Page 177 of Bone Year

“Why?”

“If I don’t stop now, I won’t stop at all.”

I open my mouth to answer, and he beats me to it.

“Because you have a job to do tonight, and I will not be the reason you don’t do it.”

“Draven.”

“Rose.”

His hand finds the side of my face again, and he tilts my chin up to look at him.

“I will give you all of it, every last thing you are asking me for, when you walk back out of that cottage. Do you understand.”

“Yes.”

“Say it.”

“When I walk back out.”

“Good girl.”

Then he steps back.

His wings disappear, and the cold of the courtyard rushes in to replace them.

“You need to go, Rose.”

I nod, still trying to catch my breath and never wanting this to end at the same time. “I know.”

His eyes narrow on me. The control is back mostly, except for the slight unsteadiness at the line of his jaw.

“Thirty minutes.”

Then he’s gone, running back toward the ball before I can say anything else, and I press my fingers to my swollen lips.

Gods, that kiss.

I touch the key at my throat. I need to get going.

I turn east. I start running toward the headmaster’s private quarters.

The cottage door is dark green, weathered, set into the stone wall of the third building from the eastern gate.

I can hear my own breathing.

I look back. The path is empty. The snow has been falling steadily for the last few minutes and is already covering my footprints, which is a small mercy I will count tonight. The lamps along the cloister are turned low, their flames cupped in iron lanterns that sway gently in the wind. The hall is far enough behind me that I can’t hear Ashmoor or the music anymore.

I lift the key from my throat.

It is warm in my hand. The metal hums faintly against my palm, a small steady vibration that I have never felt from it before, and I stop for one breath to register it.

The school knows what I’m doing.

Ashwell is helping me.

I close my eyes and slide the key into the lock.