Page 57 of Fire to the Stars

Abel obviously loves his late brother to this day—and that’s the most terrifying part of what he did. He compartmentalized Micah and his dragon form too easily. How could someone so polite and mindful of others dismiss his little brother’s pain? Micah begged for death long before he died. How could Abel not offer him a mercy killing?

This is whatlovelooks like for Abel. If he learned my secret, how would he treatme?

I can’t run. Sleep powder will fail me—and the innocent people around me—eventually.

I can’t stay. Abel is cold. Cruel.

Dragons are monsters, but so is he.

Please make two changes to the list of active sisters: 1) Add Claire Belgard, and 2) Remove Leah Travers.

—Dove message to unknown Dames Blanches leadership from recruiter Anne-Sophie Travers, May 1760 AA

Chapter Nineteen

Claire

Pretending I’m fine is too easy.

Angéline riffles through a pile of parchment. Leaning against her desk, I tap my foot while I wait for her to find the most recent search update for Gérard Dupont.

“You’d think one drunk of a dragon would be easy to locate,” I say. “The marshal didn’t give you enough help?”

“Not enoughcompetenthelp. My investigators often submit disorganized reports.” She sighs. “Too many new hires at once, in my opinion.”

I hum and let my gaze wander the station. No curious glances from the gendarmes today. Abel and I are old news, apparently. Ascension Day preparations have them in a flurry.

“I could help skim the reports,” I offer.

“As much time as that would save me, civilians aren’t permitted to read about active investigations.”

Too bad. I might’ve glimpsed a lead for a sleep powder dealer.

“He might as well be a Dame Blanche for how well he’s hiding,” I remark.

She casts me a wry glance over her glasses. “I doubt he’s that smart about it. Dragons tend to act rashly as they approach their second or third Ignition Day.”

“Do you help locate many dragons?”

“One or two each month.”

Two.Like me and Gérard. “What happens if you expect multiple dragons on one Ignition?”

“If there are no traveling slayers already on the case, we alert the slayers on residency.”

“Residency?”

“Resident slayers receive tax funding to remain on standby. They typically watch for first-time dragons unless we petition them to slay the prisoners we deliver to the dragon pits.”

The mere thought of more slayers in this city makes my fingertips twitch with the impulse to grip the desk harder, so I make a show of examining my nails instead.

“I’m surprised anyone chooses to live in a city,” I say. “Too much potential for new dragons for me to tolerate, personally.”

“Our local laws are much stricter than in most cities. Failing to take shelter in a fire cellar the night before each Ignition is punishable with prison time. If a dragon emerges here, the streets are empty.”

“Ah. So the dragons see no one to attack.”

She nods. “They’re quickly slain or they fly away, usually with no more damage than a bad house fire. Smaller towns often experience much more damage than we do. Low odds convinces people it won’t happen to them.” She shakes her head. “Carelessfools.”