Page 70 of The Dragon and the Dove

Ransom was powerless to stop it. On his knees in a lake of his own blood, he could barely lift his own head.

Sera’s cry sent a fissure through his weakening heart.

The Strix drew closer, rubied eyes marking its shape in the night. Somehow, Ransom dragged himself to his feet. The effort was colossal, like climbing the tallest Silvercrest with half a lung, but there was no blade, no wound, that could keep him from her.

He took a lumbering step. Pulled a breath through his teeth.

Without taking his eyes off Ransom, Lark held Seraphine out like an offering.

The Strix dived, filling the world with its dark reaching shadow. On its back rode a Stargrazer crowned with the royal war helmet of Urnica.

Prince Darius Mondragon.

A soundless roar ripped through Ransom’s soul.

He watched, half dead, as the Urnican general snatched Seraphine out of the air and hauled her up by the bloodied feathers around her neck.

As quickly as it had come, the Strix banked away, taking Ransom’s heart with it.

Chapter 16 Anouk

Anouk found Val standing in a daze in the middle of the dance floor.

‘Where’s Theo?’ she said, gripping her arms. ‘We need to get out of here. Now.’

Val frowned. ‘I thought he was with you.’

‘I was with Bastian and Sera. Over by the dead provost.’

‘The— What?’ Val looked up at the dais. ‘Hell’s teeth.’

They circled the dance floor twice. No sign of Theo anywhere. Perhaps he’d gone after the prince himself.

The doors were all blocked off now, and the number of Rose-bearers had doubled.

The ceiling began to tremble.

Val’s eyes went wide. ‘Anouk.’

‘Can’t help it.’ Anouk clenched her fists, harnessing a breath. Long and slow … long and slow … Just like she’d been practising.

A chandelier dropped, shattering in the middle of the dance floor. ‘Oops.’

‘Do it again,’ said Val.

‘What?’

‘Break more shit. It’s the perfect distraction.’

It was as easy as breathing … or in this case panicking.

Anouk couldn’t stop it if she tried.

More chandeliers tumbled from the ceiling. Sconces shattered. Wine spilled.

The dais split in two and the provost fell flat on his face.

One by one, Rose-bearers strayed from their posts. The east door was left unguarded.