Chapter 36 The Betrayer's Bargain
The Betrayer's Bargain
“Liv,” Jada said, almost as though she were watching to see whether she could still call me by that name.
I stood at the front of the cell and peeped through the bars at her. The sight of her was heartbreaking. She had grown leaner, her garments plain and rough. Her hair was dishevelledly bound back, the strands of her hair fluttering on her face. Her honey brown eyes as mine lifted up to meet mine. They were sharp. Afraid. Still calculating.
“So this is where you have been,” I said. My voice was not high and sounded calm to my ears, but my chest was tight.
“They never allowed me to see you,” she said.
I knew my father had arrested her but I didn’t care to check up on her because I was hurt by her actions.
“You betrayed me,” I said. “You betrayed my pack. You gave me up to Max and watched me disappear.”
Her mouth tightened. “I did not imagine that he would hurt you.”
“You knew who he was,” I said. “You knew what he wanted.”
She dropped her gaze. The silence between us seemed to be some time more oppressive than any screaming match that we had ever had.
“It was what I had to do,” she replied at last. “I was trying to survive.”
I uttered one laugh, very brief and sharp. “So was I.”
She started to flinch, and again looked up, her eyes filled with guilt. “I am not saying that you should forgive me.”
“That’s good,” I replied. “Because I won’t.”
The guards reluctantly moved behind me. I spoke without turning around, with a raised hand. “Give us a moment.”
They dawed, and went still farther down the corridor. Their noise subsided; only the drip of water somewhere in the dark was audible.
She looked mournfully and pressed her forehead against the bars.
“I have information,” she said. “Real information. Not guesses. Not lies.”
I said nothing.
“What do you want?” I finally asked after a long silence.
“To make a deal,” she said. “I tell you what I know. You can talk on my behalf when the council is to decide about my fate.”
I stared at her. “You still believe that you can demand favors of me?”
“No,” she said. “I believe you are the only one who is going to listen.”
Old and familiar, anger flashed in me, and was wrapped in something too like grief. “You were my best friend.”
“I know,” she whispered.
I looked away a moment, drawing a deep breath, and looked back at her. “Talk.”
She drew herself together, as though she were stiffening herself. “Max wasn’t acting alone. You already know that much.”
“Yes,” I said. “Someone helped him.”
“Someone still is,” she added. “Inside Redcreek.”
My stomach tightened. “Who?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have a name. Not yet.”
“That’s not enough,” I said.
“It will be,” she replied. “Listen to me. This was a contact of Max before he took you. One who could get council schedules, patrol routes, guard rotations.”
I had a coldness spreading through my chest. “That there is restricted information.”
“Not to everyone,” Jada said. “He was aware of when you would be alone. He was aware when Ryder was not going to be close to the border. He was aware of the times when the guards were weak.”
The name of Ryder fell out between us. I kept my face still.
“Go on,” I said.
“Protection,” he said, “he promised me protection. And that is what he promises always. Power. Safety."
“And you believed him,” I said.
“Yes, yes, yes,” I said. “Since I was sick and tired of being small.”
I stared hard at her, the girl I would play all day with, the one who used to braid my hair and laugh out loud. I could no longer see innocence. I saw hunger. Fear. Ambition.
“Who wants me dead?” I asked quietly.
Her gaze went down the corridor, and returned to me. She lowered her voice. “Someone in the palace thinks that you are the problem.”
“The problem for what?”
"They're planning a coup against your father for allowing you to be acquainted with a lycan against our traditions. "
My heart skipped a beat. "You mean that it no longer is about Max.”
“It never was,” Jada replied. “He was a tool. A distraction.”
“So what is this,then?" I said.
She swallowed. “We have people here who believe that by killing you it will be all over. End the bond. End the tension. Destroy the prophecy which they fear.”
The very term prophecy gave me the shivers.
“What prophecy?” I asked again.
“I really don't know.,” she said, and her voice was trembling. “But I know this. They’re watching you. They are waiting to get the opportunity.”
I looked at her and my mind was jumping. Pictures of council, strained smiles, cautious phrases were running through my head.
“Why tell me this?” I asked. “I could choose to not believe you..you could have told my parents instead if you asked them for an audience. "
“They will not believe me, that is why,” she said. “And since I do not want your blood on my hands too.”
I let out a slow breath. “You already put it there once.”
She flinched. “I’m trying to take it off.”
Silence settled again. A palace throbbed somewhere on top of us, like a living thing that has secrets.
"Doing this will not take away what you did.
“I know,” she replied. “I don’t expect mercy. I just want to prove to you that I'm sorry."
I stepped closer to the bars. “If you’re lying to me..."
“I’m not,” she said quickly. “And I can prove it. Give me time.”
I walked away, and motioned to the guards. They returned towards us with keys jangling.
I gave Jada one more glance. I said, “If any one in this palace wants me to die, then they have already erred.”
Her brows knit together. “What mistake?”
“They underrated me,” I answered.