Page 71 of Fire to the Stars

Abel

The second we step into the hotel room, Lucy bursts from her hiding place beneath Claire’s pillows. I crouch to greet her. She nuzzles Claire’s hands first.

“Bonsoir, ma Luciole!” Claire coos.

Lucy’s whining intensifies as she weaves over and under the folds of Claire’s skirt. Meanwhile, I let my hands hang tinderfoxless between my knees. Claire casts me a victory smirk while Lucy leaps up to furiously lick her scarred throat and cheek. Nice to know a few weeks are all it takes to end up in second place.

Yawning and bleary-eyed, I toss a fresh log into the fireplace and strike the flint to restart it. Oscillating between concern for Madame Afi and the courage to face Gérard has been draining, but I didn’t realize howtenseI’ve been until Claire softened to me again. I must’ve done a decent job expressing my regret overthe journal. I’ll sleep well tonight, knowing at least one person believes I’m worth redemption.

“Should I take Lucy out to relieve herself?” Claire asks.

I shed my coat. “Yes, but don’t stay out too long. If the—”

“Yes, yes. The assassins could be nearby.” Claire waves a dismissive hand, that too-easy expression on her face. “I’ll stay in view of the front desk.”

“Wait.” I walk back to her, gaze dropping to her bloody sleeve. “Are you injured?”

“It’s not mine,” she says, gathering Lucy from the ground. “Gérard cut himself on the glass. Blood must’ve transferred when he grabbed my wrist.”

“Your role in Gérard’s slaying is done.” Noticing her expression falling, I force my tone to soften. “Thank you for your help.”

She looks at the ground between us. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Why aren’t you angry that I read the journal?”

“I wondered that too,” I admit. “I suppose I wanted someone to read it. It was liberating, actually. Secrets are exhausting.”

“Would you ever try curing dragons again?”

“No. I can’t trust myself with hope.” I retreat to the bed and sink onto the edge, hunched with my elbows on my knees. “My logic sounds backward, I know.”

She remains by the door. “It’s not backward.”

“May I askwhyyou read it?”

She shrugs. “I was curious.”

“I’ve caught on to your nonchalant act by now. That’s not the truth.”

Claire releases a relenting breath and lets Lucy chew on her knuckles. “I wanted to know what kind of person I was dealingwith.”

“Person…or slayer?”

Her gaze finds Micah’s skull against the wall. “Both.”

“I imagine I’m a disappointment. It’s fair if you think so.”

To my surprise, she shakes her head. “What inspired you to let Gérard live his last days free?”

“You did.”

She blanches. “Me?”

“You avoided me after you read my journal, but you didn’t abandon me. You saw beyond the terrible, shortsighted person I am and remained focused on your goal.” I clear my swelling throat. “You didn’t try to convince yourself I was anything else. You found a way to deal with reality and get your job done.”

Claire lowers Lucy to the floor and kneels in front of me. “What are you saying?”