Page 185 of The Dragon and the Dove

Theo cursed, spinning on his heel. He spotted the archer the same moment she did. An Urnican Stargrazer, crushed under the body of his own Strix, had used his dying breath to make use of the last two arrows in his quiver.

The first had gone through her shoulder.

The second—

‘THEO!’

Thwack.

An arrow struck him in the neck. Blood streamed as he fell to his knees.

In the distance, a wave of black shadows rolled over the hills.

Shade.

Death.

Sera’s scream split the world in two.

Chapter 56 Valerie

Val had fantasized about kissing Caruso more times than she’d care to admit, but in all her steamy imaginings, she’d never pictured it quite like this: in the heart of a warring city, within spitting distance of a dead Strix.

‘Fuck.’ He growled against her lips, sliding his hands into her hair. Hands that had just killed people. In front of her. Why did she find that so attractive?

Caruso was a good kisser. So good Val curled her fists in his collar and nipped impatiently at his bottom lip. He chuckled as he deepened their kiss, his tongue meeting hers in a rush of hot aching need. Saints help her, she groaned. Part of her wanted to devour him right there on the street but it was impossible to ignore the screams of a city in revolt. Her duty as a saint was to try and save it.

She broke away with a gasp. Raked her curls back. ‘Right. That was… well.’

Caruso stared at her, panting.

Why was he looking at her like that?

Those lethal blue eyes were scrambling her thoughts.

She frowned. ‘We need to… There are things we have to do.’

‘I found the thing I want to do.’

She gave him a flat look. ‘I meant saving the city.’

‘Fuck the city, let’s go home.’

She snorted as she pushed past him, enjoying the heat of his gaze as he trailed after her.

A fresh chorus of screams made her jerk her chin up. The townsfolk were fleeing south towards the harbour as Andreas’s soldiers spilled onto Merchant’s Way. There were thousands of them, and all wearing the same glazed expression. Enthralled.

Val broke into a run but Caruso lunged, pulling her back. ‘Where the hell do you think you’re off to?’

‘They’re going to kill everyone!’ she said, fighting his hold.

‘And what? You’re going to get yourself killed, out of solidarity?’

‘I’m going to yell some sense into them!’

He measured a sigh. ‘Can you not be reckless right now?’

‘You’re always reckless.’