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“You know I can’t.” And nothing had ever hurt so much as that simple, undeniable truth. “Not so long as the Brink keeps me here.”
Ruby kissed her softly. “Then I suppose we’ll have to find a place uptown.”
“Ruby—”
“You’re right about one thing, Viola. Theo would want me to live my life,” Ruby said. “My life. The one I choose. I will miss him every single day I have left to live. I will mourn him just as long. But I’ll bless his memory as well, because by marrying me, he gave me freedom I never expected. Our families tried to tie him to me with my dowry, but since we officially married before he died, that money is mine alone now. No one can tell me how to use it. And when this is over, we’ll be together.”
Viola knew she should argue. It was impossible, what Ruby was proposing. To stay here beneath the watch of Ruby’s family, in the city where her magic would only ever be a liability? But she couldn’t bring herself to. For this one, small moment, she wanted to dream.
But the truth of Nibsy’s diary waited to reveal itself, and dreams were dangerous distractions.
“The cloaks should get you in without any trouble,” Ruby repeated. Then she explained what she’d gleaned of the Order’s plan. The streets would turn deadly, and the Brink would be recharged. “They’re going to be using electricity,” Ruby said. “They’re so proud of themselves harnessing the power of science to fuel their magic that they couldn’t keep it a secret. If Jack’s going after the Brink, he’ll likely do it there. It’s his best chance to have the biggest impact on their ritual.”
The carriage was rolling to a stop, and Viola knew their time was nearly up. Another sunrise, another sunset, and the die would be cast. Their fates would be known.
Unable to help herself, she leaned forward and kissed Ruby until the other girl melted and opened for her. Until she could taste the expensive champagne on Ruby’s lips.
“You shouldn’t be there tomorrow,” Viola said, feeling more than a little breathless. “It’s too dangerous.”
“I’ll be there,” Ruby said. “For you, and for Theo. For the end of the Order and Jack Grew. We’ll finish this, and then we’ll start the life we both deserve.”
PLENTY OF TIME
It had been six days since Cela had acted a fool and kissed Jianyu. Six days of wondering what was going on in that head of his. He’d been avoiding her. But she was done with waiting. The Conclave was tomorrow, and she wasn’t about to let him go running off headlong into his possible doom without forcing him to confront the truth about the feelings between them. If he didn’t reciprocate them, fine. But she wasn’t going to spend the rest of her life wondering.
She found him up on the roof of the building, right where she’d expected him to be. Ever since the dustup a few days before with Golde’s boy, he’d been avoiding the other occupants in the safe house every bit as much as he’d been avoiding her.
The second she opened the door onto the roof, he turned. If he was surprised to see her, it didn’t register. He watched her walk toward him with the same measured calm he always wore.
Armor. It had taken a while for her to understand, but now she thought she might. He kept himself closed up, calm and steady no matter what, as a kind of disguise. It meant that people were less likely to notice him, despite the color of his skin or the magic that ran in his veins. It kept him safe.
“Tomorrow’s the day,” she said, trying for lightness. But her voice betrayed the fear she’d been trying to hide.
He nodded, still looking at her with those fathomless eyes of his. She suspected he saw everything as well.
Then he surprised her. She’d expected him to do any number of things, including to pretend he didn’t know why she was there or to deny the connection that felt undeniable between them. She hadn’t expected him to touch her. But that’s exactly what he did.
Slowly, he lifted his hand to her cheek, and despite the promises she’d made to herself to stay stoic and strong, her traitorous body responded by leaning into the warmth of his hand.
“Your skin is freezing,” he said, frowning, as though he’d just noticed she wasn’t wearing more than a shawl.
“I’m fine.” And she was. She didn’t even feel the bite of the wind with him touching her.
With an exasperated huff, he stepped back to remove his heavy overcoat and draped it around her shoulders. All at once, she was engulfed in the scent of him—the warm amber and sage and the not unpleasant musk of his sweat.
“Now you’re going to be the one freezing,” she told him, unable to hold back the smile that threatened.
“You did not come here to talk about the weather,” he said. His expression was unreadable.
“No,” she admitted. “I didn’t.”
“You came to talk about our earlier discussion,” he said. He looked out over the city, as though he could no longer hold her gaze. “You gave me quite a lot to think about.”
“Have you?” she wondered. “Thought about it?”
A long beat passed, and she heard his soft exhale of breath. “Every second of every day.”
Cela hadn’t realized how nervous she’d been until those words unlocked a wave of relief. “And?” She turned toward him. He was still looking out over the city, toward the river beyond. The lines of his face were sharp against the hazy blush of twilight, and while he studied the city, she studied him. “What did you come up with?” she asked finally when she couldn’t stand to wait anymore.
