Page 134 of The Dragon and the Dove

He hesitated for the barest moment. Then he tossed the Dagger over the edge of the building, like a rag doll.

When he turned around, Val lowered her crossbow and said, ‘You’re welcome.’

‘I already had her. You didn’t have to fire that last arrow.’

She flashed her teeth. ‘That one was for me.’

‘Jealous, kitten?’

Obviously. ‘You wish.’

‘I sure as hell—’ He stopped short, those bright eyes shot wide.

VAL! Her name was soundless on his lips. Or perhaps she was too distracted by the sudden searing pain in her ribcage to hear it.

She looked down to find a red star bursting across her blouse. ‘Oh.’ Her voice was so very small.

The world blurred, Caruso moving so fast, it made her dizzy. Or maybe that was the arrow sticking out of her.

Caruso was shouting, but the words were slow and garbled, like she had fallen underwater. Then there was Ren – wasn’t he dead? – standing upright and sprightly as a deer. Shadows streamed from him as he moved, his eyes as steely as the arrowhead now wedged between her ribs.

Shade.

Wasn’t it amazing what a single vial of Shade could do? Drag a dying man back from the brink of oblivion and give him a second chance at murdering her.

You are dying, Saint of Truth.

Perhaps, she thought vacantly, I should have some Shade too.

There is none left for you, Saint of Truth.

Val was on her knees now. How did that happen? And where had all the noise gone? Dimly, she was aware of shapes grappling in front of her. Caruso was wearing Lightfire, she reminded herself. He would not suffer the effects of Shade, but beating an assassin on the heels of a fresh vial was perhaps beyond what he was capable of.

If only she could help.

Fresh out of arrows.

And blood.

She glimpsed a flash of silver in Caruso’s fist. The blade disappeared as he shoved it down Ren’s throat, gutting him from the inside out. It was messy and brutal. When Caruso flung Ren’s lifeless body over the roof, Val didn’t hear the thud. She didn’t hear anything at all. She blinked, heavy and long, and when she prised her eyes open again, Caruso was crouched in front of her. He was covered in blood. She had never seen that look in his eyes before. All the ice there had melted.

‘Stay with me, kitten.’ He lifted her easily, and flew – or so it felt like – all the way to the fire escape, and down, down, down to the cobbles below. ‘I’ll get you back to the cathedral.’

Yes.

Let’s go to church.

Val didn’t bother trying to stay awake. If death was coming, let it be quick and gentle. And if she were to die, let it be under the marbled eye of the saints, and with this final truth thrumming in her heart: Caruso Dantes is not so bad, after all.

Chapter 35 Seraphine

The crossbow trembled in Nadia’s hands. She looked like hell. Strung out and exhausted, eyes bloodshot, sleek black hair thinning at the temples.

‘That weapon looks familiar,’ said Sera, evenly.

Nadia sneered, ‘Half your Order fled the rooftops and left their weapons behind.’

‘So you decided to shoot me with one?’