Page 79 of The Dagger and the Flame
‘I’m not lying,’ said Ransom, raising his chin. ‘You wanted a monster. I brought you one.’
‘You brought me a husk.’
‘It’s more than anyone else has brought you.’
Dufort’s lips twisted, another sigh heaving his shoulders. ‘Forget about the monsters. If they can be killed as easily as they’re formed, I don’t care to waste my time on them. They’ll die out eventually.’
Ransom frowned. ‘The monsters are still killing people. More and more each day. They’re making you look sloppy.’
Dufort snorted. ‘I’m a Dagger, Ransom. Do you think I give a fuck what people think of me?’
Another non-question. Ransom knotted his hands, willing the conversation to end, but Dufort was only getting started. ‘Let the beasts stalk. Let them kill. They’ll wear themselves out.’
‘Sure.’ Ransom’s voice was hollow. ‘Whatever you say.’
Dufort grabbed his shoulder. ‘I don’t know what you’re hiding from me, son, but I’m not made of patience. No one here is untouchable. Not even you. If I find out you’ve been with that girl, if you’ve betrayed my trust in you, I’ll cast youout onto those streets just as quickly as I took you from them. I’ll rip away everything you have.’
Ransom exhaled through his teeth, fighting the urge to swing at Dufort.
‘The longer that girl lives, the more dangerous she becomes,’ said Dufort. ‘I won’t tell you again. Get rid of her.’
He rolled to his feet, just as a shadow flitted by the door. Dufort reached out, yanking Lark in by the scruff of his neck. ‘Stealthless, Delano. Even for you. I assume you heard that?’
Lark rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Just the headlines, really.’
‘Good,’ said Dufort, with a grunt. ‘Because now Seraphine Marchant is your mark, too.’ He looked back and forth between them. ‘If you two idiots can’t get it done by the end of the week, you’re both out on your asses.’ He turned on Lark. ‘I haven’t appointed my Second yet. This is your chance to impress me.’ Lark swallowed thickly, hunger glowing in his eyes. ‘Don’t screw it up, Delano. The next time Lisette barks at you, I’ll have her lick your boots.’
He patted him roughly on the cheek, then stomped out of the chamber without so much as a backwards glance at Ransom. They listened for the fading echo of his footfall.
‘Well, that was fun,’ said Lark drolly. ‘You should bring him dead monsters more often.’
Ransom summoned a smile. Even on his worst days, Lark always managed to make him feel less shitty. ‘That’ll teach me to go fishing in fountains.’
Lark looked down at him. ‘Which, by the way, strikes me asextremelyout of character for you.’
‘Maybe I was making a wish.’
He raised his brows. ‘What kind of wish?’
‘Can’t tell you,’ he said, leaning his head back against the wall. ‘Then it won’t come true.’
‘I thought Dufort was going to name you as his heir.’
Ransom’s lips twisted. He was falling out of favour and he couldn’t bring himself to care. ‘I guess he’s having second thoughts.’
Lark sat down beside him, bringing his knees up to his chest. ‘We’ve never shared a mark before.’
Ransom hesitated, dread pooling in the pit of his stomach. ‘No…’
‘Nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition, though.’ Lark paused. ‘Right?’
‘Right.’
Lark blew out a breath, dimple flashing. ‘Well, then. Let the game begin.’
Chapter 29Seraphine
Seraphine burst into the cloakroom at House Armand without bothering to knock. Theo, who was hunched over the glass island, glanced up at the intrusion, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of her, drenched and shivering from head to toe.
