Starling (131 page)

“This book has the means to elevate or
destroy the Order. It must never
fall into the wrong hands.”

eliciana sat crossed-legged on Cass’s bed at the brothel.
The early morning sun shined through the open window,
but the entire house was quiet.

After they had fled Palazzo Dubois, everyone had returned to Palazzo Dolce, where Rowan and his men had rotated
standing watch all night. Luca had insisted on taking a turn, and Cass
assumed he was still sleeping. Thankfully, everyone had made it
back to Palazzo Dolce without major injury, though apparently Flavia had to be carried out forcefully by Seraphina and Arabella because she didn’t want to leave Cass behind.
“I still can’t believe you brought me here,” Feliciana said. “How

Cass shook her head. “I forgive you. Now you need to forgive
yourself. Guilt can make you crazy if you let it.”
Someone knocked gently on the door, and Cass rose from her
spot on the bed to open it. Flavia stood in the corridor, a worn copy
of Sophocles’s
Antigone
tucked under her arm. Cass smiled down at
her. “I thought you liked happy stories. That’s a tragedy, you know.”