The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman

Author:Genevieve Cogman
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Mystery, Adult
Publisher: Ace
Published: 2018-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Irene’s dreams had been as peaceful as the snow falling outside; unformed and indistinct, but quiet and unthreatening, free for the moment from fear and desperation and worry. When she opened her eyes, trying to work out why she’d woken up, the only noises were the crackling of the fire and Kai’s breathing next to her in the bed.

Then the thunder came again, tearing away her last shreds of sleepiness. Someone was rapping on the bedroom door. Actually, rapping was too minor a word for it. Someone with absolutely no concern for sleepers in this bedroom—or neighbouring bedrooms, or possibly the entire corridor—was pounding on the door.

“Winters!” It was Vale’s voice. “Winters, are you awake in there?”

“I certainly am now,” Irene muttered, staggering out of bed. Pale greyness outlined the window, leaking around the edges of the thick curtains. She flipped the light switch and blinked in the sudden illumination; the ormolu clock on the mantelpiece said it was seven o’clock in the morning. She shook her head, pulling herself together, and looked round for her dressing-gown. “Yes!” she called, more loudly. “Give me a moment …”

Kai had come awake and was sitting up in the bed, his black hair ruffled but his composure untouched. “Should I be found here?” he asked softly.

“I have news about that explosion,” Vale explained through the door. “Lord Silver’s with me. May we join you?”

That settled Kai’s question without Irene even having to reply. It would be bad enough putting up with Silver’s verbal barbs on the subject of whom Irene might choose to share her bed. But outright confirming to him that she was sleeping with one of the dragon delegation, when he might report it to the Cardinal …

Irene pointed at Kai, then towards the bathroom. “Just a moment, please,” she called to Vale, wrapping her dressing-gown round her. She was still shivering with cold—now that she was out of bed, the wintry temperature was much more palpable, and her dressing-gown was the lacy peignoir variety rather than the heavy flannel type. She dragged the counterpane off the bed to drape it over her shoulders as well.

Kai slipped out of the bed and caught up his clothing from the chair where he’d left it. He touched Irene’s hand for a moment—an acknowledgement, and a wish that they had time for more—and glided into the suite’s bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Irene stumbled across to the door, handling her multiple layers with some difficulty, and opened it. Vale and Silver were standing in the corridor. They were both still in last night’s evening dress. Vale looked a bit raw around the edges; he had the air of a man who could certainly do with sleep but was far too busy to bother with it for the moment, and would simply make up the difference later. She’d seen him stay awake for two or three days on end and then catch up on his sleep as a lump sum once the current case was over.

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