“The priestess has him.”

“Why didn’t you tell me—oh.”

“Yeah, oh. I needed there to be doubt about his involvement.”

“Is he alive?” She held her breath.

“As far as I know.”

At least there was some good news from all this.

“Speaking of involvement, when and why did you get involved?” Ximen asked.

“Wait,” Mojag said. “How can we believe anything he says?”

Ximen and Jayden glanced at Shyla.

“I can tell when he’s lying,” she said.

Mojag scrunched up his nose. “But he’s lied to you a million times. How come you didn’t know then?”

Good question. “I wasn’t…monitoring him then. I trusted him.” Big mistake.

“Monitoring?”

“Right now, I’m using my magic to tap into his surface emotions. If he lies, I’ll know. And if he won’t answer our questions, I’ll go deeper and find the answers.” The last part was more for Jayden than Mojag.

“So when and why?” Ximen demanded.

Jayden scrubbed a hand over his face. “When they attacked us, I found the leader and begged him to stop killing our people. Promised him I’d arrange for the Heliacal Priestess to get The Eyes if he stopped.” Then he looked at Shyla. “Promised to hand the sun-kissed over.”

Ah, so it was an ambush and not very bad luck Shyla had run into those Arch Deacons in Tamburah’s judgment room. So much for Jayden not wanting to hurt her.

“My people were dying. I had to do something,” Jayden said.

“Only ten of us escaped,” Ximen whispered.

“They would have killed everyone, Ximen. The rest were arrested.”

Ximen perked up. “The commanders?”

Jayden shook his head sadly. “They wanted to kill the leaders and those that could wield magic. Good thing you and Gurice weren’t with them.”

“Oh, so I should thank you for not ratting us out?” Ximen demanded.

No response.

“The exchange with the Heliacal Priestess,” Shyla said. “You for The Eyes. Your idea?”

“Yes. I knew the prince had the fake Eyes so the Invisible Swords would have to give the priestess the real ones. I’d no idea you had woken them.” He glared at her. “They told me you died.”

She glared right on back. “Not sorry to disappoint you.”

“But we rescued you, Jay. Why keep working for the priestess?” Ximen asked.

“We have no chance against the Water Prince. You’re all fooling yourselves. I want him dead! And I don’t care if I have to work with the priestess to do it.”

“What did you tell her?” Ximen asked.

A hushed silence. Would he reveal the depth of his betrayal or would Shyla have to force it from him?