Page 188 of The Dragon and the Dove

Nor a bringer of darkness and shadow, of terror and death.

But an artist, who drew hope. Bright, glittering hope.

The kind of light that could swallow Shade.

All he had to do was get out of his own way.

And so it was, as it always should have been.

The Dragon soared and devoured the dark.

Chapter 58 Seraphine

Sera crawled to Theo. He was alive but barely. She pressed her hand against the wound in his neck, staunching the blood, willing his magic to knit him back together.

‘It’s all right,’ she whispered. ‘It’s all right.’

He was shaking his head, his teeth chattering too violently to speak.

In the sea green of his eyes, Sera saw light reflected. Warmth danced along the back of her neck, blanching the shadows over Traveller’s Arch. A gold shape moved across the sky. And there, right above them, she swore she glimpsed the shape of wings.

Not of shadow but light.

‘Look, Theo,’ she said, her voice cracking. ‘The shadows are breaking apart.’

He didn’t look. Perhaps he couldn’t see.

‘There’s light, Theo. The light is coming.’

Return to the prince, screamed the old voice.

Pull out the thread.

She shoved it away. ‘We just have to plug the wound until you heal. Your magic will help.’ Why did she sound so hysterical? Why were her cheeks so wet? ‘Just hang on. I’ve got you. I’m with you.’

Faintly, she was aware that Andreas was crawling away from her. That his magic remained within him. Frayed but not yet broken.

And yet…

She couldn’t bear to tear her hand from Theo’s. If she removed the pressure from his wound, he would bleed out. If she stayed… if she just stayed a minute more, his blood would heal him.

He would live.

One of us has to live.

‘You’re going to be all right, Theo.’

His blood was clotting, turning tar-like. But he was pushing her away, panic flaring in his eyes.

Go, he was telling her.

Go after him. Before it’s too late.

The arch began to tremble.

Dust rose like smoke, turning the air grey. A figure stood just beyond the gathering haze. Anouk had come. There were others too, climbing over the dead Strix. Lost to the haze of her power, the Stone Maiden seemed not to notice Sera. Her gaze was fixed on the retreating prince.

Her eyes burned gold.