A Murder of Crows by Jeanette Battista

Author:Jeanette Battista
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, fantasy, magic, young adult, dragons, poison, assassins
Publisher: Jeanette Battista

Chapter Sixteen

Benedetto sat close to the Shrike—Vermillion, he reminded himself—doing his best not to stare. Now that he’d seen her in the light of day, he felt more than just attraction; she fascinated him. On the roof, she’d been shrouded in mystery, an idea more than a person. But seeing her on the canals, in the Floating Market—seeing her move and fight felt like he’d been granted some kind of Divine gift—it was more than he ever expected.

As Savino and Denevah moved to the opposite side of the room, the Crow scooted a bit closer to Vermillion. He’d expected her to be taller and slimmer. Her body was heavy with curves, but he knew better than to think she was soft. You couldn’t move like she did and not have a ridiculous core of strength and muscle. She moved like a revelation.

Remembering the outcome of the fight, Benedetto glanced over at Denevah. She huddled into herself, arms wrapped around her middle as if she had a stomachache. Misery and terror were etched in lines on her face. Her dark blue eyes were wide and staring. He’d seen her take off her glove. He knew how close Vermillion had come to death, even if she didn’t. Benedetto was grateful that Savino had been there to drive Denevah to the ground and keep her from doing something she’d regret.

Denevah was no assassin. She might pretend to one, but Benedetto knew that when it came down to it, she wouldn’t be able to coldly kill a person at someone else’s order. He hoped she realized it before she had to face a real test.

When he turned back to Vermillion, he saw her watching Savino and Denevah, head tilted in curiosity. The two of them spoke quietly, too low to hear from where Benedetto sat, but Savino had managed to pull her back from whatever dark place her thoughts and actions had taken her. He felt relieved she had someone to take care of her since he’d taken on the job of making sure Vermillion didn’t wander off or kill anyone.

“She would not last two minutes with us,” Vermillion said, confused. “Why is she with you?”

Benedetto blinked, banking the flare of his anger inside of him. Vermillion didn’t know Denevah, nor did she realize how close she’d come to a horrible, painful death. He’d watched his friend Vitarro suffer one. He did not want to see something like that again. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” It came out harsher than he’d meant.

Vermillion shoulders jerked in surprise at his words. She twisted in her chair, gaze settling on Benedetto’s face. “You’re from the roof.”

He dropped his hands between his knees as he nodded, exhaustion washing over him. “I am.”

“You were good,” she said grudgingly.

“I know.”

“I was better.”

He couldn’t help his grin. “I know that too.”

A small smile pricked at the corners of Vermillion’s mouth. She ducked her head to hide it, but Benedetto caught it. “Where did you learn how to fight like that?”

Now her head come up sharply, a fearsome frown on her face.

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