Luca turned down a narrow street, where shadows swallowed up the light. I dropped from the roof, landing silently in front of him, rising from my crouch as he skidded to a halt, his hand going for his weapon and coming up empty.
All the color drained from his face, and he stepped back, raising his shaking hands in front of him, like he was warding off evil spirits.
“Hello, Luca,” I said evenly, trying to calm my racing heart. “A little late for a meeting, don’t you think?”
His throat bobbed, like he was trying to speak, but nothing came out.
“I know this is a shock, but I had a good reason for keeping my death… or should I say, my survival, a secret.”I’m sorry, Luca. If I could have told you I was alive, I would have, but it would have put you in danger. More than you’re already in.
Speaking mind to mind seemed to break through his shock. “Emberline?” His voice was barely a hiss of breath. “But… you’re… you’redead.I went to your funeral. What are you?—”
One second, Luca stared down at me like he’d seen a ghost, and the next, I was crushed against his chest, his arms squeezing me so tight, I couldn’t breathe.
“Gods, you’re alive.You’re alive. I thought you were dead, and we had your funeral pyre, and I couldn’t believe you were gone because you weren’t gone, youweren’t.”
“Luca,” I manage to squeak, “you’re crushing me.”
“Oh, right, sorry,” He loosened his embrace but didn’t let me go.
“You’ve been alive this entire time.” His tone changed, from astonished disbelief to anger. “This whole time, you letme think you weredead.” He stepped away, shaking his head. “Who does that?”
“Someone who’s trying to protect you,” I said urgently, stepping closer. “Do you think I wanted to stay away? Don’t you know how badly I wanted to tell you the truth?” My shoulders sagged. “Please don’t be angry with me, Luca. It killed me, staying away all this time.”
“Okay. I won’t betooangry with you. But you could have told me.”
“No, I couldn’t because you can’t keep a secret to save your life. And what are you doing, meeting with Rocco? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
His shoulders slumped. “I was trying to help. You don’t know…” Closing his eyes, he shuddered. “Whatever Uncle Gio is planning next, he’s doing some terrible things, Em. Some really terrible things.”
Yeah, no shit. Like drowning me in his basement and paying a monster to execute my husband.
“They’re using you,” I said quietly. “Rocco will sacrifice you just to get a little information he can profit from. We need to get you out of this deal you just agreed to. Come on, let’s go somewhere we can talk.”
He looked away. “You don’t know how dangerous Giovanni is, Em.”
“Yes, I do. And you’re in more trouble than you know.” I looked to the end of the alley, where nighttime crowds streamed by.There were no good choices here, only bad ones.
“You’re coming home with me,” I decided, resolve locking into place even as doubt gnawed at my ribs. “And we’re coming up with a plan. One that doesn’t end up with you getting killed.”
“I’m not going to get killed, Emberline. Giovanni needs me, and now, Rocco needs me, too.”
If only that were true, I thought, taking his hand and squeezing it tight.
“Don’t let go,” I warned. “Stay with me, and if we get separated, donotgo back to the palazzo. If word gets back to uncle about tonight…”
I didn’t finish.
37
EMBERLINE
Our fingers stayed linked together as time and space rushed past us in a rush of frozen wind. The next, the world folded back into itself with a soft, breathless whoosh.
Familiar flagstone was firmly under my boots, the low hum of wards settling, and the aged brick walls of the outdoor garden rose around us.
Luca stumbled as he rematerialized. I caught his arm automatically, steadying him before pulling him through the back door, where lamplight pooled across worn rugs, books were stacked in piles on the floor, and the smell of dust and tea filled the air.
We didn’t get three breaths in before Dante’s voice cut through the room like a blade.
