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He straightened his cravat. “I didn’t say that.”

The silence that followed his declaration made me hot all over.

Mr. Duval cleared his throat. “If Master Adrien will be all right, I should retire for the evening and let you two sort out the details of this new arrangement.”

Duval slipped from the room, leaving the two of us, the candles, and Adrien in his bed.

Yves drew two chairs to his son’s bedside and gestured for me to sit.

I stared at the bloodstain for a beat, then got to my feet, feeling foolish for having lost my wits in front of him. I perched on the edge of the chair, trying to find some dignity. Above the headboard, Adrien had pinned a hand-drawn chart of Diana’s constellation, complete with Maris’s star. It reminded me of his excitement in the garden last night.

“I feel awful,” I admitted.

Yves drew in a long breath. “I often feel that way,” he admitted. “It is the burden of raising a child, I fear. To try your hardest, and it still not be enough. It’s like having your greatest insecurities thrown in your face.”

I looked down at my hands, and for whatever reason, thought of my mother.

Maybe she thought she’d been showing me love. But everything inside of her was sharp and prickly.

“What do you do?” I asked. “When you feel so guilty you think you might die?”

I glanced over at him, and he gave me the most earnest look I’d ever witnessed. It was so raw, so open, so real, I felt a lump form in my throat.

“Honestly?”

I nodded.

“Sit on my balcony with a bottle of wine and stare out at the water.”

“You’re serious?”

“Sadly, I am.”

I let out a small laugh. A grin stirred at the corner of his mouth.

“Has that ever solved anything?” I asked.

“Gods, no. But it’s quiet. And there’s something about staring at the stars and the ocean that offers me comfort.” He leaned in and brushed back a tear-soaked curl that had been stuck to my face. “You should join me some time.”

“Perhaps I will.” The words slipped out before I knew what I had said, and a flush of heat crept up my neck.

He leaned in a little closer, and the candlelight caught the green of his eyes. I was transported back to the harbor, remembering how we stood this close watching the fireworks before I knew who he really was. When I thought he was just a captain, and hoped he’d let me spend the night in his cabin.

His lips parted. And my name came out. So soft.

“Cora…”

I held completely still, fearing what he was going to say. And at the same time, longing for his next words.

“You should. Come to my balcony tonight.”

I didn’t know what to say. The silence lingered, stretching, until Della fluttered in through the open balcony doors and landed beside Adrien. As soon as she nuzzled her head against his chin, the little boy stirred. Both of us leaned forward at the same time, our shoulders touching. Illicit sparks of heat radiated through my body, almost like my magick had returned. Neither of us pulled away.

I took Adrien’s hand. Yves took his other.

“Adrien, can you hear me?” he asked.

His eyes fluttered open. “Papa. You’re here.” Adrien smiled. “And you’re here too,” he whispered. Squeezing my hand.