Page 71 of The Dragon and the Dove

They bolted for it, swinging into the corridor.

Anouk’s dress tore as they ran, the satin catching in her heels. Skidding to a stop, she ripped off the ends of her skirt, flinging her stilettos behind her.

Val dumped her mask in a flowerpot. ‘Can’t believe he thought I was a kitten. Prick.’

‘What?’

‘Nothing. Keep moving.’

They pushed on, heading for the quad.

All around them, the walls trembled.

‘You can stop now,’ huffed Val. ‘The way is clear.’

Which meant… it was piled with corpses.

Dead Rose-bearers littered the halls of the Appoline. Bastian had been here. Left a macabre trail of breadcrumbs on his way to find the prince.

Fighting back her revulsion, Anouk weaved between them, following Val into the storm-swept night.

Rain pelted them as they hurried across the quad, making for the clock tower. A figure stood at the edge of the roof, the planes of his skull far too visible in the flickering moonlight.

Anouk’s stomach turned. ‘Lark.’

He was dangling Seraphine over the edge like prey.

There was no sign of Bastian. Or Andreas.

This was wrong. All wrong.

Val sucked in a gasp. ‘The sky is moving.’

The clouds parted and a shadow streaked across the moon.

‘The Strix.’ Anouk’s voice was a ragged whisper.

The earth groaned, a nearby bench cleaving in two. And yet, despite the violent rush of her power, she could not shake the sky, or stop what was already in motion.

The Strix dived for the tower.

Val froze, crushing Anouk’s hand in hers.

Time slowed.

A slant of moonlight revealed the Stargrazer seated atop the Strix.

He was a beast of a man, tall and stiff-backed. Clad in the fighting leathers of Urnica, his rank plain by the golden mane of his helmet. General.

Prince Darius.

Terror of the Skies.

He snatched Seraphine like a dandelion seed.

Val screamed as the monstrous bird returned to the clouds with frightening speed. Anouk stifled the sound, slamming her hand against her mouth and dragging her off the quad.

‘Swallow your fear,’ she hissed in her ear. ‘Or we’ll be next.’