The moment had passed, and with it the light and the laughter of the morning. Nox’s face was once again dark and impenetrable.
Ridley couldn’t worry about it, though, because once again all she could think of was Necro.
Ridley pulled his wrist toward her and looked at his watch. “I’m sorry. I need to get back.”
There. She could stop pretending it wasn’t on her mind.
“To your friends?” Nox asked. “I thought they were the ones who kicked you out.”
“They were, I mean, Link was. But my—” What was I going to say? Friend? Was that what this was? “Necro’s sick.”
“Necro?” Nox pulled his arm back, straightening his shirt. “What kind of sick?”
“She passed out onstage. Didn’t you see it? Yesterday, just before I came to the hotel?”
He shook his head. “I left as soon as we—you know.” A shadow crossed his face. “I’m sorry to hear that. I should call someone. Send a doctor.” He felt for his phone.
“I’m not sure they want anything from either one of us right now.” Ridley said the words slowly. “In fact, I’m pretty sure we’re the last two people on earth that Floyd or Link or Necro want to see.”
Nox lowered his cell back into his pocket.
“You think so?”
She raised an eyebrow. “You were there.” When you kissed me. In front of him. While they watched.
“What do we do?” He sounded genuinely worried.
“I’ve left a thousand messages. All we can do is wait.”
“Until what?”
“I’m not sure I know,” Ridley said.
He sighed. “Fair enough.”
“Sirens.” Ridley looked up. I’d better get on with it. The Siren in the photograph. A plan is a plan. “You were going to show me a Siren’s view of New York.”
“First the museum. I think we’ve got to expand your definition of what a Siren is.”
“Enlighten me.”
Nox smiled. “Look, I’m not saying I know you better than you know yourself. I’m saying that if you open your eyes, you’ll figure out you’re not so alone. Or at least, you don’t need to be.”
“I’m not alone. I have—” Who? Not Link. Especially not after yesterday.
Not anymore.
“Well, I have my cousin, Lena.”
Nox nodded. “The Natural. And you have your sister. The little Thaumaturge.”
“Sisters. Can’t forget Reece, no matter how much I’d like to.” She stopped. “Wait—how do you know Lena’s a Natural?” She didn’t like surprises, and she didn’t know if she trusted Nox not to pull them on her.
“She’s Lena Duchannes. You’re Ridley Duchannes. I’ve known many Duchannes, and more Ravenwoods. You don’t exactly keep a low profile.”
They kept walking. “And Ryan? How could you tell what sort of Caster she was?”
“I could feel it. She’s a powerful little girl.” He smiled. “Like her sister, I think. I can tell you care about her. But you have to admit, you yourself? You’re something of a lone wolf. Especially for a Siren. I thought you only traveled in packs? With whole boatloads of your adoring sailors?”
Ridley didn’t say anything. She’d been alone from the moment she’d left home until she’d met Link. Ever since her own parents had kicked her out of her family home, after her Claiming. But even with Link, no matter how well things seemed to go for a while, she always ended up back where she’d started. Alone again.
Back on the curb.
“Maybe I want to be alone,” she said finally, because everything else was too painful to say.
“Maybe you’re as big a liar as I am,” Nox said, holding out his hand.
She took it.
His hand was warm and strong, and she felt inexplicably better holding it.
Even if he was the second most horrible person in the world.
Even if she was the first.
Then he squeezed her hand, as if he felt it, too.
The museum became a picnic in the park and shopping in SoHo. An afternoon walk became delicate sushi. Dinner became dessert, caramel and crème fraîche, and cream puffs drowning in warm chocolate fudge. Waiters stood at attention as if they were bodyguards; doors were opened, cars were waiting, store clerks were doting.
It was like a popcorn wish-fulfillment movie of someone else’s life. Ridley wished it were real. She wished it were hers. But even if she was only playing the part for today, it was better than nothing.
Still, there were no Sirens.
The day might have been charmed, and the prince might have been charming, but there was no evidence of any other kind of Cast or Charm.
Still, she savored every minute of it.
By the time they ended up back at Les Avenues, Ridley let Nox come up to the apartment with her.
“Just for a minute,” she said.
He’s not half bad, she thought, as far as princes go.
“Just to watch the sunset,” he agreed.
He’s not half bad, she thought, as far as enemies go.
“Just to see the stars,” she conceded.
This isn’t half bad, she thought, as far as wars go.
“Just one day,” he said. “You promised.”
And just to take another look at one small photograph hanging on the wall, she thought.
Lennox Gates, what is your Siren story?
CHAPTER 28
Fear of the Dark
How well do you know this guy?” Link was sweating. He shook his ringed hand. The whole thing felt like it was burning off.
“Who, Sampson? How well does anyone know a Darkborn?” Floyd was annoyed. They were stuck on the subway. Not the Underground, and not the Tunnels. The regular old subway. The one that smelled like stale cigarettes and adult diapers.
It was rush hour in New York City, which meant every time the subway doors opened, as many people got into the car as were already inside it.
The whole thing was a hopelessly broken puzzle.
Link and Floyd had been following the ring throughout the Underground, and as far as Link could tell, it was leading them both to nowhere and back again. Necro didn’t have time for either. And Ridley…
Link had a bad feeling Ridley was in a whole lot more trouble than even he realized. That second marker, he thought. That second marker means she’s not in control. That second marker means Lennox Gates can make her do anything he needs her to. Even if that means hurting Necro.
He didn’t know what to think about Ridley, but any way you looked at it, he was worried.
Link tried not to think about it. He clung to the overhead pole, letting his long body sway with the motion of the car. Then he looked back at Floyd. “But for a Darkborn. You think he’s for real?”
Floyd stood firmly planted against the side of the rattling seat. “Look, Link. Are you asking me if I believe him that your girlfriend cou
ld hurt my best friend in the world? Not to mention our keyboard player? Of course I do.”
Link watched the tunnel pass by, through the flickering black windows of the subway car. She’s not my girlfriend anymore. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know her. And it doesn’t mean she could do something like this. Not on her own.
His hand ached.
Floyd only watched him. “You don’t think she could?”
He made a face. “Don’t be stupid. Of course I don’t.”
She looked away, hurt. “All right, then. If I’m so stupid, then I guess there isn’t much left to talk about.”
“I guess not.” Link didn’t want to think about the gardening shears tucked in his back pocket. If you’re so sure, why did you bring them? Who do you think you’re gonna fight? And what could she possibly have gotten herself involved in this time?
After that, Floyd and Link rode in silence. But the silence only lasted for a few minutes, because then Floyd looked up at him and started talking, out of the blue. “It’s none of my business.”
“What is?” Link wasn’t really paying attention. He was watching a guy at the end of the row of seats secretly pick his nose, which wasn’t all that easy to do on a crowded subway car during rush hour.
“You deserve better. That’s all I’m saying.” Floyd looked away.
Link rubbed his hand through his hair, confused. “Better what? What are you talkin’ about?” She wasn’t being all that specific. Plus, the guy had his finger halfway up his nose now. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to scratch his own brains.
“You know what I’m talking about.” Floyd was irritated. Link could tell.
She sounds kinda mad.
“I really don’t.” Now Link was irritated. He flexed his burning hand against the safety pole he was holding on to.
Seriously. Not a clue.
“It’s none of my business. I’m done.”
See? She’s ticked.
“Fine,” Link said. “Be done.”
Seein’ as I have no idea what you’re done with.
A man shoved between them. Floyd shoved back. She slid closer to Link. “Ridley treats you like garbage.”
Here we go. “Rid treats everyone like garbage.”
“Why do you let her?”