‘Is this where Sophie is?’
‘I don’t know. It’s pretty likely, though. She was trying to get out of the gates at Versailles, wasn’t she? There’s a connection point very close to there.’
Shit. Realisation rolls over me, accompanied by sorrow. ‘Why wouldn’t she tell me?’
‘The opening might have come up at short notice. Or … E, I’m sorry, but you are the Raven. She might have felt she couldn’t say anything.’
I’m silent, fighting back tears. I understand. ‘Can we look for her?’
‘We can. But she most likely won’t be in this cell. There are other cells.’
Other cells? God and darkness. Then something else Michael said hits me. ‘What do you mean by “when you come here you leave your life behind”?’
‘Once you’re in the network, that’s it. Reapers hold their borders incredibly tightly. There is no leaving. No chance that the Reapers’ secret will be told. This is a one-way ticket, Emelia.’
I stare at him, horror cold inside me. ‘We can’t leave?’
He shakes his head. ‘It was bad luck we turned down that alley when we did. Once I realised it was a Reaper transport, my plan was to get us out the same way I left. But Cass will be onto me.’
‘I’m going to be crowned in less than aweek,’ I hiss. ‘If we disappear, Raven will unleash darkness knows what to find me. We can’t let that happen!’
‘I know. If worst comes to worst, we might have to come clean to Cass about who you are.’
‘Who I am? She’ll kill me.’
‘I won’t let her do that. You know I won’t. Gods, Emelia. I’d let her kill me before that happened.’ His gaze softens.
I hold on tight to my anger, not yet willing to yield. ‘This is bullshit.’
‘What, me giving my life for yours? No, it isn’t.’
‘Oh, that definitely is. There isnoway I would let you?—’
‘E.’ He comes closer, close enough I can feel the heat of him. He caresses my cheek. ‘We’re alone. In a room. Together. Do you really want to spend the time arguing?’
‘Yes,’ I say, even as I close my eyes, pushing into his hand like a cat.
‘Yes?’ He chuckles. ‘Because I can think of far better things to do.’ His other hand comes to my waist, pulling me hard against him. Oh, darkness.
‘We shouldn’t do this.’ My arms twine around his neck, giving the lie to my words.
‘No?’ His lips brush mine, feather light. More kisses, butterfly gentle, but I can feel the restraint behind them. ‘Are you sure about that?’
‘We really shouldn’t … I’m with…’ I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore. But his hands tighten on me.
‘You aremine, Emelia. Not his. And you know it. Just as you know I’m yours.’
My lips part, my whole body screaming for him.You are mine. Those words, growled, do something to me. I’m just getting it out of my system, I tell myself, as his kisses become more heated, as he moves me towards the huge bed. Just this once, and I can move on. He lays me down gently, still kissing me as his hands go to my waistband. He pauses, as though to give me a moment.
I don’t need a moment. I need him. I lift my hips so he can slide my sweats from me.
‘Hmmm.’ His voice is a rumble against my throat. ‘While I like how you look in these, those gowns of yours make for much easier access.’
‘Pig.’ I smack his shoulder, moaning as he grinds against me, his hardness teasing me.
‘You know I’m right,’ he murmurs, smiling against my mouth as he kisses me, long and slow. He pulls back, bracing himself with one arm either side of me. His eyes are dark, his lips swollen from my kisses. Light caresses the strong planes of his face, the gold of his hair.
‘Michael, I?—’
