence, since it was created by Hysan himself. I activate it and clutch the crab to my chest as I cross the black flames, bracing myself for more pain, or for an alarm, or for the stars themselves to strike me down.
But nothing happens. The fire doesn’t even tickle.
It worked.