I was only here because I believed my brother was right, that both the Empire and those against the Empire would be looking for me, and going home was not an option. Evie would worry, but she’d be safer if I stayed away.
From the bottom of the tall steps in the main entryway, I peered up to where the stairs turned and vanished over my head. The house smelled like ash, a sharp, disturbing smell. The walls in the drawing room were scarred black, but otherwise, nothing about the place had changed. No furniture had been moved; apparently no attempts had been made to salvage what was here. Rush had told me the house would eventually be repaired but that construction likely wouldn’t start until the summer.
A dark chandelier hung on the landing above, like a giant spider dropping from the ceiling. I climbed slowly, noting each creak in the wood like it was a gunshot in the street. Later this year, Rush would climb these steps to bed.
It felt strange to rise to the sleeping quarters, as if this place were my own. As if I belonged here. But every step was an intrusion, and I felt like a thief, stealing the air as well as the space and safety of this empty house.
I found Rush’s room again, the first room to the right of the stairs. Only slivers of silver light peeked out from the edges of the curtains, faintly illuminating the bed and desk and pair of chairs beside the card table.
Who had played cards with him here?
My eyes drifted to the bed.
Who had shared this space with him? It was no mere rumor that Rushland Covington enjoyed the way he affected women.The students at Cardan Lott made it no secret that the propriety they hid behind meant little more than words to them. Rush was wealthy, attractive, and cared little for the rules. My stomach churned as I tried to shove away the unpleasant thoughts pounding against my mind like unwanted guests. Butterflies tumbled in my stomach as I lay slowly down on the soft mattress.
He’d slept here.
His phantom presence in the bed made it hard to fall asleep, but eventually, I drifted into a light sleep.
When I woke, sunlight streamed in through the cracks beside the curtains. I felt like I’d been dragged up from the bottom of the river. After a discouraging peek at the very empty pantry in the kitchen, I made my way up to the study, thinking of the night we’d discovered the stones. In the doorway, I stopped short. The shelves were entirely empty. Scraped clean of even a speck of dust.
The duke had been here, taking what he knew was most valuable. Hopefully, the duke had taken all he wanted and wouldn’t return, but I’d have to be careful.
The day was blustery, and the sidewalks sloshed with a sloppy mixture of leftover snow. I set my face with a determined scowl, imagining no one would notice the dirty state of my school uniform or the bags under my eyes, and made my way to the hotel Fairfax stayed in when he came to Treston.
The front desk informed me that Lord Fairfax was out but that they would give him a message. My message was brief: We passed. Find Myth.
As the man scribbled my note, I eyed the black telephone on the wall. I’d never used one, but I asked if I could. The man graciously acquiesced.
I asked to be connected to the headmaster at Cardan Lott.
The hotel man standing beside me eyed my uniform and gave me a quick nod before returning to his business.
Headmaster Vaughan’s voice crackled through the line. “Hello? This is Casper Vaughan.”
“Headmaster, this is Arivelle Mireaux. I passed the test, sir, but they’ve taken my dragon.”
The man beside me cleared his throat, trying to appear like he wasn’t listening and failing miserably.
Silence on the line. Then, “Merlon was here. So was the duke. I am afraid, Miss Mireaux, that…that your dragon has already been executed.”
“No,” I breathed, unable to process the words.No.In my heart, I sensed that Myth was still alive. I had much to learn about dragon bonds, but I doubted the bond could be broken without me knowing it.
“I’m sorry,” the headmaster said.
I passed the phone back to the hotel man and walked out.
Tears rolled down my cheeks and sobs shook my body as I made my way back across town.
Exhausted from hunger and the emotional toil of weeping over Myth, I fell asleep early that night.
I woke with a start to the sound of somebody ascending the steps from the main floor. My blood lit like someone had tossed a match on oil. I leaped off Rush’s bed and darted behind it, sinking down to my knees, heart hammering loudly in my chest. I tried to keep my breathing quiet by opening my mouth wide. Rush had promised me that nobody would come here.
“Ari?”
“Vanya?”
I hopped up. She ran to me and consumed me in a hug.
