Daggermouth

“Why don’t I do something about it?” Lira finished for her. “Because I lack the power, the authority, the position. Because I am a woman in a system designed by men to keep power in their hands. Because every time I’ve tried to mitigate suffering, I’ve been reminded of my place.”

Lira reached up and touched her mask, a gesture that seemed unconscious, habitual. “This isn’t just a symbol of status. It’s a muzzle. A constant reminder that my face, my identity, my very existence belongs to the Heart first, to the Serel name second, and to me last.”

The silence that followed felt weighted, heavy with truths that were rarely spoken aloud in the Heart. Greyson held his breath as the two women reassessed each other, calculating where to go from here.

“I don’t like you,” Lira said bluntly to Shadera. “Your people killed my brother. But we share a common enemy, whether you recognize it or not.”

“Your father,” Shadera said, a statement rather than a question.

“Maximus Serel is a monster,” Lira confirmed, and Greyson felt a chill at the simple declaration. “And he’s using all of us as pieces in whatever game he’s playing. So perhaps we can set aside our mutual distaste long enough to ensure we all survive it.”

Silence fell over the kitchen. Shadera studied Lira for a long moment, her expression smooth, unreadable.

“You said there were other things you needed to talk about. What are they?” Shadera finally asked.

Lira glanced at Greyson, as if gaging his reaction before answering. “The Vow ceremony is in four days, tonight’s di

Shadera’s back straightened. “What do you mean?”

“You two need to talk, really talk.” Lira pushed away from the counter, lifting the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “I’ll have appropriate clothing delivered before di

Greyson nodded once, escorting Lira toward the door without looking back at Shadera. He waited, biting his tongue until they had stepped outside the door and it closed behind him.

“Why would you say that to her?” he snapped, turning to Lira as they waited for the elevator. “Do you realize how angry she is going to be? And it’s not subtle anger, Li. It’s ‘slice my throat while I sleep and stab me in the heart’ kind of anger.”

Lira didn’t turn to look at him until the elevator doors slid open and she stepped inside. Greyson put his hand on the frame, forcing the doors to stay open until she gave him an answer.

“It doesn’t matter how much I hate her, Grey, she deserves to know what happens to the women here after the Vow and she needs to hear it coming from you. If you want her on our side, if you want her to trust us, you have to tell her. If you don’t, there will be no chance of her ever telling us anything.”

Greyson stared at her for a long moment. He knew she was right. Knew that the truth would be easier to swallow coming from him—but it was a truth he still hadn’t accepted himself. His hand fell from the doors’ pathway and Lira disappeared behind them as they swept shut. His reflection stared back at him in the glass, and for one breath he considered ru