Page 107 of House of Crimson Cloak and Silver Teeth

“I hurt you. I could have killed you.” He sounds horrified by himself. “Are you—can you breathe?”

I nod.

“Shade.” Kitty’s hand lands on his shoulder. “Give him space.”

But Shade won’t stop staring at me. His jaw tightens.

“That name is not to be spoken,” he says, his voice turning darker.

He pauses and something colder settles behind his expression. “That bastard is the reason she rots in darkness. The reason I was born cursed and the reason everything is wrong.”

“I understand,” I manage through my damaged throat.

The pain behind his eyes vanishes, replaced by something desperate. He pulls me into a hug.

His arms wrap around me tight, face pressed against my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Wolf. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it—I’m sorry.”

I can still feel the phantom pressure of his hand on my throat, the terrifying emptiness in his eyes. But in this moment he sounds twelve again. The boy who fought beside me for a piece of chocolate. The friend who claimed me in a courtyard covered in blood.

“It’s okay,” I rasp, patting his back awkwardly. “Shade, it’s okay.”

“It’s not okay. I could have killed you—”

Suddenly my head jerks backward. Pain shoots through my scalp.

Kitty has fistfuls of both our hair, yanking our heads back. Then she slams our foreheads together with shocking force.

The impact makes stars explode across my vision.

“Stupid boys,” she says flatly, releasing us both. “There. Now you’ve both apologized with your skulls. We can move on.”

Shade rubs his forehead and I exhale something that might almost be a laugh if my throat allowed it.

Kitty straightens, stretches like nothing just happened, then reaches for her pack.

“I should go,” she says casually. “I need to report to the guild tomorrow. See what fresh horrors they’ve prepared for me this time.”

My gaze flicks up.

“New assignment?”

“Or maybe I’ll take a break.” She pulls on her cat mask, and just like that, she’s a grimsbane again. “Try not to die, boys. I’d hate to drink alone next time.”

Then she’s gone, melting into shadows like she was never there.

Shade and I sit in silence for a while, finishing the wine. The food is mostly gone now, the expensive bottles nearly empty.

He hands me a wrapped package. “For your prince. The house pastry chef made them. They’re very sweet.”

“Why would I give Garrett pastries?” I complain.

“Because people give gifts to people they care about.” He pulls on his demon mask. “I should return. Before Rainer drinks himself to death.”

Shade actually cares about Rainer Wiolant.

He opens the door, pauses. “Don’t die, Wolf.”

“Don’t die yourself.”