Page 157 of Stormbreaker

I feel him maneuver me toward the building. He presses me to the wall and speaks to the bouncer. “Watch her for a moment, will you?”

Then he’s gone for what feels like only a second before he leads me to a waiting gondola. He helps me into the boat before the driver pushes off.

“Sit,” he says, and I shiver as I wrap my arms around myself. A moment later, he drapes his jacket over my shoulders, and I shrug into the leather, still warm from his body. His arm comes next, and I lean into him as we float through the city.

I peer up at the net of stars hanging in an unusually clear sky.

“Can you see Andromeda?” I ask him. “You said it’s your favorite, right?”

I get a half smile, and he points out the cluster of stars that apparently make up the constellation. They blur before my eyes, and I can’t make out much of anything, but I appreciate him sharing this with me anyway. I rest my head on his shoulder as my eyes open and close.

“She just abandoned me,” I whisper after a moment. “I thought we were best friends. Why? All so she can hang out with those monsters?”

His hand lands on my knee, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“I’m not sure,” he says. “Sometimes people grow apart.”

I shake my head against his shoulder. “She’s one of them, Rook. Even if she wanted me around, how can I get past that?”

“I don’t know,” he answers, and we both float silently for a moment.

“Did you have fun tonight?” he asks.

I offer him a smile. “Of course. I did with Dom and Journey. And then you showed up.”

Something passes over his expression, and I swear his cheeks turn a little pink.

“I had fun, too,” he says.

I blink up at him. “When did you arrive?”

He shrugs. “Right before I found you.”

“Hmm,” I say as I snuggle in closer and we drift through the quiet city, bathed in a glow of lights. “I’m glad you came. Even if I’m trouble.”

He chuckles softly, his lips pressing to the top of my head.

We reach Amery, and he helps me out of the boat and down to our room. After he closes the door, he sits me on the bed and kneels, taking off my boots.

“This is nice,” I say dreamily as he peers up.

“I’m glad you think so, because you’re going to feel like hell tomorrow.”

I giggle because even though he’s right, his serious tone is making me laugh. I’m rewarded with a ghost of a smile as he tugs down on my boot’s zipper.

When he’s finished, he places his hands on the bed on either side of my hips. “Are you really okay?” he asks. “I saw that asshole talking to you.”

“Riley? Was that his name? He wasn’t so bad.”

“No. Your . . . former betrothed.”

“Oh.” I tip my head and cup his cheek with my hand. “Aw, are you jealous? You sounded so mad just there. Even more than usual, I mean.”

His eyes darken. “I’m not jealous.”

He stands up and tugs the covers back before laying me down and lifting my legs.

“Stay with me,” I say, reaching up.