Page 144 of This Vicious Grace

The gates were open for one more hour.

They turned the final corridor to the crypts, and found the entrance blocked by a crowd of civilians and a half dozen robed cult members, including Ivini.

One of the robed people was Adrick. Giving Alessa a pointed look, he raised a hand as though to scratch his ear, signing one-handed, “I tried.”

Alessa gritted her teeth. Adrick’s only job had been convincing Ivini to let him stand guard over the ghiotte for the night. He was supposed to bealone.Instead, it was a veritable party of everyone she didn’t want to see.

“Ah, Finestra, Fonte,” Ivini said, his eyes glittering at the sight of Alessa and Kaleb. “What brings you down here?”

Alessa smiled with benign grace. “One last visit to pray over the creature, Padre. By blessing him, I hope to mitigate the pall he casts over our Fortezza.”

“Wonderful,” Ivini breathed. “We came to do the same. You must have heard, as I did, that the brave soldiers who were guarding him had to report for battle duty, but no fear, we promised to take over. We’ll make sure the prisoner is watched properly.”

“Lovely,” Alessa said, twisting her hands inside her pockets. Time for the backup plan.

Alessa led the absurdly large procession into the crypts and knelt before Dante’s prison. He was curled in the very back, on the ground, and he didn’t move despite the noise of so many people outside.

Her heart thudded in her ears, but she began reciting Dea’s blessing as slowly as possible. Dante made no sign he was even alive.

Dea, if you love me at all, it’s the perfect time for a miracle.

Instead, she got a rock.

It struck the bars, ricocheting back at her. Alessa whirled to face the crowd.

“Who threw that?”

Blank faces. A little boy raised his hand. “I wasn’t aiming for you, miss. I thought I had a shot at the ghiotte.”

Alessa saw red. “We are here to pray.”

“But I didn’t get my chance yet.” The boy squawked as a man—presumably his father—hauled him back by his shirt, hissing for him to be quiet.

His chance.He hadn’t hadhis chanceto throw a rock at the ghiotte.

Dante’s stillness was more ominous than ever. It had never been so difficult to act calm and in control.

Just when it couldn’t possibly get worse, Nina arrived.

Forty-Seven

In bocca al lupo/ Crepi il lupo.

Into the wolf’s mouth/May the wolf die.

DAYS BEFORE DIVORANDO: 1

“Padre, you shouldn’t go near that creature.” Nina sniffed, thrusting her chin in the air. “Oh, hello,Josef.Funny seeingyouhere. Still running errands for the Finestra?”

“Duty called,” Josef said, looking proud as a peacock. “And I answered.”

“I bet it did.” Nina looked up at the ceiling, blinking as if trying not to cry. “I knew you’d run back to her. She’s clearly captivated you with her beauty and benevolence. How could a mere mortalevercompete?”

Josef puffed himself up even more. “We’re facing the end of the world, Nina. The future of every life on Saverio is more important than your silly feelings.”

Nina’s mouth fell open.“Silly feelings?”

“Oh, good grief,” Kamaria muttered from somewhere in the crowd, and every lantern sputtered out.

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