tongue splitting. My hands and feet twisting into claws—
“Stop,” Jesse said.
I stared up at him, almost panting with fear.
“Stop, beloved,” he said more gently, and took up my clenched fist with both hands. “I’ve upset you, and I shouldn’t have. I don’t want you to dread yourself. I don’t want you to dread what is to come. Like I said, you’re exceptional, so there may be nothing to worry about at all. But whatever happens, whatever you face, I’ll face it with you. Do you hear?”
“How can you say that? It nearly happened on the roof today. You can’t know—”
“I will be with you. We’re together now, and the universe knows I won’t let you make your sacrifice alone. Dragon protects star. Star adores dragon. An age-old axiom. Simple as that.”
I looked down at our hands, both of his curled over mine. I unclenched my fist. Blood from the thorn smeared my skin.
“The universe,” I muttered. “The same universe that has produced the kaiser and bedbugs and Chloe Pemington. How reassuring.”
With the same absolute concentration he might have shown for turning flowers into gold, Jesse Holms smoothed out my fingers between his, wiping away the blood. He turned my hand over and lifted it to his lips. His next words fell soft as velvet into the heart of my palm.
“Those nights, in the sweetest dark, we shared our dreams. That’s your answer. I was stitched into yours, and you were stitched into mine, and that was real, I promise you.” I felt his lips curve into a smile. The unbelievably sensual, ticklish scuff of his whiskers. “Very good dreams they were, too,” he added.
It was no use trying to cling to mortification or fear. He was holding my hand. He was smiling at me past the cup of my fingers, and although I couldn’t see it, the shape of it against my skin was beyond tantalizing, rough and masculine. I was a creature gone hot and cold and light-headed with pleasure. I wanted to snatch back my hand and I wanted him to go on touching me like this forever. I wanted to walk with him back to his cottage, to his bed, and to hell with the Germans and school and all the rest of the world.
But he looked up suddenly.
“They’re searching for you,” he said, releasing me at once, moving away.
They were. I heard my name being called by a variety of voices in a variety of tones, all of them still inside the castle, none of them sounding happy.
“Go on.” With a few quick steps, Jesse was less than a shadow, retreating into the black wall of the woods. “Don’t get into trouble. And, Lora?”
“Yes?”
There was hushed laughter in his voice. “Until we can see each other again, do us both a favor. Keep away from rooftops.”
• • •
“This kind of behavior will not be tolerated, Miss Jones.”
“I beg your pardon, ma’am.”
“Students are absolutely not allowed outside after sundown without proper escort.”
“I’m so terribly sorry.”
“It was incredibly irresponsible of you. I had to summon half the staff to help search for you. From their suppers, I might add.”
“I never meant to—I only nodded off in the gardens, I swear. I fell asleep.”
“So you’ve said already. Twice. Are you ill, Miss Jones?”
“No, ma’am.”
“A sound sleeper, is that it?”
“Yes, ma’am. I mean, I suppose so. I am sorry.”
“I really must think you have no notion of the world in the least, Miss Jones. A child like you should know better than to trust the night. There are dangers beyond these walls—yes, even out here. It is my responsibility to ensure that every girl here remains safe, remains healthy, remains untouched.…”
“Yes, ma’am. Are … are you all right, ma’am?”
“I am perfectly well, Miss Jones. A touch of the catarrh, perhaps. Ahem. The duke is holding a celebration Saturday next to honor the birthday of his son. It is an Idylling tradition, and the tenth- and eleventh-year girls are invited every year. I am tempted—sorely tempted—to exclude you as punishment.”
“Oh?”
“But as the duke has specifically requested your presence, and since this is, after all, your first offense, I shall not.”
“Oh.”
“Perhaps he wishes you to play again. We’ll see.”
“Oh.”
“That will be all for now, Miss Jones. Tomorrow we will discuss a proper punishment for your transgression. You may retire to your room now, as it seems you are in such critical need of slumber.”
“Thank you, ma’am. Good night.”
“Good night.”
• • •
I shall not wander the school grounds alone at night.