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‘Maria and I would like to come, too,’ Nick said. ‘Now Harald is dead, I’m free to leave. Naples proved we can work as a team. Domino will let us do it again.’

After a moment, I nodded. If I meant to survive Cade, I would need backup.

‘Assuming our requests are approved, we don’t have long in Venice,’ Verca said lightly. ‘We should enjoy our last night here.’She topped up her coffee with milk. ‘I’ve heard of a cocktail bar owned by voyants, the Apotèca dei Spiriti. Shall we try it after dinner?’

‘I need to stay here tonight, but you go,’ I said.

‘I’ll never refuse a good cocktail.’ Maria nudged Nick. ‘Can we convince you to join us, old man?’

‘If I’m not mistaken,’ Nick said, not looking up from his newspaper, ‘you’re eight years my senior.’

‘Yes, but let’s face it, I’m younger at heart. You’re wearing a fleece.’

‘Nothing wrong with a good warm fleece.’ He turned a page. ‘Since my patient is going, I’d better make sure she doesn’t drink herself into oblivion. Unless you want company, Paige?’

‘No. You have fun.’ I reached for a slice of bread. ‘I’ll do some training while I wait.’

‘In possession?’ he said. ‘Won’t you need someone with you?’

‘You know full well that none of you want to be target practice.’

I didn’t mention that only Arcturus was strong enough to withstand my attacks, and that wasn’t even a guarantee now. I couldn’t risk inflicting any further pain.

In any case, I wasn’t trying to possess Cade.

I was trying to kill him.

I had failed to kill people I should have before, namely Jaxon Hall. Much as I despised the man, I had a tie to him that I had failed to cut. Cade was a different kind of enemy. I owed him nothing. He wasn’t even a friend. Just an acquaintance from the worst year of my life.

This time, I had to commit to my line of fire. Getting rid of Cade was the only way to stop him forcing the free world to its knees. No prison would hold a dreamwalker for long.

He had to die.

In my room, I warmed up my gift, easing back into dislocation. I pushed my spirit as far as I could without leaving my body, fighting a tight band of pain above my eyes.

So many other voyants had their gifts down to a fine art. Liss and Jaxon were two examples. All of us paid a toll for our abilities,but mine seemed to resist me with such fury on some days. Cordier must not have let me practise during the months I had been with her.

At one, I headed back to the streets. I soon found the bookshop Ducos had recommended. Thick novels were piled into bathtubs and boats, protecting them from the high tides.

Arcturus loved to read. I could offer him that small comfort, if nothing else. Most of the books were in Italian, which was not one of his six human languages, but after some rummaging, I found an old French novel,La Belle et la Bête. From the cover and surreal illustrations, which showed a woman and a monster, it should have been destroyed in the biblioclasms.

A book that had escaped from France to Venice, like us. I paid and tucked it into my jacket.

Venice had been a tonic. Even with the water, I wished I could stay longer. I spent an hour sourcing a few supplies from its shops, including a windproof lighter and a rusty set of lockpicks.

In my room, I packed my clothes, then took out the last of the blue aster. I would use the rest of today to get some rest. I stuck on a patch and crawled into bed, drowsing until a knock came at the door. When I opened it, I found a package outside, containing two phones.

My own phone had gone off while I slept. The message was from Nick.

We’ve been approved to leave for Rome in a few days. All three of us will be there to help you.

Thank you, I wrote back. Chances are I’m going to need it.

Terebell and Arcturus arrived at dusk, as planned. By then, there was only one window illuminated in the Palazzo del Giorno, and I sensed that it was almost empty.

‘Thanks for coming.’ I showed them to the entrance. ‘Did anyone follow you?’

‘No.’ Terebell wore a wide-brimmed hat. ‘What have you already told these humans about us?’