Page 80 of The Dagger and the Flame
‘What the—?’
‘Any luck with the bloom?’ she said, between heaving breaths. She stalked towards him, leaving damp footprints on the polished floor. The island was scattered with crushed leaves, scribbled-on pieces of paper and all manner of tinctures and vials. Theo was holding a jar of grey dust in his hand. ‘Did you figure out the recipe for Lightfire?’
He stared at her. ‘Why are you soaking wet?’
‘I fell in a fountain,’ she said, straining to see if he had madeany progress. She was vaguely aware of her teeth chattering, but her heart was thundering so fast she barely noticed. She felt dangerously alive, like a lit fuse about to explode. ‘With a Dagger. And a monster.’
Theo set the jar down, very slowly. ‘Are you all right?’
Sera nodded. She was certainly alive. Her body was all right, but her mind was a different story entirely. It was still spiralling, trying to sort through everything – the sight of the monster kneeling at her feet; a helpless pawn… a willing soldier. Then the feel of its cold, mottled skin between her hands and that sigh of relief – so deep, so human – as she freed it – him – with her touch.
And then there was Ransom. Another puzzle she couldn’t work out. His kiss burned like a brand against her palm. Andsaints damn her, she liked it. She wanted more of it.
Oriel, save me from myself.
Her breath quickened as she pictured his face inches from hers, the trail of his fingers along her cheek, the whisper of his worry as he said her name. Why was he worried? Why did he save her? Why did hekissher?
Why did he look so achingly handsome soaking wet?
‘Seraphine.’ Theo was in front of her now, his hands braced on her shoulders. ‘Sit down.’ Sera sat, and he went to rifle through a nearby drawer. He returned with a sea-green sweater and soft grey trousers, both of which were far too big for her. ‘Put these on before you catch your death.’
She barked a laugh. ‘Death can’t catch me,’ she said, snatching them from him. ‘No matter how hard it tries.’
‘You sound… a little hysterical.’
‘I feel hysterical.’
He turned around, affording her some privacy, and Sera clawed back her senses while slowly peeling her sodden clothes off.
‘Start at the beginning. What happened to the monster?’
‘I destroyed it,’ said Sera, as her sweater landed in a sodden heap at her feet. ‘Or the necklace did. I touched the monster and the darkness around it fell away. He turned back into a man.’ She frowned at the memory. That poor helpless soul mangled by Mama’s experiment. ‘Then the necklace exploded. It must have used up all the magic.’
‘So, the Lightfire is gone.’
‘Yes.’
Theo groaned.
‘There’s something else,’ Sera went on, as she wrestled with the laces on her boots. ‘Lightfire doesn’t just destroy the monsters. I think it… calls to them.’ She yanked the boots off, and they fell with a clatter. ‘I think the monster was drawn to me. Drawn to the magic in my necklace.’
‘What makes you think that?’
‘Before I killed it, it sort of… bowed to me.’
She watched him stiffen. ‘And what about the Dagger?’
‘The Dagger ran away with the monster’s body.’ Now, there was a sentence she never thought she’d say. She pulled her trousers off and told the story, deliberately leaving out the part where Ransom had saved her. Three times. Where she had saved him. That kiss.Saints, that kiss. ‘After the necklace exploded, I found a note inside it from my mother.’
‘Please tell me it contained the secret recipe for Lightfire?’
‘Now, why would she ever think to be that helpful?’ Sera sighed. ‘She clearly thought she had more time. Or maybe she hid the useful part in my jewellery box, which went up in flames.’ Sera pulled the trousers on and rolled them at her ankles, then pulled the sweater over her head, letting it swamp her. ‘Here. See for yourself.’
He turned around and she passed him the note.
‘The monsters bow to the power of Lightfire,’ he murmured. ‘Become the flame and destroy the dark.’ He gestured at the mess across the island. ‘I’ve been working on the bloom all day. I can’t crack the pathway to Lightfire. It’s driving me up the wall.’
Just then, the door swung open, and Bibi and Val stalked inside. Val waved a bottle of brandy about. ‘We swiped this from Fontaine’s personal stash, so you know it’s like a thousand years old. It’s going to be good.’
