“Myrtha did. I would have turned you into a vampire, which isn’t something you want. And I didn’t express myself well when you were in my room.”
“What do you mean?”
“I wanted more, but what I want and what my body allows me to do are two different things. I want to be close to you, to hold you, and I’m fighting against my fear and pain. But you’re worth every struggle.”
“I hope to make the struggle less hard.” She sat in front of the stove, and the glow from the fire ignited her profile with gold. She chuckled. The sound was like silver bells in a spring breeze. “You and I are an odd pair.”
I wouldn’t want to be paired with anyone else, but instead of saying it, I nodded. “We are.”
“I’m glad we found each other.”
“So am I.” I couldn’t sound dafter.
The crackling of the fire was the only sound.
I scrubbed the back of my neck. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
When I shut the door behind me and found myself alone in the dark hallway, I didn’t find the usual solace darkness gave me. But I couldn’t live in the light either.
42
A SORCERER
Alex
Iowed the success of my deal with Knight to Darius and his potions, and watching him gloat over the compliments he received made me smile.
We’d spent the evening in Whitechapel, going from house to house and visiting the people affected by rabies. Darius had quickly become the hero of the day with children chanting his name and grandmamas offering him sweets and biscuits. He loved every moment of it.
As I leant against the wall of yet another house, the smell of humidity and old paint stuck to my nose. These people might have a problem with rabies, but their homes were far from healthy. Icy draughts sneaked in through cracks in the windows. The floorboards squeaked bloody murder when someone stepped on them. And the fire didn’t seem to warm anything. I’d lived in a place like that; it’d chipped away at my sense of safety and humanity.
The war between Knight and the late Moon Duke must have dried up his resources because he’d always struck me as a responsible duke who cared about his people.
“And it’s done.” Darius helped a child drink a violet potion.
The poor child had gulped down three or four concoctions without complaining, and the improvements were obvious. He wasn’t shivering or throwing up anymore, and his fever had broken. The other two children were romping around after Darius had given them the same drink.
“Thank you, Mr. Strange.” Mrs. Clifford, the child’s mother, stared at Darius as if he’d invented sunshine. “You’re the most extraordinary mage I’ve ever met.”
Darius hooked his thumbs into his waistcoat. “You’re most welcome, madam.” He stood there, smiling.
Irene helped Mrs. Clifford change the bedsheets although she had obviously never done it. She confused the bottom sheet with the top sheet and made a mess with the pillowcases, but Mrs. Clifford didn’t complain, though now and then, her amber werewolf’s eyes flashed.
“I can give you two sovereigns.” Mrs. Clifford opened a tin box that likely contained all her savings.
“We don’t want anything.” Darius held up a palm.
That wasn’t true. I wanted information.
Mrs. Clifford couldn’t look more enamoured with Darius as she stared up at him. “I apologise for the state of the house.”
Darius took out a few more bottles from his bag. “Do not worry, madam. The outbreak must have hit the Moon Court hard.”
Mrs. Clifford lifted a shoulder. “It’s not just the outbreak. The war was taxing on us, but life is better since the new duke is leading us. I belong to the small group of Molossians who lived under the late duke, and he wasn’t fair to us. He wanted us toleave. His treatment of the Molossians was so despicable that Knight intervened.”
Irene stopped making the bed. “I had no idea the late Moon Duke was so cruel.”
I didn’t say anything although the revelation was new to me as well.
