Page 20 of The Dragon and the Dove

He reached out to steady her as she came to sit beside him.

‘I immediately regret this,’ she said, peering over the edge, the ground dizzyingly far away.

His arm tightened around her waist. ‘I’ve got you.’

She turned into him, searching the firelight of his eyes. They burned gold so often these days, she was beginning to miss the autumnal hue that made him Bastian. ‘What are you doing up here?’

‘I can see most of the Hollows from the roof.’

‘You don’t have to keep watch, Ransom.’ Her voice was soft, beseeching. ‘Not like this. Not all the time.’

‘Someone has to.’

‘Mercure has her network of spies. You heard what she said at last night’s meeting. Andreas is in west Valterre.’ Having only recently returned from Urnica, the prince was days away from Fantome. They had time, still, to craft their weapon. To plan their attack. ‘The mansion is freshly cloaked in Shade. Theo has made sure of it. If someone tries to break in, we’ll know.’

‘I thought that back in the catacombs. Until Lark—’

‘Had a thousand skeletons to play with,’ she reminded him. ‘House Armand is made of hardwood and overpriced marble. No bones. No skulls.’

He looked away, a dent forming between his brows.

‘And don’t forget we have Pip. A small but mighty foe.’

No smile. He was not in the mood for teasing.

‘Ransom.’ She pressed her finger to his jaw, gently turning him back to her. ‘Come back to bed.’

He brushed his nose against hers. ‘Not yet, spitfire.’

‘When?’ she huffed.

He sighed against her lips. ‘When this is all over.’

Her own mood began to turn, worry giving way to frustration. ‘Magic has its own hunger. Be careful what it takes from you.’

‘I told you not to worry about me.’

‘Tell the sun not to rise while you’re at it.’ She scowled at him. ‘All I do is worry about you. I have plans for us, Ransom. Grand, beautiful, far-reaching plans. The last thing we need is for you to burn out before they even begin.’

His eyes dimmed, a corner of his lip curling. ‘I’d like to hear these plans.’

‘Put your beasts away. Come back to bed. I’ll tell you all about them.’

‘Ruthless negotiator,’ he said, stealing a kiss.

But his shadows remained.

‘I’m worried about you.’ She traced the seam of his trousers, trying to ignore the cold lick of his magic. ‘You’ve only been like this for a fortnight and your creations are already getting darker. Vaster. More terrifying.’

He looked past her towards the Hollows. ‘That’s the idea, Seraphine.’

She pressed on. ‘I don’t want to worry about where your magic ends and you begin.’ His shadows drew closer, making her think of pain and sadness. Death always lingering at their backs. ‘It’s in everything.’

Your gaze.

Your mood.

Our mornings and our nights.