The Dragons of Nova (Loom Saga #2)(83)

“This was Eva’s genius.” Arianna would never miss a chance to laud her dead lover. Eva deserved that much, and so, so much more. “She was the one to notice her reagents hadn’t gone sour in the flower’s presence.”

“How many do you need?”

“Not too many... well, depending on how many boxes we make. But since they don’t grow on Loom and you said they’re particular about where they grow even here… We’ll need your help getting them. They must be transported quickly and securely so they arrive living and undamaged.”

“Petra and I will see that this is done.” There was an awe about Cvareh’s excitement.

“We will also need more gold.” Arianna tried to think back to the things Sophie said were in short supply. “For the boxes, and in general. I think you could perhaps intercept some shipments here to Nova from Loom.”

“Far simpler than that.” Cvareh placed a hand on her shoulder with a broad smile. “My sister has refineries here, nearly in working order.”

“Refineries, here on Nova?” Arianna tried to grasp what this meant for Loom. If the Dragons could refine their own steel into gold, that meant Loom was one step closer to becoming irrelevant. She stared at her supply list. Loom needed the Philosopher’s Box. They needed to secure their place in the world’s future.

“Not as large as on Loom. But there are even Rivets and Harvesters Petra has brought up to help.”

Arianna snorted, trying to imagine the thought. But the emotion was quickly lost. After all, here she was.

“Very well, then. The Alchemists could still use more guns. And any help with transport on Loom. We’ll need to leverage the Rivets to put things in mass production.”

“We will help how we can.” She understood Cvareh’s hesitation. Their power was significantly less once they stepped off the floating islands that drifted across the stars. “I will go pass all this information along to Petra.”

“I’ll finish the list while you do.” Arianna drew another line, thinking of any other demands she could make on behalf of her home. Even if Petra ultimately betrayed them. If she could give Loom enough of an advantage to tip the scales, it might be worth it.

Wrenches and bolts, Arianna mentally cursed herself. She sounded like the same idealistic girl who had let herself be swept up in the rhetoric of the last rebellion.

“One more thing, Cvareh.” She didn’t look up from her paper. “Tell Petra to ready the glider for me to return to Loom.”

There was an agonizingly long pause. “Pardon?”

“I’ll need to return to Loom. I’ll need to return to the Rivets personally. I will still have sway there—the Masters will remember me as Oliver’s student. I can teach them how to make the box. I—”

“We have everything you need here.” Cvareh said hastily. “The flowers, the gold, tools…”

Arianna looked out the window. This shouldn’t be so difficult. But here she was, struggling against the truth, fighting for words. “I need factories. I need other Rivets and Alchemists. I need to go home.”

“Can you return?”

“Why would I?” Arianna turned to see him trapped in limbo in the doorway. She wanted to stand and walk over and comfort him. She wanted to pull him into the bed and build blockades out of blankets to keep the world at bay.

“Because Petra needs me here.” The truth was more deadly than a paring knife between her eyes, though the pain may have been equal. “She won’t let me go again. I can’t afford the suspicion.”

“Understandable. Your place is here, mine is on Loom.”

“Arianna, that cold and detached persona will no longer work on me.” Cvareh stood his ground, literally and proverbially. “I know you, and I know that you…”

“That I what?” she pressed, seeing if he would really say the words her mind filled in. Cvareh faltered. “You barely know me, Cvareh.”

“After tonight, I think I do.”

“One day of sex and a small conversation does not give you my mind, all my history, my truths. You will never understand what drives me.”

“I don’t have to.” He smiled soothingly. “I merely have to love it.”

“You’re being a fool.” The man was going to paint color on her gray and dreary dreams, and somehow, she wanted to let him.

“No.” He stepped toward her, rather than hastening away to his sister to report that he had finally secured all that House Xin needed. “I think this is one of the few times where I’m not.”

That smile, sharp canines and all, was more dangerous than it had ever been. She hooked a hand on his neck and brought her mouth to it. Arianna wanted to taste the flavor of hope again.

“I love you, Arianna. And I will not stand in your way, but I will also not let you flee from this. Reject me if you must, and that will be that. Until you do, I will see my future built with space for you in it.”

She searched his face as if she could read the words he wanted her to say off it with ease. But she was tired. There was only so much change that could be expected of a single person in one day.

Cvareh eased away, but there wasn’t disappointment in his motions, merely patience. “I should go to my sister.”

She watched him go, still caught in the same limbo. He loved her. Loved. Arianna placed a hand on her chest, feeling nothing. She remembered what it felt like to have a beating heart, though she hadn’t in years. Eva had cut out the heart Ari had given her, and Arianna had built a new clockwork machine to take its place.