Page 89 of The Dragon and the Dove

‘Say it,’ he said.

She couldn’t bring herself to look at him. Instead, she glared at the mark on his chest as though it had betrayed her. Betrayed them both.

In a small trembling voice, she said, ‘Soul-eater.’

Chapter 21 Seraphine

When Nadia returned that evening, Sera was crouched on the floor, tying her sheets together. Her lunch, a sludge of root vegetables, sat untouched on the dresser.

Bootsteps rounded the bed, and too late, Sera shoved the mess of sheets behind her.

‘I see you’ve been busy.’ Nadia crooked a slender brow. ‘If not successful.’

Sera rose and perched on the side of the bed.

The former Dagger had come alone this time. ‘I wouldn’t try it, by the way. The drop would still kill you.’

They glared at each other. ‘What are you doing here, Nadia? Have you come for another vial of my blood?’

‘I thought you might be lonely.’ Sarcasm edged her voice. ‘Or, more likely, planning to do something stupid.’

‘Well, what are my choices?’ Sera snapped back. ‘Andreas isn’t going to let me walk out of here alive. And Lisette stuck a knife into Ransom, so I’d say the chances of him showing up are even slimmer. If he’s even still alive.’

Nadia was stone-faced.

Sera prodded again. ‘Shouldn’t you be with your darling Necromancer, dining in a graveyard somewhere?’

That made her flinch.

Interesting. Perhaps Nadia was as uncomfortable in this draughty old castle as she was. At least she could come and go as she pleased. And wasn’t being bled for power by thirsty, grasping men.

Nadia huffed, coming to the point. ‘Your blood didn’t take. Darius remains as he was.’

‘A terrifying bastard with a giant stick up his ass?’

Nadia’s eyes shot wide, and a shocked laugh bubbled out before she could stop it. She smothered it with her sleeve, glancing towards the Rose-bearers by the door. They stared ahead.

Sera seized upon the crack in her composure. ‘So you agree? The Stargrazers should piss off back home.’

‘It doesn’t matter what I think,’ said Nadia quickly.

‘It used to. When you were part of an Order that valued you.’

‘Lark values me.’

‘Does he?’ Sera challenged.

Nadia cut her eyes at her. ‘Darius is getting impatient. The prince has convinced him to wait a while longer. He says sometimes it takes a day. Maybe two.’

She shrugged. ‘If Darius believes that, he’s a fool. He would know by now if there was magic in his bones. I would know.’ Of course it was never going to take. Once outside her body, her blood was just her blood. ‘That’s not how magic works.’

She had known all along.

‘How do you stand it?’ she said. ‘Working with all these power-crazed idiots.’

Nadia’s dark eyes flickered, and Sera swore she glimpsed a kernel of understanding.

‘Andreas is going to kill you.’ Nadia spoke bluntly. ‘When time runs out and his cousin remains unchanged, the Silver-tongue will end you himself. He won’t risk you getting out or making more saints to challenge him.’