Page 13 of Fortress of Ambrose
Butmagic.Quell’s life.That is worth all I have left.
“We need to get you to a Healer,” she says.
“I’m not putting you in danger.”
“Jordan, you are so stubborn!” Her mouth tightens in that way it does when she is really frustrated. It is probably meant to show me she’s serious, but I smile. The cutest dimple appears in her cheek. I bite my lip, resisting the urge to kiss her there.
I wish I could pretend the last half hour never happened. But the radiating cold rippling through my body is a reminder I can’t forget. The longing to hold her intensifies, to bask in her warmth and let it chase away the chill.
“I’m going to figure this out.”
“Not without me.”
“Shouldn’t you be worried about House of Marionne? You’re Headmistress now, Quell.”
She flinches.
“What are you going to do about that?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it, to be honest.” The fire in her dims.
“Life is about more than protecting the people you care about,” I say. “It’s also about embracing what you’re going to do. And who you’re going to be. Your family legacy.” I think of her grandmother. Darragh Marionne was many things I did not like, but she had redeemable qualities. And sacrificing her life to save Quell’s proves it. Quell would justnothonor her grandmother’s memory? But every sobering thought dies at my lips at the look in Quell’s eyes.
When she closes and reopens them, I know I’ve pushed too hard.
“I’m sorry.” I burn with a desire to touch her, to take away the pain of my words. But I hook my hands instead.
“Jordan, nothing is guaranteed in life. I’ve learned that these last few months. And right now, all I can think about is that the two things I love most in the entire world are at risk: my magic andyou.”
My chest warms, sending a flush up my neck.She loves me.I’ll never tire of hearing it. I can’t go to her, but I can hold her words and tuck them safely away.
She crosses her arms. “Run from me for the rest of this miserable half existence you’re limping around with now orlet me help you.”
She isn’t fighting for control or to manipulate me like every other person who weaponized that word. My father, my aunt Beaulah Perl, even my first love—Yaniselle.
“I love you, too.” The words ricochet through my chest. How is my life worth anything, how couldIbe worth anything, if I don’t give everything to save this girl? Even if it means folding to her demands now.
“There’s a Trader by the name of Lady Ruby who knows how to procure anything.” I explain how my plan to meet her tonight failed.
Quell glances at my side, now covered with my shirt. “That takes time you don’t have. We need to get you to someone who can help now.” She tries to close our distance, but I hold up a hand, fighting the urge to be near her and smother her with promises of how this will soon be behind us, how we will both come out the other side of this just fine. But magic thrashes inside me and I bind my lips. Until I’m sure, those promises feel reckless.
“We have to get to a safe house,” she says. “They are discreet and well connected. If Darkbearers are looking for you, they’dneverlook there.”
My heart ticks faster. Safe houses are full of descendants from Misa who escaped the Sorting Years. They are filled with dark magic and descendants of the deadliest Marked to exist. I made a living hunting safe houses. Now I’m supposed to just march into one and ask for help?
“I know of one,” she goes on. “They’ve moved locations. But they had to have a Healer. There was a pregnant girl there. The person in charge is named Knox.”
My chin hits my chest. I recall Knox’s bright blue eyes and how her stare penetrated deep into my heart. “I put her in the Shadow Cells for working with the financier, Audubon.”
“You did what? No! You have to break her out of Headquarters.”
“Quell, everyone’s out for themselves.” I gesture at the devastation. “The Dragunhead hasn’t been seen anywhere. I don’t know what we’d be walking into.”
“The last time I wanted to expose the Order, you didn’t listen to me.”
Shame burns hot in my chest. At her Cotillion she was convinced that the Order wasn’t what it appeared to be. That it was full of snakes and all the honorable things it professes to stand for are lies. But that was before I was willing to see. Before I was ready.
My heart yearns for her; it envies her strength. I concede, unable towalk away from the determined kindness in her eyes. One I don’t deserve but desperately need.
