Defy the Sun (Beware the Night #2) - Jessika Fleck Page 0,50
I’ve got mud beetles crawling out my ears. “What? V, what are you—”
I look toward the door, lean in closer to him, and lower my voice. “The night I left, I went to the map room. I had to find proof of the exact day of the attack. I knew he’d lied to me about the date—that you’d lied about it too—”
I pause to give him a chance to speak, but he only holds my stare. I keep talking. “I found the proof I wanted, that the day of the attack was happening not six days later like I’d been told but actually the next morning.” He only nods, expression turning more serious, perhaps a bit guilty. “But that was the least of what I uncovered that night. There was a key in the Sindaco’s desk that opened a hollowed-out book. And inside the book was an old, tattered copy of a children’s story.” He’s leaning in closer, confusion written all over his face like he has absolutely no idea where I’m going with this. “It was the Lunalette story but by another name, with slightly different details.” Now he’s shaking his head. “Dorian—the Sindaco made up the whole thing, I assume, to make his war more popular, to bring people together because isn’t something fated much more glorious than cold-blooded revenge?” I look away and toward the sun and Moon mural. “The legend? The name Lunalette? My scar? It’s all a lie.” I release a shaky breath.
“I … It can’t be…” His eyes are hard, unwavering, as he stares across the short space at me.
“It’s true. I promise you. That spear and handkerchief?” I point at the items across the room. “He left them here for me to find. Some sort of warning or threat or something.”
“What? Why would he…?”
“I left them for him the night I left—I stabbed the spear through the storybook so he’d know that I’d found his big secret.” Our eyes meet. “He even wrote the name Lunalette in the back of the book, left notes in the margins.” I shake my head. “This whole legend is all of his creation. Stolen to fit his narrative. Twisted to meet his needs and work to his advantage.” I look up toward the mural. “I’m nothing but a small step toward his ultimate goal of revenge over Raevald.”
Dorian scoots closer, glances up at the mural as well, and, a bit hesitantly, takes my hand. I accept his hand and squeeze back, his touch so welcome. Because, at the end of the day, I know him. I know he meant no harm. That he was just as mixed up in the Sindaco’s lies and has been betrayed as well.
Mostly, I’ve missed him so.
“Veda…” He looks from the mural and into my eyes. “I need you to know that I had no idea.” Brow furrowed, I swear there’s a bit of water glistening his eyes. “That night I brought you down here, first showed you this mural, explained the legend … I believed it all. Fully. And whether it’s true or all a lie or a little bit of both, I believe in you.” He glances toward the door. “So do they.”
“I know … I just … I’m not sure I believe in myself as Lunalette after so much has happened.”
“Listen … the Sindaco lied … I lied…” His eyes veer to the floor, and he squeezes my hand, lowers his voice. “I’m so, so sorry for that. I should never have lied. I should have trusted you with the truth. I thought I was protecting you … Keeping the Lunalette safe from harm…”
“It was his idea, wasn’t it?”
Dorian gives a slight nod. “But I take full responsibility for it. It should never have happened, and I promise you, it never will again.”
He glances up from the floor and our eyes meet.
“I know,” I say. “And, well, while we’re apologizing … I am sorry I had to tie you up … That I stole your keys…”
He cocks an eyebrow up like, and…?
“Oh no, I am not sorry for releasing the Imperi soldiers.”
Dorian gives a light laugh. “I wouldn’t expect any less.” Then his expression turns serious. “It was the right thing to do, V. And you were right—I would have tried to stop you. It’s why you’re the Lunalette.” I sigh. “No, truly. Forget stories and legends and lies … You’ve always been destined to be all the Lunalette represents. Call it what you want, it’s who you are.