Page 225 of Harbinger

“But, Arden, you’ve always known who you are, since the very first night we met. No one has ever controlled you,” he reminds me. “Magic certainly won’t be able to, either.”

The words soothe something the salve can’t touch.

“Freezing people is a stupid power,” I mutter, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m just going to thaw.”

“Not if he kept you in place long enough to get what he wanted.” He releases a heavy sigh.

My heart.

Bishop takes his time tending the wounds. Finally, he sets the salve aside and picks up my hand. He turns it over, running his thumb along the inside of my wrist where the vestige left that faint, bluish bruise.

“Tell me if you lose feeling in this arm,” he says.

“I will.” I’ve never seen him this rattled. Even after that night at the docks, he stayed calm.

“I mean it, Arden.”

I use my free hand and trace an X over my heart. “I promise.”

He releases my hand and screws the lid onto the jar.

“You’re handling this well,” he says carefully.

I shrug, unable to find the energy to talk about it. “I never liked Laurel.”

Now I have a reason to hate her.

“I’ll bring charges against her tomorrow,” he promises.

“And Patron Velesont?”

“We’ll lock down all posterns within Vennaro. Cut off his access. But I can’t touch him. He knows better than to get his hands dirty.” He says it like the words taste bad.

No, people like him have other people do their dirty work for them.

And if they do get caught, they can buy their way out of it. “He’ll protect her.”

“That’s doubtful,” Bishop says, surprising me. “He doesn’t protect his people. He uses them.”

The pup makes a small snuffling sound in his sleep, rolling so his belly is up and his curled paws are raised toward the ceiling.

“What should we call him?” I ask, desperately needing the distraction.

Bishop pauses. “Excuse me?”

“He needs a name.”

Bishop stares at me like he might examine my head next. “He doesn’t.”

“Everyone needs a name,” I say. Then I add, “We won’t be able to house train him without one.”

“Arden.”

“What? He can’t just be ‘the pup’ forever.”

“Names are for pets,” he points out.

“Exactly.”