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Nick ran up the stairs. I watched him go, still with a fond smile on my face.

‘Ducos,’ I said, ‘did you know Nick was here?’

‘I thought you might enjoy the surprise,’ she said.

‘Who are you and what have you done with my supervisor?’

‘You may find me less tense outside Scion.’ Ducos started up the stairs, beckoning me to join her. ‘To most of the city, these buildings are offices. To us, they form the Palazzo del Domino. It’s supported by the Libuše Institute of Prague and the Yerebatan Institute of Istanbul. I told you that Domino was created after the Balkan Incursion, which is what I believed, but I learned otherwise when I joined Command.’

‘So even you don’t know everything.’

‘I do now. Domino was founded here in 2015, but the network only grew after the Balkans, when Scion showed it had ambitions to conquer the world.’

Ducos led me up two flights of stairs, to a wide corridor with a polished floor and screened windows.

‘This building is the Palazzo della Notte. This is where we provide refuge for agents at risk, like you,’ she said. ‘The other side is the Palazzo del Giorno, where you’ll meet Command.’

My room was an elegant affair. The huge bed was upholstered in gold brocade, laden with pillows and silk cushions.

‘This will be yours for as long as you’re here.’ Ducos handed me a key. ‘Dinner is served in the bar from half past five, and breakfast from six in the morning. If you’d like a meal in your room at any time, call the concierge. You’ll find a gym on this floor, and a library above.’

‘When do I see Command?’

‘I’ll let you know. For now, get some rest. Oh, and if you could restrain yourself from destroying this building, I would be grateful,’ she said crisply. ‘I may not be your supervisor any longer, but as the person vouching for you, your actions do continue to reflect on me.’

She closed the door. I locked it and leaned against it, listening to the quiet in the room.

Another temporary home. A base while I explored my options.

Behind a sliding door, I found a bathroom with a clawfoot tub. I checked that I could feel the æther, sensing the many spirits of Venice. While the water ran, I undressed and sat on the bed, letting the air conditioning do its work. This was the sort of warmth that drew sweat even in the shade, in stillness. It worsened the unrelenting fatigue.

Hard to believe this was the fourth country I had entered in as many days. So much had happened to me in so little time. It had only been a year and a half since I had learned the truth behind Scion. Part of me had thrived in the fast lane, but I could tell that I was running on empty batteries, and I didn’t know how to recharge any more.

Even in this balmy weather, I needed the bathwater hot enough to steam. Once I had soaked the ache from my body, I wrapped myself in a thick fluffy towel, my hair dripping. While I was in the tub, someone had left a set of pyjamas on the bed, along with the dissimulator, rolled small in its airtight tube. Once I had changed, I took the tin of blue aster from my jacket. I was losing my patience with being so tired.

The patches were small and round. Peeling the back off one, I smoothed it on to my upper arm and lay on the bed. No sooner had my head touched the pillow than I was asleep.

And when I woke up, I remembered.

Get out of my way. You’ve been poisoning me.My voice was shaking.I know something is wrong.

Paige, you’re in shock from the airstrikes.Eléonore Cordier stood in front of me, her hands slightly raised, her expression calm.I told you you’d have memory issues. I’m not the person you’re—

Where is Warden?

We’ve been over this. Warden betrayed you.

He wouldn’t. He would never do that.An indescribable ache in my chest, strong enough that I could barely speak, slicking my cheeks with tears.He’s in pain. They’re killing him. I have to find him, before—

You can’t leave, Paige. You’re in too much danger.

But the door was right behind her, and I had done more reckless things. I made a break for it.

Cordier grabbed my left wrist, the bad one. The familiar pain shot along my arm, but it was a shadow of the crushing force in my chest, which radiated through the golden cord. I fought her tooth and nail. A criminal against a spy. All the while, she kept hold of my wrist.

Get your fucking hands off me—

I’m sorry. I don’t want to do this.There was strained remorse in her voice.I promise this is almost over.