“And you don’t have to—it doesn’t change anything,” she said. “I’m a modern girl, after all, and I knew what I was doing. You don’t have to worry that I’ll want more money or that I’ll hang around and make calf eyes. I wouldn’t know how. I’ve never even seen a calf. I—wanted you to know that.”
Forced lightness and real intensity twined together in her voice. For once Stephen could tell what she was really saying—and what she was avoiding. Sometimes, a man saw better without light. He laughed at his discovery.
“You’re a city girl, Cerberus. I’ll not hold it against you,” he said. Reaching out, he took her hands in his own and drew her closer. “Trust me, worry’s the last thing on my mind. Worry about the things you mention, at least.”
“Well,” she said, still uncertain but without that note of duty in her voice, “God knows we’ve got enough to fret over otherwise.”
“Aye. And as far as you’re concerned—damnit.”
The ring pulsed against his finger, and Colin spoke almost at the same time. “Ready to go, Stephen? You haven’t gotten yourselves killed, have you?”
“No,” he said and thought he almost sounded civil. “We’re fine.”
“I did say it would take a while. Get yourselves as close to the door as you can and wait. You’ll have about five minutes. I’ll meet you at the corner.”
“We’ll be there,” said Stephen.
Mina, in fact, had let go of his hands already and was heading toward the stairs. She was right, and Stephen understood the impulse—the last hour or so aside, this was not a place he’d choose to spend any time—but still he cursed again. Silently, this time.
***
Downstairs, they waited on the last step, not talking and keeping even their breathing as quiet as they could. Stephen could see the shapes of the guards still outside and hear their voices through the door. He didn’t think they could hear anything but the loudest noises from within, but it was best not to take chances.
Beside him, Mina waited. He could feel the tension in her body, the readiness to spring, but she was still except for the restless movement of her hands, clenching and unclenching on her skirt.
If not for the impending need to bolt, Stephen wouldn’t have resisted the urge to kiss her again. He reached out instead and took one of her hands. Her state of mind was appropriate and useful—and so was his, for that matter, for he knew he was waiting on the edge as well. Calming down might not be a good plan, but at least he could let her know that she wasn’t alone. He could reassure himself of the same thing.
Mina slid her hand into his readily enough and stroked her thumb across his knuckles, an absent gesture, but one that roused as well as comforted. Even such a short time after their earlier activities, Stephen felt himself respond to it.
Part of that was the situation, of course: hot blood, survival instinct, and whatnot. He’d taken more than a few risks in his long life, though, and he knew that danger wasn’t the only explanation.
He didn’t think peace would make him grow tired of Mina.
He didn’t think anything would.
“Oi, there!” One of the guards shouted from outside, jarring Stephen out of thought. “What d’ya think you’re doing?”
As if in answer, a largish piece of glass went smash somewhere nearby. The guards shouted some more and then ran, their footsteps loud against the pavement at first and rapidly growing dimmer.
“Now!” Colin shouted in Stephen’s ear, loud enough to make his head ring with the noise.
Later they’d have a discussion about magic and force and what volume was really necessary if one felt a proper fraternal urge to leave one’s brother with intact hearing. Stephen promised himself that much.
For now, he yanked the door open and bolted outside. He would have pulled Mina with him, but there was no need. She was running right at his side. Out on the doorstep, though, she stopped to slam the door behind them, then turned. “Lock it.”
There wasn’t time to argue or ask questions. Stephen grabbed the key, shoved it into the lock, and nearly broke his wrist turning it. Outside, he couldn’t hear the guards’ footsteps any longer. Even in the relative quiet after midnight, London was too noisy to distinguish one set of sounds from a dozen others.
Grasping the key in his fingers, he took off again.
One house flew by, then another, passing in a blur of darkness and light. The few people in his way were easy enough to dodge. Stephen could have gone on for a while, if Mina hadn’t yanked on his arm again.
“What?”
He turned back, expecting her to be tired. That was no matter: she was a tall girl, but he could carry her easily enough if he needed to. She was shaking her head, though, even when he reached for her.
“Stop.” She caught her breath. “We should walk now.”
“Walk?”
