Page 81 of Ruling Destiny

“While I don’t get the reference, I take that to mean all is forgiven?” Killian opens the door to the carriage.

“Don’t push it,” I say, brushing right past him and climbing inside.

“Cosimo sent this.” Killian settles onto the opposite seat and taps the roof twice, sending the carriage on its way.

“Who’s Cosimo?” I ask, squinting at him.

“You’re about to find out.” He grins, his deep blue gaze gleaming on mine. “As for now, let the adventure begin.”

47

As the coach sets off through the streets, I start to get my bearings.

Judging by the location of the sun in the sky, it’s late afternoon. And when I catch a glimpse of that spectacular red dome that can only be the famous Duomo that sits atop the Florence Cathedral, my heart skips a beat. According to my research, there’s a good chance the Moon is tied to that spot.

I tap the roof, but the coach keeps rolling.

“What’re you doing?” Killian regards me with a trace of amusement.

“How do you get this thing to stop?” I ask.

“Why would you want it to stop?”

“Because I need to check out the cathedral.” I jab a thumb in the general direction of the landmark now receding into the distance.

“There’ll be plenty of time to play tourist and check out the sights, Shiv.” Killian laughs. “Right now, you and I have much bigger fish to fry, as they say.”

“Is that a Renaissance saying?”

“Certainly not.” He grins.

“Well, don’t you think we should at least try to get in character and speak in the colloquial way to each other?”

“Trust me, when it’s just us, this is easier.”

“Fine,” I say. “But I really need to get inside that cathedral—the sooner the better. And, by the way, I’m hardly a tourist. It has to do with the—” I pause, wishing I’d taken the time to better rehearse this part. “With the Get Arthur has tasked me to find.”

Killian’s gaze locks onto mine. “I promise, you’ll see the Duomo,” he says. “And you’ll get your…Get. Just not today.”

“And why not today?” I ask, unable to think of a single reason for why I should delay.

Killian gestures toward the window. “Because it’s getting late, and we need to come up with a plan before you go wandering about and get us both into trouble.”

“Why do you assumeI’llget us into trouble?” I ask, lifting a brow.

“Because you have little grasp on the language, and you’re impulsive as hell.”

His words land like a slap. And though I know he’s not wrong, I waste no time in punching right back. “Did you ever consider that maybe you bring out the worst in me?”

It was meant to be caustic, scathing. But the way Killian regards me—like he’s peering through layers of flesh and bone, all the way to my fluttering belly and quickening heart—leaves me feeling so exposed, I wish I’d just let it go.

“Well, if that’s your worst,” he says, his voice thick, “then I’d argue I’m actually a good influence. At least I bring out the fighter in you. Better that than to make you all soft and compliant like you are with Braxton. Your willingness to believe him seems so contradictory to everything I know about you.”

He shoots me a probing look, and I’m about to tell him he doesn’t know the first thing about Braxton and me, but I realize there’s no point. So I steer us back to our original topic. “But what if the cathedral can’t wait? What if I have a hunch and I need to act while I can?”

“What if the cathedral can’t wait—oryoucan’t wait?” Killian’s eyes glint. A ghost of a smile tugs at his lips.

“Maybe it’s both.” I shrug. “Why does it matter? I came to do a job, and the sooner I’ve done it, the better, no?”

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