I cast a glance at Liv. She wears her regular impenetrable look—pissed off, but not scared. What’s going on? I think. I continue toward them, gripping my sword before me in both hands.

“You can stop right there,” the guy says when I’m a stone’s throw away, “and drop the weapon.” Something about his evil smile looks familiar. I ignore his command and dig back in my mind to five years ago...and I recognize him. I just made a profile for him a few days ago. One of the numa who was unaccounted for after the Final Battle. “Maurice.”

“Louis,” he replies. “Violette’s toy. I would say how nice it was to see you again, but I’d be lying. I thought you’d be off fighting those soldiers I sent to distract you and the rest of your kindred.”

My expression gives away my surprise. He laughs. “Don’t tell me you’ve managed to beat them already! How disappointing. It looks as though humans are too feeble to be trusted with missions of any importance.”

Liv laughs, as if she doesn’t include herself in the species he just insulted. And then it dawns on me. Liv came with Maurice. She brought him, knowing Siaka was coming to the archives. But why?

The information sinks in on a level deeper. This must be the “Reese” Liv’s seeing. She’s dating a numa. Liv, who created our communications platform. Who has access to our database. Which means...Maurice has probably seen everything. Why in the world would she do that?

My eyes meet Siaka’s. “Are you okay?”

He shakes his head, no, and his eyes flick back to Maurice. It’s only then that I see that Maurice has his own sword, as he nudges back one side of his duster to show its hilt.

“Like I said, drop the sword,” he says.

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll kill your boyfriend.”

Liv throws him a look, and he nods at her. Collusion. Satisfied, she turns back to me, and crosses her arms. She has no idea what this guy is, I think. And no idea he would kill her cousin without batting an eye.

“Maybe you can talk Siaka into finally giving me what is mine,” she says.

“What would that be?” I ask.

“The guérriseur gift. If my mother had taken it, like she should have, I would be the Flame-finger.”

I keep my sword pointed at Maurice but shift my gaze to Siaka.

“I can’t give it to her,” he says with despair.

“You can,” Liv says bitterly. “But you won’t.”

“Why are you doing thi—?” Siaka begins.