Page 89 of The Souls Harvest
“It is—”
“He,” she retorts.
“Hehas a singular soul. One that Roden and the Chapter members loyal to him have tried many times to confine in its current existence, but a soul that always managed - one way or another - to remember its previous lives. The good and the bad parts, including the people he met. Those who tried to destroy him. Those who loved him.”
She leans against the window, hands braced on the sill, tapping one nervous finger on the white stone. “You forgot to mention that he is also closer than we thought. But you knew that already.” She purses her lips, her eyes piercing mine. “Youknowhim…”
I flinch, lost for words because I’ve rarely seen her like this, restless, running her hands through her hair to keep them busy.
“You weren’t supposed to find out—” Wrong choice. Too late.
Her arms fall heavy at her side. “And I agreed to destroy his life. Even if I start to think that probably extinguishing his soul forever will be a blessing, given the alternative is to deliver him to Roden…”
I fear her whole body would crumple to the floor, deflated. I know what she’s about to say, and I can’t stop it. “And I said yes forus. For a chance at that freedom that I believe we were never destined to have. And probably never deserved.” She stabs her chest with her finger like a knife to carve out her guilt.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I couldn’t…” I glance at the window and then at July, asking for permission to get closer. Only when she nods do I take a step forward.
Our shoulders brush, and my heart jumps, but she doesn’t flinch or recoil.
“So, what side are you on?” she asks, folding one hand over the other.
The orchard is greener than the last time I was here. Mack must have found a way to purify the lake.
I let out a relaxed laugh, the first in days, leaving a faint purple halo on the window. “Tabs would have never let me in if I wasn’t on the right side—her side,” I admit, obtaining a puzzled, sideways look from July.
I mirror her stance, bracing my hands on the windowsill. “We’ll have an urgent, last-minute debrief later today. Tabitha would like you to attend so she can explain everything. And answer all your questions.” I nudge her with my left shoulder, “I know you may have one or two.”
I offer a tentative smile that she doesn’t echo. But she doesn’t run away or slap me either.
“Why can’t Roden just leave him be?” Her eyes roam around the room as if imprinting every detail on her mind.
Without waiting for my answer - I’m not even sure if she’stalking to me or herself - she steps away from the window, lost in thought, and approaches the table with the slice of cake, lifting a tiny piece to her mouth. A shadow crosses her face, but she quickly blinks it away.
When she remembers I’m here with her, she slowly turns to me, “Roden told me he stripped part of that man’s soul many times, trying to break him,” - she swallows what I’m sure is rage and tears she doesn’t want to see me - “But even Roden cannot do what I do to Rogues, and I’ve never seen this man before. Then—who helped Roden and the Chapterbeforewe joined the Harvesters?”
Is there judgement in her tone?
Her attention shoots to the wall separating our rooms…
Oh, shit…
I shake my head. “I wish I knew. It must have been someone with your gift.”
“Someone horrible if they agreed to make that poor soul suffer repeatedly. I wonder if there is something Roden didn’t tell me.”
Her eyes flick to me, her hands balling into fists, the only movement confirming she hasn’t turned into a marble statue.
I need to get out of here before she asks the right question, and I give her the one answer she shouldn’t hear from me.
I turn to the window and freeze. Jyn is leaving HQ with Nikrah and Lily, followed by Kris, who snaps his head up and meets my eyes. I quickly shut the blinds, fearing they will come off their loops.
“Why is he so important? Why has Roden tried so hard to keephim alive but he’s now dropped the final decision on me? Why me?”
Even if I can’t see her, her voice is like a sword slowly piercing my back.
I search my brain for anything safe to reveal without her growing sceptical. Again.
“His soul is the only one that has the power to reject Roden’s orders. And that can only mean one thing.”
