Chapter 16

Aship waited in the distance at the end of a long pier jutting into the sea, far from the treacherous shoreline. Nico set me down on the grassy slope in front of the prison steps, scanning the scene before us. Dead guards lay prostrate across the lawn. Prisoners donning grey tunics, similar to my own, waited in quiet deliberation, lining the way to the docks. Between them, a man in a navy overcoat. Neither guard nor prisoner.

A Firenze.

Nico stormed toward the man on his knees.

"Where are the rest of you?" he shouted in that deep, demanding tone I'd only heard from him a few times.

The Firenze glared up at Nico and snarled. "Gone. They took one of the guard boats back up the Ada. You'll never get them now."

"They left you?"

"He was a distraction," one prisoner said. In his hand, a watchman's revolver. They all carried similar weapons stolen from the guards. "Drew our attention away as he fled toward the ship while his associates stole a boat. The family and their men escaped. We figured we'd keep this one alive for you. A way to show our appreciation."

Nico crouched in front of the bleeding Firenze, who'd been struck several times in the face with a blunt force—the butt of the gun, perhaps. "We can't use him to negotiate anything. He's of no value to the Firenzes if they left him behind."

"Fuck you," the captive spat.

Nico shrugged. "Leave him here. If he tries to follow, shoot him in the knee." He stood, still staring down at the man. "No more easy deaths from now on."

Bone-chilling wind slipped beneath the fabric of my coverings and lifted the stringy hair hanging lifelessly over my shoulders. I didn't know if the shiver lashing through my skin was from the chill or the treacherous calm of Nico's voice. He was terrifying like this, supremacy seeping from every step, demanding the attention of every man in his presence. They were free because of him, and they each knew it, regarding him like he was a king among subjects. The Attanos hadn't just come for me—they'd come for us all.

The freed prisoners dragged their captive away, tying him to the stairwell handrail. If he kept up his thrashing, the crows circling above wouldn't consider him carrion just yet. They'd pick at the other dead bodies before they considered him.

"Milla." Nico's voice was gentle as he spoke. I turned from the Firenze, finding his hand outstretched to me.

"Felix knows I'm with you now," I whispered. "He'll go back to Lynchaven and tell the rest of his family." Sliding my palm into his, we walked together down the long pier where the steam ship floated on a restless sea.

"Let him. I'm not worried about the Firenzes."

"What will this mean for us going forward?"

"It means..." He sighed, gripping my palm tight. "It means we need to figure out why the alchemist was working for the OIC and why they need to open Oblivion. Fortunately, you still have the key they desired. If you're safe, they cannot proceed with whatever they have planned."

"But they'll come for me, eventually."

He nodded once. "They will."

"You know what this means, Nico."

He stopped just as we reached the ramp leading to the upper deck of the ship. I couldn't stay and put his entire family in danger. The OIC knew exactly where to find me once we returned to Lynchaven. We had the ship and now a window of opportunity.

Nico, however, seemed unconcerned with the prospect. "I promised I'd make the city safe for you, and I have to an extent. Let's go home and focus our efforts on the next demand. Give the city a fighting chance. If it goes to hell, I'll get you out. Deal?"

After all he'd done, how could I disagree?

I stood on my toes to reach the top of his head and combed my fingers through the length of wild, outgrown dark hair. "Only if you add a haircut into the terms of agreement."

His lips fought a smile, losing the battle. In a single second, he grabbed my curious arm and lifted me over his shoulder. He ascended the ramp, and I shrieked, clinging to him like a cat over water, staring over the slim ledge into choppy waters.

When we reached the top, he finally put me down, though his hand lingered around my waist.

I laughed and struck him softly against his chest. "I'm teasing, Attano. It's not like I have much room to talk concerning appearances."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he whispered, dipping his head to my ear. "You're the most beautiful thing I've seen."

"You're full of shit." I canted my chin to kiss his jaw. "But I always liked that about you."

"I'm glad I still have a few redeeming qualities left for you, princess." His smile stretched and left me weak in the knees. How many times had that face haunted my empty days in Hightower? How often had I bartered anything to the universe to witness his cruel beauty again? Whatever debt required to be paid for having him returned to me, I'd have paid it.

His eyes shifted to something off to the side, his grin fading. "I forgot to mention, I have a surprise for you."

"If it's not a bath, a seven-hour nap, and a pair of pants, I don't want it."

"Not even if it's your own family?"

That voice... I knew it well, had been berated by it enough to know it belonged to my brother. Though it was easier to believe the Attanos would come all this way to find me. I had to turn and see the shocking truth for myself.

He stood at the opposite end of the ship, white-blonde hair whipping like a flame in the breeze, catching the first streaks of dawn.

My breath caught in my throat. "Aramis . . ."