Page 117 of The Vixen

I didn’t evenfuckingask.

“What happens if Luna loses the fight?” I croak, though I know. Iknow. My hand drifts to my stomach as it cramps, face prickling with blood loss.

I try to remember the guy—Alaric—better, but all I really see is Luna’s busted face. The hitch in her step.

Persephone’s eyes narrow even further. “If Head Keeper dies, Thorne will be in charge of protecting the Shadow Sanctum… I would never speak ill of Thorne, but…” She looks at the floor and doesn’t go on. I don’t care. I don’t want her to.

I close my eyes and try to breathe. Wasting even more time.

“She wanted me to give you this.” My eyes open as Persephone digs through the pocket of her jacket to retrieve a… gold ring with an emerald stone. Unmistakably: Dickie’s ring. Luna’s ring.

No.

Persephone stands and brings it to me, her eyes downcast as she hands it over.

I take it while my throat grows so thick I think I’ll choke.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hansley.”

Persephone wrings her hands, truly remorseful. Truly innocent. Truly needing the fuck out of here.

“I’ll try to prolong the ceremony as much as I can, but you need to be efficient in getting to the forest.”

“You think she’ll lose?” I ask. As if I’m not holding Luna’s goodbye.

Persephone’s wide eyes snap to me. “What? No. I…” She lowers her head. “She shouldn’t have to fight. I know this is my fault and that Her Grace hates me.” Her voice cracks as the tears come. “I thought the paper I found was yours. I didn’t know what it was, I just… I didn’t mean to get anyone in trouble.”

Persephone wipes away a tear while I try to snap myself into action.

If I fail, she dies for nothing.

“It’s all right.” I put a hand on Persephone’s shoulder and steer her toward the door. “None of this is your fault. And Luna isn’t angry with you.”

I slide the ring onto my pinky and gesture toward the exit. “She wanted me to show you something before the ceremony… We should hurry.”

In the library,I trace a finger along the bookcase, searching for a rise in the wood or the smooth catch of metal. What I find instead is a groove. Round in the center, sharper arches on the side. When I hook my finger inside, nothing happens. It’s not a button—Luna is too private for that. It’s a lock.

“Luna’s never shown you this, has she?”

“No, sir,” Persephone’s quick to say.

My eyes dance around the bookshelf as I try to recall the first and only time she showed me this hidden door. I don’t remember her having a key, but the tunnel inside is for emergencies. If Luna is like me, she keeps it close by.

It takes a minute of tossing books at our feet before it occurs to me.

Luna and I are a lot alike.

But there isn’t a soul more clever.

The ring on my pinky seems to grow in size, its weight tugging my eyes to the metal. I insert the emerald into the groove and twist until I hear the lock click, a bittersweet smile tilting my lips.

CHAPTER 33

LUNA

Father won’t meet my eyes.

Every Shadow Sanctum brother and sister surrounds me as I make my way to the arena, yet, it’s almost silent. There are soft murmurs among the masses. A crying child. An elderly Nurturer having a coughing fit.