Lachlan hops up onto the ledge.
It’s wide enough to walk along.
He can practically hear her in his head when he closes his eyes.
One sunny day doing cartwheels together.
Daddy do one, Daddy do one!
Lachlan performs a perfect cartwheel along the ledge, unconcerned by the drop, his balance immaculate.
He lands with ease.
‘There you go, princess,’ he whispers to himself.‘Daddy did one.’
His ears prickle suddenly, alerting him to the presence of someone behind him.Lachlan stays still, looking out across Varrow City as he leans into instincts instead of turning around.
He still remembers her perfume.
‘You know, you never did tell me your real name.’
She comes to join him, stands up on the ledge too.
From here, Lachlan can just about discern the outline of the Tower.
‘I liked Bee,’ she says.
‘So did I.What do you want?’
‘Julian gave me the book back,’ Blaire tells him.‘We traded information.He is almost as blinded as you are.I shone a little light.’She looks at him.‘Why did you tell him he’s a Brightling?’
‘Because heis,and I’m not allergic to the truth like you.’
‘You never let me explain.’
‘You have no right to.’His mouth twists.‘Not anymore.Anyway, I don’t wanna hear your bullshit.You told me enough.’
‘I should have been honest from the start.’
‘Nah, wasn’t quite yourstyle,was it?’
‘Lachlan—’
‘Why didn’t you tell me he was alive?’He finally looks at her.Wrapped in a dark, warm overcoat, Blaire looks much as she ever did, save for her hair that reaches her waist.
‘It’s hard to explain when you won’t let me speak.’
‘Would you actually explain or just tell me more fucking riddles?’
‘You think anything you don’t understand is a riddle, Lachlan.’
‘I don’t give a fuck about curses or magic.I never did.’
‘I know,’ she says softly.‘That’s why it must be you who breaks it.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me Jules was alive?’
‘A bubble only needs one point of contact to burst.’
