Page 78 of The Dragon and the Dove

Steelfire.

It was leeching his magic and his life force.

Ransom Hale was dying.

The last of his shadows seeped through the stonework.

Take them, Theo’s magic keened.

Break him.

‘Help him!’ screamed Anouk.

Theo jolted from his thoughts. She was on the grass, pinning down Lark, while Nadia tried to drag her off. The Necromancer slammed his fist into her jaw, and she jerked backwards. He shot to his feet, coming for Ransom.

Stepping between them, Theo struck, grabbing the Necromancer by the neck.

Death magic suffused him, his magic rejoicing at the sudden wash of power.

Take it!

Take it all!

He was seized by a euphoria so divine, he almost howled.

The Necromancer choked, clutching desperately at Theo’s forearm. Theo felt Lark’s soul bleed, and he smiled, devouring every drop.

More! His magic rejoiced. More, and more, and more!

Anouk crawled to Ransom on her hands and knees, wrenching the dagger from his ribs. Her sobs thickened as she struggled to plug the wound. ‘He’s going to die. I can’t do it. I c-c-can’t do it.’

Nadia gripped Theo by the collar, trying to shove her way between them. ‘What the hell are you doing to him?’

‘We need to get out of here,’ said Val, who, having knocked the blonde out cold, was now crouched at Anouk’s side.

Dimly, Theo knew she was right. Hale was dying, and Anouk was floundering. It took every ounce of his self-control to release Lark Delano, and release his grip on all that potent magic.

The Necromancer collapsed in a heap.

Nadia threw herself on top of him.

The others moved in a hurry, Val and Theo hoisting the Saint of Nightmares between them while Anouk pressed her hand against the wound in his side. They retreated across the quad.

As the last of the Strix disappeared into the night and Andreas made his own skyward escape, his puppets scattered into the storm. Glittering masks lay discarded on the ground, lost heels and forgotten suit jackets strewn like pebbles across the courtyards. Even the soldiers ran, clambering through the shattered windows as the left wing caved in.

Ransom lolled in their arms, the last lick of colour leaving his cheeks as they made for the outer courtyard. Rain soaked them through, plastering their hair to their faces as they weaved between the clamouring crowds. Smoke clung to their skin and filled their tired lungs, as the pyres finally went out.

‘Hold on, Bastian,’ Anouk begged through chattering teeth. ‘Don’t let go. Please don’t let go.’

Once outside the Appoline, the crowds splintered, leaving a straight shot down the drive. Their carriage was just up ahead, the coachmen waving frantically.

They passed through the black gates into the shelter of the trees. It was there that Theo felt the brush of Lark’s death magic again, as corpses dropped from their nooses and lumbered after them.

The Necromancer was awake.

And he was pissed off.

A body landed in front of them, wrenching a scream from Anouk.