Page 16 of Serpent and Shadow

For a few seconds, I was too surprised to answer.

“Is the security there to keep me safe?” I asked. “Or is it in case I decide to run off and join Bones in his human and hybrid-hating Anubis cult?”

Forsooth’s lips twitched in barely concealed amusement.

“They did not specify their precise motives to me, I’m afraid,” he said, deadpan. His eyes grew more serious. “But I imagine they will be watching all of us for a time, Ms. Shadow. Right now, the northwest tower is being cleared by various branches of British Magical Enforcement for your use. I was asked to keep you here until they finish their assessment and make any modifications needed to the chimaeras.”

“Can Luc still use Bones’s lab?” I asked.

Forsooth smiled. “That is entirely up to you, Ms. Shadow.”

I blinked, then slowly lowered myself back to my chair.

I’d be living in Bones’s quarters. I could think of worse places.

Forsooth cleared his throat, and it sounded almost apologetic.

“…We will, unfortunately, need to serve your meals in there for a while too, and provide you with escorts to your classes when they start up again on Monday.”

I fought not to grind my teeth, especially at that last part, but only nodded.

“Fine,” I replied.

When I met the mage’s dark eyes, I was surprised by the depth of grief I saw there.

“What happened today was clearly conceived and executed well before Malefic was taken prisoner,” Forsooth added. “But we mustn’t forget that it only worked because they murdered at least forty of your fellow students.”

The weight of his words made it real again.

It also managed to dull the edges of my anger, at least at the school, and Forsooth, and even Blackstone. I was still mad at the Praecuri, and the King, and the rest of the cowards who refused to do the right thing out of fear of Malefic Bones. But the bulk of my rage remained pointed at Malefic himself, and the witch who’d held the knife to Bones’s throat.

“Right.” Forsooth clapped his hands on his lap, seeming to make up his mind. “Right,” he said again. “Well, since we must all stay up here for a little while longer, while they ready your new room, perhaps it’s time we tell you a few things, rather than the opposite?”

Folding his hands in his lap, he smiled at me.

“…Has anyone ever told you, Ms. Shadow, the story of Antonia and Petrov the Dragon?” he inquired brightly.

That time, I almost did laugh.

Almost.

4

Darkness

They released me roughly two hours later.

I didn’t go to my dormitory at Valarian, even though I knew I probably should.

I’d gone directly to Bones’s tower, and told myself I’d talk to Miranda, Jolie, and Draken tomorrow, after I’d gotten some sleep and after they’d had some time to talk with one another and maybe calm down.

I had my own reasons for wanting to be alone.

Forsooth had forced me to think about yet another reason why the authorities might not be particularly eager to go after Bones. Whether they truly believed it or not, or if it was just another excuse to avoid confronting Malefic directly almost didn’t matter, or mattered very little.

Forsooth had been diplomatic in bringing it up, but it still shocked me.

“I think,” he’d said carefully, at one point in our discussion. “We should wait on trying to obtain help from official sources. At least until we know exactly what story they intend to tell about the events of this morning.” He’d cleared his throat, exchanging looks with Blackstone. “It might be prudent to wait on sharing any information with them, as well, in the interests of your husband’s safety.”