Page 29 of Ivy & Bone

Cyrus said nothing. He certainly wouldn’t regret leaving this place. But he bristled at the command in Prue’s tone, as if she was in charge.

The two of them maneuvered through the throng of passengers and sailors, along with vendors and merchants shouting their wares and low prices. The stench of perspiration and human greed thickened in Cyrus’s nostrils. Humans were disgusting creatures, always lusting for wealth and riches and notoriety. Ignorant fools. How could they not see that all of this was meaningless?

“I can feel your judgment,” Prue said over her shoulder. “Wipe that scowl off your face or we’ll attract too much attention.”

Cyrus stiffened. He was the one being unreasonable? He hadn’t even said a word. “Need I remind you of our bargain?” he hissed. “Because if you continue to bark orders at me like a servant, I’ll be tempted to slit the throats of these filthy mortals.”

Prue shot him a look of disgust but said nothing else.

Cyrus expected the crowd to thin as they ventured farther from the dock, but bodies continued to press against him, the chatter and commotion grating against his ears. They reached a bazaar filled with tables and stands displaying the most vibrant jewelry and clothes. The smell of spiced meat and ale filled the air, no doubt coming from a nearby tavern. Beyond the crowd, Cyrus could make out the peaks of towering buildings that stretched toward the darkening sky. The wrought-iron balconies and ornate pillars spoke of the supposed grandeur of Voula City, and it made Cyrus want to laugh.

This city might have been more elegant and populous than Prue’s tiny island village, but it was certainly not grand or impressive. Not compared to his throne in Styx.

“There,” Prue said, pointing to a sign on one of the buildings. “An inn. We can stay there for the night.”

“I thought you said we would only be getting supplies.”

“It’s almost dusk. Even if we wanted to travel overnight, there would be very few carriage drivers willing to make the journey for us.”

Cyrus sighed. What he wouldn’t give for his magic, which could easily whisk him from one domain to the next without a thought.

But, unfortunately, Prue still had complete control of his magic. The frustration and fury that rippled through him only fueled his determination: Seduce the witch. Consummate the bond. Get your magic back.

They elbowed their way past the throng—Cyrus wanting nothing more than to blast these incessant humans into oblivion with his dark flames—until they finally reached the inn. A bell tinkled as they opened the door, and blessed silence greeted them when they stepped through. The air was warm and near stifling, but at least there weren’t any people around. Cyrus strode deeper, examining the foyer with interest. Architectural paintings hung on the walls, and several armchairs surrounded a small fireplace. On the opposite side of the room sat a desk, behind which an elderly, portly man sat, watching them in curiosity.

“Good evening,” he said, his voice smooth. “How can I assist you?”

“We’d like a room please,” Cyrus said before Prue could answer. He drew closer to the desk, sensing Prue’s alarm behind him.

“One room?” The man’s eyebrows raised as he glanced between them.

“Yes.” Cyrus forced a smile, and the expression felt foreign on his face. He gazed at Prue with what he hoped was a look of fondness and admiration, ignoring the thunderous anger burning in her gaze. “We’ve just gotten married, you see.”

Prue’s face paled, but the man’s eyes widened, his face splitting into a wide grin. “Oh, my! Congratulations to the happy couple. I have the perfect lodgings for you.” He bustled through some drawers before removing a large brass key. He shuffled out from behind the desk. “Follow me, please!”

Prue swatted Cyrus’s shoulder and hissed, “Married?”

“We are, aren’t we?” Cyrus shrugged, fighting back a smile at the outrage in her expression as they followed the innkeeper down the hall. He led them up two flights of stairs and down another narrow hall, past several rooms, before they reached a large oak door, much grander than the ones they’d passed before. Without preamble, the man unlocked the door and swung it open with a flourish.

A massive canopy bed took up most of the room, decorated with delicate white curtains and a heap of fluffy pillows. An antique wardrobe rested opposite the bed, and along the wall stood a wide window displaying a perfect view of the city, the buildings twinkling in the light of the setting sun.

Cyrus couldn’t help but feel impressed. Yes, the room was small, but the furnishings were elaborate, and he imagined the view was quite spectacular during the day.

“The room is ten gold pieces, if it’s to your liking.” The innkeeper adopted a humble expression, but Cyrus detected the greed in his eyes.

Prue shot Cyrus a look that said, This is your fault, before she withdrew her coin pouch and paid the man. The innkeeper bowed, offering a sly grin—as if he was imagining exactly what they would be up to tonight—before departing from the room.

LOVERS

PRUE

“Married,” Prue grumbled. “Honestly.”

“I believe I was perfectly clear with you how I felt about lying,” Cyrus said.

“Yes, but if you had let me do the talking, I could’ve told the man we were siblings or something.”

“Siblings?” Cyrus laughed and gestured between them. “Who in their right mind would believe we were siblings?”

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