Caw.
I bolt. As I swing out the window, the front boards groan and splinter. I jam my boots on, laces flapping, and leap from the low roof. I hit the ground rolling, spring up, and vault the wall in one frantic surge. I land in the alley, yank the laces tight, and run.
The sky has bruised to violet; the storm is almost on me. Looping wide, I cut through back lots, and pause only to peer around a corner two blocks down. Richard’s carriage sits at the curb, two constables lounging beside it. One turns, eyes sweeping my way.
If I’d stayed in that house any longer, Richard would have caught me.
Fuck.
I step into the open, cross the street at a deliberate stroll, then sprint the instant I’m clear. Ada’s stable is a blur of hooves and panic; there’s no question about it—a masked figure skulking near the murder scene will be reported within the hour.
I’ve fucked up. Royally fucked up.
Three-quarters of an hour later, Ada thunders past the farmer’s pasture. The red scarecrow leers, its crow-skull head fixed on me. A sharp caw overhead comes from my crow gliding above, black wings cutting the bruised sky. Comfort and warning in one. I glance back, half-expecting Richard’s carriage to materialise. How many times can one man cross my path in a single day without intent? Lightning forks and thunder growls. Ada needs no urging—she flies for home, sweat darkening her coat.
In the barn, I work the brush in long strokes while she steams and shivers. She’s wired, ears twitching, until apples and soft nonsense finally coax her calm. I press my forehead to her neck, then check the trophies. The grey has marched another finger’s breadth through her mane. I stare, uneasy. What price is she paying for carrying pieces of the dead?
Inside, supper comes together without a single scorched edge. I eat, bathe, and Maude’s last scream flickers across my mind like a snuffed candle as I curl beneath my quilt with Romeo and Juliet, pages soft as moth wings. I linger on the tomb scene, on lovers who trade breath for breath.Is that love? To burn the world and yourself with it?
Warmth settles over me—Gray’s answer is wordless but certain. Am I walking the path he wants? Will more blood open the door between us? I’ll need it, yes… but Richard is a blade at my throat. He was everywhere today. One slip, one careless glance, and the mask becomes my noose.
I let the thought drift, sinking deeper into my bed as sleep tugs at me.
The last thing I see is a pair of eyes that have no face.
Chapter Fourteen
The immense pullon my body when I wake up issostrong that it instantly has me on my feet and ignoring my morning routine. I can't resist this. I get pulled to the wash tub, hot water already in it—could this be Gray’s doing? I strip off my clothing and get in, relishing in the heat. My head is urged under the water, something silently demanding that I wash my hair; it has been a while since I did some true self care, and I need it after the past few days. The pull ceases for a while, letting me enjoy this unusual bathing routine.
I like this.
Once I’m clean, I get out, dry and dress for the day. I have no plans nor work, I just need to make some horseshoes for the stableboy at some point, but not today. The pull comes back and makes me go to the table where I grab my mask and hat and pull them on.Where am I going?My cottage door swings open, and Ada is there, neighing and dragging a hoof through the mud impatiently. She is restless, her coat of brown fading quickly to grey and it worries me. How old is she now?
I put on my cloak and go to settle her, but she nudges me to get on her back, so I do.
“Okay girl, what's wrong? Show me,” I say to her, rubbing her neck and giving her as much attention as I can. She gallops and I hold on tight to her mane and she takes me to wherever she is now being pulled. This is so very unlike her and it's got me concerned, but the thrill of bare back and travelling at this speed excites my blood.
We arrive in town and there is a big commotion. Screaming, shouting and crying.
‘He didn't?’
‘He did! What an idiot!’
‘He should have succeeded. He had the chance and he fucking blew it’
Shit. What's happened? Ada moves forward towards the crowd. There must be hundreds of people here, pushing each other to get to whatever is going on. Fights start to break out, and guards are yelling, their weapons raised in the air.
I like this.
I get off Ada and she neighs wildly at me, but I ignore her for the moment and climb up onto a stall so I can see better. A man is fighting the guards with his bare fists and then pulls out something from his trousers.
Bang!
What was that? Smoke goes up in the air and a guard yells, dropping to the floor. Chaos ensues. More guards come running, the crowd gets louder and a crow circles the sky above.
‘He tried to kill the King!’
‘He stole a horse to run!’
