Page 53 of A Madness of Crows

Am I done?

“No,” I breathe. It’s still there, that fire. Not as fierce, as bright as it once was. But something deeper. Hotter. Molten.

I am not done.

And Ifeelthat small, secret smile, lift my head to see it for myself. “Then they haven’t won, if there is still something worth fighting for.”

We lay there in silence for a few more minutes. Precious, stolen minutes.

“We’re breaking all the rules today,” I murmur finally. “Feeling rebellious, Asante?”

Something changes in his face then. Something that makes me stiffen, that small piece of happiness and peace slipping through my fingers like smoke. “What is it?”

He smiles again. But it’s smaller this time. Sadder.

“Gio will be outside soon. You’re going home tonight, Cat.”

I stiffen. And then my hands are on his chest as I push myself away, sitting up. “What?”

Hope. It roars to life inside me.

Gio.

I can gohome.

Stefan props himself on his elbows. His eyes travel over my face. “There will be a distraction on the other side of the house soon. The guards will be drawn in. And you will slipout, through a side entrance.”

I’m shaking my head, even though my pulse is thundering. “Stefan—,”

“You do not belong in this place, Caterina.” His words slice into my chest, flay it apart. “My mother didn’t, either, and it broke her. She would have wanted this, wanted me to get you out.”

He swallows. “I can’t - I can’t stand back and watch as he destroys you, Cat. I am her son. Not his.Neverhis. And I’m sorry that it took me so long to realize it.”

There are too many words in my throat, all fighting for space as he climbs off the bed. “I’ll be back soon.”

I can’t breathe, can’t think. “Where is Salvatore tonight?”

His hand brushes mine as I follow him to the door. “Away for the night. Cecile is with him. He won’t be back until tomorrow. The guards are always more lax when he’s not here.”

A hand against my cheek. “It will be fine. Trust me.”

The silence is loud as the door closes behind him. I walk back to the bed on unsteady feet, sitting on the edge.

I’m leaving.

I don’t move, barely dare to breathe, the thoughts tumbling over each other until Stefano slips back inside. “Time to go.”

He grips my hand tightly as he leads me through the halls. Once, we pass two guards walking in the opposite direction. My hands drop to my sides, Stefano’s hand slipping to my upper arm as he grips it.

As soon as they disappear around the corner, his hand drops back down.

He doesn’t take me through the main entrance. He takes me down winding halls that all look the same, so many that I lose count until we reach the end of a hallway. A curtain is set into the wall, and he pulls it across to reveal a thick metal door as he pulls out a key.

I watch him, my heart in my mouth as he unlocks it. “Where did you get that?”

“Salvatore’s office.” He offers me another of those crooked grins. “It’ll be back by morning.”

I wait as he pulls the curtain back into place. The cool night air swirls against my bare arms, and we both glance out at the open space in front of us. This side of the house looks deserted. We’re in the very far corner, close to the wall that circles the estate, and Stefano points silently to a dark rectangle set into the stone.