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My breath came short. My palms turned clammy.

Before I knew it, I was grabbing my jacket.

I reached the door to the alley as a flood barrier was being lowered. Without stopping, I ducked under it and ran. So far, there was no water on the streets, though the Grand Canal had risen.

Around me, people were building catwalks or protecting the entrances to their shops. A few tourists stood ready with gumboots and cameras, some of them chatting with the locals. It was almost business as usual. Only I seemed to be stricken by fear.

It wasn’t only the thought of a flooded city. Some other dread was driving me, one that I couldn’t explain. It had to be something in my dreamscape. A memory I couldn’t touch.

When I reached Calle de la Verona, I opened the lockbox, fumbling out the key. Once I had opened the door, I almost collapsed in the hallway, my ribs aching. No sooner had I got up to the parlour than I nearly slammed into Arcturus. I flinched back in the nick of time, avoiding his chest by an inch. He looked me up and down.

‘Paige.’

‘Arcturus,’ I said.

He must have sensed me coming. Before I could speak, Terebell emerged from the parlour, dressed more informally than usual. I realised she could well have been asleep, given it was the middle of the day. She scrutinised my flushed cheeks, my wild hair.

‘Did you run here?’

‘No. I just—’ I stopped to catch my breath. ‘I just wanted to tell you about the siren.’

‘Yes. We are capable of perceiving sound.’

‘I mean that I wanted to tell you why it came on. It’s flooding, apparently. But nothing to worry about.’ My face was starting to burn. ‘I didn’t want you to think it was—’

Arcturus waited for me to continue, then finished my sentence: ‘An airstrike.’

I met his gaze, realising.

That was why. Even if I had forgotten the civil defence sirens, I must have heard them in Paris.

‘You ran here at full pelt to inform us that we arenotunder attack, and that nothing of note is happening,’ Terebell said, clearly thinking I was off the cot. ‘Will that be all, Underqueen?’

‘Absolutely,’ I said. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’

‘Stay.’

I stilled. Arcturus had spoken so softly, I almost thought I had imagined it.

‘Wait until the floodwater recedes,’ he said. ‘The tides are dangerous these days.’

‘Ducos said it could last until tomorrow.’

‘Then sleep here,’ Terebell said. ‘There are matters to discuss, in any case.’

Even if I made it back to the Palazzo del Domino before the canals washed on to the streets, I would find myself shut out by the flood defences. The thought of having to wade through any amount of water, after that harrowing swim, was enough to shorten my breath.

Arcturus stood aside. I hid behind my hair as I passed him, following Terebell.

In the parlour, I hung my jacket up and sat. Two glasses and a bottle of red wine stood on the table. Clearly a classic night in for the Ranthen. Terebell took the opposite couch.

‘Arcturus was intending to bathe,’ she said, explaining his disappearance. ‘He will join us.’

‘Where are the others?’

‘They have returned to Scion. Lucida is now our liaison to the Nouveau Régime.’ She picked up a glass. ‘As agreed, they will only tell our closest allies about Arcturus. He cannot defend himself in this state, and we must ensure that everything he learned retains its value.’

‘Nick said he seemed lethargic,’ I said. ‘How is he?’