Page 53 of Moonlight Hearts

“Pick a smart horse who doesn’t mind an incompetent rider.”

“Would you be my… What’s the word, knave?”

“Knave?You’re thinking of a card game.Page is the glorified human shoehorn for a knight.And no, that sounds like too much ceremony and no fun at all.”

“Have to trust your word on that.”

I snuggled close to him, nuzzled his chest, and reveled in the simple comfort of this, just Soyer and me, nothing we had to do, no place we had to be.Secretly, I felt happiness spark from maybe having another day like yesterday; one I could mostly spend with him.It was a half-awake dream ghost of a thought, but still.

“You look very comfortable and relaxed right now.”

“I am.You’re soft and warm.”

“Says my soft and warm fiancé.Can you listen, or does the sound of my voice make you fall asleep?”

I wiggled my legs to express my displeasure at the accusation.“I listen.You know that.”

“Okay then.I should’ve told you last night, but you were so excited for Food-giving.”

“’S not what the holiday’s called.”

“Don’t care.You were excited.But, my heart, I’ll be out of town for a few days after that.”

That was disproportionately sobering, and I let out a heavy breath.“Okay.You said that.”

“Yes.I wouldn’t have told you last night, but I reconsidered.I think maybe you should know.I’m oversimplifying the situation, but it’s about the vampires who tried to abduct you from the fortune teller’s train car.When you burned again.Right before the witch.”

That was like a bucket full of ice water dumped over my head, and if the way Soyer started to rub my back was any indication, he noticed my reaction.

“Are you…going after them?”

There was a pause.“They can’t hurt you anymore.I’m going after who sent them.And just so you know, I’m not doing it alone.Valentin and Simeon are coming along.Or I’m coming along with them.The details aren’t too important.”

“Is Elias going too?”

He snorted.“Fuck no.How would we keep him from getting himself into trouble?No, you and he are staying here where it’s safe.Amory?”

“Yeah?”

“I need to know that you’re ready to be bored while I’m away.Stay in.Order takeout.Watch a few movies.And if you leave the house, please take Ben with you.Can you do that for me?”

He sounded pleading, and that stirred something deep in my heart.I craned my neck so I could look into his eyes.

“I can.But you have to be careful, okay?You can’t get hurt.”I thought about what he’d said, then tacked on “And watch Simeon’s and Valentin’s backs, okay?I’m sure Elias worries too.”

He sighed.“You two.Always worrying when you shouldn’t be.Yeah, obviously I’ll look out for them.Not that they need it.”

“They wear suits all the time.Simeon’s just a lawyer.You’re a badass.Right?”

“Uh-huh.Iama badass.And I’ll make sure Simeon and his legal expertise will continue to be at your service.”

“That’s not what I mean!You know that.I don’t want Elias to hurt.”

He rubbed my back again.“Yeah, I know.Still don’t know why you two had to end up friends, but the cards are on the table there.”

I didn’t want him to go, I truly didn’t.But I had no right to demand that he stay here with me.He wouldn’t do that to me, not if there was a place I wanted to go or had to go.The phoenix of my dreams loved his freedom, though perhaps not his loneliness.

“Will you text, too?”