Page 45 of Soulbound

"Something like that."

Chapter 10

Gulls squawked overhead, pinwheeling between the masts of numerous ships as Sebastian wandered along the docks. He'd come here often enough when he could slip away from Morgana's house, though the collar he'd worn then limited how far he could go. The scent of the river left much to be desired, but it was the one place in London where he felt like he could relax.

Sebastian's gaze slowly came into focus, and he realized what he was staring at. The ticketing office's sign showed a ship, cast in bronze. It wasn't the first time he'd considered it.

It was, however, the first time he'd stepped inside.

The bell over the door tinkled. The small agent looked up sharply from where he was writing in a book. "May I help you?"

"Perhaps."

* * *

Half an hour later, he stepped out of the ticket office, tucking his purchase into his waistcoat pocket.

Liverpool to Manhattan.

He didn't know what had driven the purchase—he'd given Bishop an oath after all, to help destroy the demon—but this aimless jaunt in the city had ended here. The moment he saw the steerage ticket office, he'd known what he was looking for.

Escape.

A steerage ticket to Manhattan was all he could afford, but it offered him something he'd never had before. He could almost see a new city unfolding before him, filled with opportunities, and a new life.... Far away from the mess here, and the haunting reminder that his mother was still out there, no doubt plotting revenge against him for all he'd cost her. Lady E might think all he needed to do was embrace his past, and learn to control his emotions, but that restless itch was back.

He didn't belong here.

And last night... last night only reminded him of everything he couldn't have. It would be better this way.

He stopped in his tracks at the sight of a young woman sitting on a barrel, kicking her heels and sending her green skirts fluttering. "Verity."

"Fancy seeing you here," she said, biting on the apple she held and lifting her gaze to the sign on the shop.

"Indeed," he replied. "Were you following me? Did my brother put you up to this?"

Verity ignored him, as she was wont to do, but then he expected that living with his brother's glowering moods gave her some sort of immunity to anything he could throw at her. "Bishop wants to pay a visit to the One-Eyed Crows after lunch, so he sent me to find you. He thinks they might know the whereabouts of your father—"

"The demon."

"Technically. So, yes, he put me up to this, but no, I wasn't following you. I tracked you."

"Tracked me?"

She rolled her eyes. "All I need is a possession from somebody to be able to find them. It's a gift."

"From when you were a thief?"

"Touché, big brother." She grinned. "Mind you, utterly redeemed now."

He couldn't find it in him to remain angry with her. Verity's charm was often insufferable, but he liked her. Particularly when she was standing toe-to-toe with Bishop.

He also had her to thank for saving his life, when his assassin brother had thought he'd be better off dead. Instead, she'd made Bishop reconsider, and offer to teach him to control his dangerous powers.

"I don't think you'll ever be redeemed," Sebastian said dryly. He pulled his pocket watch out and looked at the time. He had two, but only this one worked, and the other... well, it wasn't as though he'd have thought himself sentimental, but it was the first gift his mother ever gave him. He really ought to destroy it. "We're going to be late."

Verity seemed in no mood to hurry. She kicked her heels slowly, staring at the ticketing office. "It's a long way to the Americas."

His gut twisted into knots. "Verity—"