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She’d never asked if any of the rare trading ships had offered news from the other islands about her counterparts—whatever they were called—so it was possible she might not be alone on this sinking ship. Maybe, somewhere across the sea, someone else was railing at their own inability to perform their duty. It wouldn’t change the fact that if Alessa failed, she’d be the one responsible for the deaths of every living thing on Saverio. If the other islands fared better, their survivors would someday arrive on Saverio to find barren shores and empty ruins, and if any records remained, Alessa would live on in their history as a cautionary tale:

Alessa, the last Finestra.

Dea’s greatest mistake.

She swallowed, throat tight. “Doyoubelieve I’m a… a new kind of ghiotte?”

Adrick smirked. “I’ve seen you bedridden with cramps. Ghiotte would be tougher than that.”

She bared her teeth. “Adrianus Crescente Paladino, you’d cry like a baby ifyougot cramps.”

Adrick made a gagging face at his full name. “I know, I know. You’re the divine warrior and I’m the worthless brother you left behind. Why do you care what I think? You’re the one with the direct line to Dea. Askher.” His lips twisted with a hint of bitterness.

“It doesn’t work like that.” She flicked a glance at the dusky sky.

“You!” a robed woman called out.

Alessa flinched, but the woman looked past her.

Adrick broke into a jog. “Keep your head down and hurry up.”

“Do you know her?”

“’Course not. They’re all pushy like that.”

She frowned. It had sounded like the woman was speaking to someone she recognized. Alessa glanced over her shoulder. The woman wasn’t following. No angry mob giving chase. Not yet.

“Adrick, what do I do?”

“Prove them wrong. Get a Fonte and keep them alive for once.”

“I’mtrying.”

“I know.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “You always do.”

The twinkling lights of the city grew closer as they walked in silence.

She ducked her head, baring her unmarked wrists for the drowsy guards manning the city walls. Adrick bid them a hearty good night and they traded some sort of manly handshake.

After checking that the surrounding area was clear, Alessa unlocked the first tunnel entrance they passed and stepped inside. “I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me about Ivini.”

“IsaidI’m sorry.” Adrick’s moonlit silhouette was fragmented by the bars. “Lock it.”

Alessa turned the lock with a click. “Satisfied?”

“Never. I should take your keys.”

“Stealing keys to the Fortezza is a banishable offense.”

“Ohno, notbanishable. I wouldneverdo somethingbanishable,like defying the church’s edicts by fraternizing with you.”

“They wouldn’tbanishyou. Only lock you up for a few days.”

“Much better. Now that I’ve risked my freedom, tell me who you’re going to pick so I can make some bets.”

“I haven’t decided yet, and I wouldn’t tell you if I had. In fact, I hope you’re the last person on Saverio to find out thisvery importantinformation.”

He snorted. “Fine. I deserve that. But everyone’s been asking.”