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‘Is tusa mo bhaile, mo dhídean.’ My voice was almost too soft to hear, but Arcturus opened his eyes a little. I pressed myself against his chest and listened to his steady heart. If I had this, I might yet lose everything. If I had this, I thought I could survive.

26

TABLE TURNING

Orvieto was cold on the day we left. My breath came in clouds as I stood on the balcony, taking in the misted hills, as buttoned up as a Reph. I would probably never come here again, unless we succeeded in defeating Scion. I wanted one last sight of the place where I had taken what I wanted, and accepted being wanted in return.

When I sensed Ducos, I locked the balcony door and crossed our room. We had laundered the sheets and remade the beds, as if we had never been here. No one else would ever know.

Arcturus was downstairs, sitting on the couch with red eyes. Now he could use my aura without hurting me, I had insisted he do it again. When I gave him a nod, he stood, dressed to leave. I checked that I had everything, including my knives, which I slotted into my holster.

‘You trained me for a good while,’ I said. ‘If it comes to single combat, do you think I can beat Cade?’

‘Yes. Fitzours is disciplined, but I believe your potential is greater. You were strong even in your early days in Oxford, before I began to instruct you in earnest. You brought Suhail to the ground by instinct. If you can do that, you can overpower a fellow dreamwalker.’

‘Why do you think my potential is greater?’

‘Because you are driven by your emotions, while I suspect Fitzours is not. Whatdoesdrive him, I cannot guess, but from what I observed, he suppresses all compassion for his targets.’

‘You criticised my lack of restraint in Oxford.’

‘I feared that your unvarnished anger might provoke the other Rephaim. But I have never judged you for embracing your rage or fear when you dreamwalk,’ Arcturus said. ‘You should trust your instincts, Paige.’

He had so much faith in my abilities. I hoped I could inspire Sala to have even a fraction of his confidence in me.

Ducos knocked on the door. I kissed Arcturus once more, a stolen indulgence. We took a final look at the room, and just like that, we left Orvieto.

It had only been a dream.

Ducos looked as if she hadn’t slept in a week. She must be in pain from the broken rib, and it was cold enough that she needed to put the heating on.

‘President Sala has agreed to update Domino after this meeting,’ Ducos said. ‘As a precaution, we’re moving some personnel to our sanctuaries in Orvieto and Matera. If Scion has its customary reaction to defiance, we could be facing an invasion within a few days.’

‘They’re not ready for an invasion. If they threaten that, it’s a bluff,’ I said. ‘Vance claimed that all resistance would be like fighting smoke. That’s all Operation Ventriloquist is. Just smoke and mirrors.’

‘I hope you’re right.’

Arcturus sat in the back. I caught his gaze in the mirror, then looked away before Ducos could see. When we reached the outskirts of Rome, we took our alysoplasm.

The Eternal City soon reappeared. A thick mist had descended, straining the glow of sunset, and the temperature had dropped even more. Ducos parked outside the Chiostro del Bramante.

She waited in the car as I got out with Arcturus. ‘I might be gone for a while,’ I told him as we entered the building. ‘Do you know when Terebell is arriving?’

‘Very soon.’ He offered me a vial. ‘It is still possible that President Sala means to collude with Scion. Should you need your gift to defend yourself, drink all of this at once. It is ectoplasm mixed with hypertonic saline, and will counteract the alysoplasm in your blood.’

‘Thank you.’ I fastened it into my jacket. ‘What did I ever do without you and your vials?’

‘Hm.’ His gaze darted over my face. ‘Be safe, little dreamer.’

‘I’ll do my best.’

When he leaned down to kiss me, it swept me to the previous autumn, to London. I had been so hopeful about where our relationship was heading then, and I felt that same hope now, as I returned his kiss. A hope that we could outlast anything that lay in store. He pressed my hand and went to his room, while I got back into the car.

‘His eyes were red,’ Ducos said, a question in her tone.

‘He’s fine.’ I fastened my seatbelt. ‘Shall we go?’

Ducos drove the short way to the Roman Forum. As I started to get out, she caught a glimpse of my holster.