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It’s the taking him part that’s the problem. There are shadows in the intersection, long things that move and flicker as the fight surges and retreats. I reach out, trying to aim for the one at Cato’s feet, but a flash of his power eliminates them entirely. It’s like trying to clutch at shadows under the midday Sun.

I grit my teeth in frustration as another attempt slips through my fingers. “Cato is creating too much light with his attacks. The closest I could get is those shadows in the corner.” I point to one of the few spaces spared from the destruction. “But we’d be too exposed and it would take too long to get to him and I might not be able to use my magic to get away.”

Vesper hums under their breath. I can actually see them considering and discarding scenarios. Finally, they curse under their breath. “This is going to be risky.”

“I’ve literally been saying that since you suggested it.”

They ignore me, still speaking softly almost as if musing to themself. “We’ll have to split up.”

“What?”

“I’m decently certain I can bend luck without touching you, or at least determine who the bad luck falls onto.”

I give them the look that statement deserves. “Decently certain is not certain. Have you done it before?”

“No, Kestrel, I’ve never done it before.” They frown as Cato deflects another attack. “I’ve only had the Wheel’s luck for two nights, same as you with the Moon. I’m still figuring out the parameters of my limits. With that said, we don’t have another choice. If we keep arguing, we’re going to still be hiding on this roof when Cato dies.”

I swallow down a curse. “Fine. We split up. That will preserve my energy, but it still doesn’t solve the problem if I can’t get to him.”

“I know.” They rub the back of their free hand over their forehead. “Put me on a roof in the distance. I’ll yell for him to douse the fires, then you can grab him, grab me, and return us here.”

What they’re saying makes sense, but all I can think about is how the shingle shifted unexpectedly under my foot, how my ankle rolled, how I ended up on my back, breathless and without defense. All night, we’ve taken such pains to maintain physical contact to protect me. Vesper has no way of knowing they’ll be able to continue once I let go of them. “Your luck will turn on me.”

“I’m going to try very hard to aim it at Death and the Tower to create an opportunity for you.” They open their eyes. “I promise you can trust me.”

The two statements feel in contradiction to each other. They got their powers at the same time I did. They’re attempting to learn them the same way I am. They’re just as likely to fuck up as I am. Cato cries out and I spin to see he’s gone to one knee. We’re out of time.

“Get ready.” I don’t stop to think. I search the rooftops across the intersection for one Vesper should be able to see from Cato’s location. A heartbeat later, I’ve found shadows there to harbor us. One step, one breathless beat where it feels like we cease to exist, and then we’re there.

Letting go of Vesper’s hand is more difficult. Fear makes my fingers rigid. I fight the impulse to pull them closer, to hold them so tightly their luck will never turn on me. “We won’t have a second shot at this.”

“I know.”

“On the count of three, I’m gone. Wait a beat for me to get my bearings and then call out.”

Vesper nods tightly. “Okay.”

I’m no stranger to fear. We’ve been linked since I was old enough to understand how even the Cinque’s power couldn’t protect my mother from the Minor Court. It’s crouched beside me through every long winter’s night, wondering when the Sun will come again. It lingers every time Pika or Quoll attempt a lift on their own. It clings to me when I think of a future that will keep coming even after Mouse dies. Fear and I are familiar foes.

“One.” I take a sharp breath. “Two.” Another. “Three.” I release Vesper’s hand and step back through the shadows to our original location. The moment I land, crouched between two narrow greenhouses, chest heaving and skin covered in sweat, Vesper’s voice echoes as if coming from everywhere and nowhere.

“Cato, douse the light!”

For one eternal moment, I think he won’t do it. He has no reason to trust a voice in the darkness, especially when danger arches through the air in the form of the Tower’s sword. He rolls out of the way, but only just. He’s moving slower than he was just seconds ago. The next strike will be the one to end him—maybe the one after that if he’s truly lucky.

Miraculously, he obeys. Between one heartbeat and the next, the light emanating from him disappears as if sucked in through his very skin. His palms go dark. Even the faint light of the small fires seems dampened.

I move at the same time Death does. One blink and I’m at Cato’s side, wrapping my arms around his waist. I meet Death’s empty gaze, see the shock there. He’s already in motion when I appear, his sword spearing through the night and right at Cato’s chest. Right at my chest. There’s no way he’ll miss. He’s too close, too fast, too fucking good.

But he does.

He pulls the strike at the last moment, his body lunging to the side with the aborted momentum. I don’t see the flash of purple I’ve come to expect from Vesper’s luck, but there’s no time to wonder what’s going on.

I tumble forward, pulling Cato with me to the shadows where Vesper hides. I take their hand with my free one. “Good job,” I gasp. Almost there, almost there, almost there.

“I didn’t—”

A third blink, and we’re back on the tallest roof. I open my mouth to caution both of them to silence, but the night around me goes strange and the faint light of the Moon overhead swims before my eyes. I hit my knees, weaving. Cato collapses on the roof next to me. My powers are still active enough to dampen the sounds, thank the gods, but only barely.