I did as he asked. Without warning, Dario wrapped his arm around me, dragging me forward by the waist, tugging me off the roof. I bit back a yell, wrapping my arms around his neck, and my legs behind his back, my pulse racing. His jaw muscle clenched as he took on my weight, adjusting me so I was more secure, and more fully against him.
I exhaled sharply, squeezing him.
“You’re doing good,” he said quietly. “Now just hang on. I’ve got you.”
He placed both hands on the ladder, and I locked my ankles around his back, my fingers clasped together. Then he started to move, climbing down almost as quickly as he’d climbed up the first ladder.
I was prepared to flinch, or feel that awful gnawing sensation in my stomach that came just before I went numb. The feeling that almost always came when I was touched.
But nothing happened. I almost felt … safe. My heart thundered with every step he took. The cold damp wind blew my hair into my face, remnants of a storm from the coast. A moment later, Dario was untangling me from his body, and setting me down.
He handed me the stave, and then he pulled the spare cloak off his shoulder. He went to work at once, wrapping the material around my waist and then drawing the excess up over my shoulders, draping the ends over my head like a hood.
“Are you ready?” he asked, breathlessly.
“Ready.”
He took my hand, and we were off.
We raced down the alley, heading across the street, away from Cal and Marisol’s yells. Away from the screams coming from the inn as the soturi burst into guests’ rooms looking for us. Another shout came from the ground. More soturi in the streets, patrolling the waterways as they hunted us. My heart hammered and Dario ran faster, leading us into the park nearby.
I looked back, just once, and spotted Meera and Aiden heading for the ladder.
We moved past the park, into the trees, snaking in and out of them, Dario grasping my fingers as he ran ahead. I had to leap over brambles and avoid small bushes, while barely keeping myself from tripping over the uneven terrain, but Dario kept a firm grasp on my hand.
“We need to get back on the street,” he said when we finally paused. “This is as far as we can go in this direction.”
I doubled over, my chest heaving, my breaths coming in rapid bursts. I wasn’t used to this much movement—the Palace wasn’t exactly interested in keeping us strong.
“Let’s move,” Dario said.
But I clutched my chest. “I need to catch my breath.”
His mouth tightened. “Deep breath,” he commanded. “Not these little ones. Okay? In through your nose, out through your mouth. We have to keep going.”
I tried to do what he said. He gave an encouraging nod, and after a moment I felt my breathing steady. I stood up and he adjusted the hood of my cloak, ensuring it covered my hair completely. Then he tugged me forward out onto a waterway lit faintly by torchlight.
The street was empty as we crossed it. Dario quickly led us through a maze of alleys and empty waterways, behind a block of small shops. We were about to come out of its shadows when Dario pushed me against the wall, his hand over my mouth.
My stomach churned, pain gnawing at my insides. I gritted my teeth, ready to bite his hand off when I heard something.
Voices.
“The bitch couldn’t have gone far.” A soturion.
There was an answering laugh. “Considering how many times the Bastardmaker’s had her on her back, I think she’s gone far enough. She better be worth that reward we was promised.”
I closed my eyes, my hands shaking.
“Shhh.” Dario’s hand took hold of mine, of both of them, and pressed them to my stomach, squeezing gently. Our eyes met, and he moved his hand from my mouth, breathing slow and even.
The first soturion sneered. “Oh she will be. This one they pay for—and they pay well. If she gets any farther, she’ll be worth even more for our trouble.”
“Is that so? We should find her then,” said the second voice. “And hide her for a bit—we could probably double the price, and take the rest of the year off.”
Two sets of footsteps echoed in the abandoned streets, coming closer, and closer.
My pulse raced. Dario slowly leaned in toward me. He released my hands. Then he drew his hood over our heads. His body pressed against mine, so close I could feel his chest rising and falling.
