This Vicious Grace (The Last Finestra #1)(102)

“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 had his chance to 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 seeing you here. 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 mortal ever compete?”

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.

Nina let out an ear-splitting shriek, then it was nothing but scuffling, yelling, and Kaleb whispering in Alessa’s ear, “This is going smashingly, isn’t it?”

Alessa pulled an ungloved hand from her pocket. A small hand grasped it, and her stomach lurched.

Shouts of dismay echoed through the crypt, calling for someone to re-light the lanterns, but every match struck flared out immediately.

The hand was gone, and silk brushed her arm.

“Doesn’t anyone have a light?” Alessa said.

A flame burst to life, so bright she had to shield her eyes.

Kamaria, cap pulled down to shade her face, swaggered over, holding out a lantern. “Here, miss,” she said, her voice pitched low. “Mine seems to be working.”

Ivini snatched the lantern before Alessa could.

Ignoring a flurry of indignant gasps, he hurried to the metal gate of Dante’s prison, banging the lantern against the bars in his haste. The same still form lay curled in the back.

Eyes narrowed with suspicion, Ivini lowered the light to study the heavy padlock, intact and untouched.

“Excuse me,” Alessa said.

Grumbling under his breath, Ivini handed it over.

Alessa tugged her companion toward the corridor, where a suspicious number of lanterns had gone out. The hooded cloak shadowed his face, but not enough to disguise the bruises at such a close distance. “What did they do to you? I thought they didn’t have a key.”

Dante spoke through gritted teeth. “Don’t need a key when you can throw rocks.”

Rage burned through her veins, but it had to wait. She’d planned for a quick march through the crowded levels with an alert Dante playing along. Instead, his arm grew heavier around her shoulders, his steps halting, and as they made painstaking progress toward the more crowded levels, every face turning to watch sent a surge of fear through her.

She cast a desperate look over her shoulder at Kamaria and Josef, who were hanging back and trying to blend in with the hundreds of other Saverians milling about.

People would panic if they raced to prop up “Kaleb,” but it would be worse if he fell. Even worse if everyone realized it wasn’t Kaleb at all.

Eventually, they reached the main corridor, and she could make out the Cittadella gate.

“Almost there,” she whispered. “Only a little farther.”

Two figures stepped into their path. Of all the moments.

“Finestra,” her mother said, her hand white-knuckled on Papa’s arm. “I’d appreciate a second of your time.”

Alessa braced her feet to keep Dante upright. “We’re in a bit of a hurry, I’m afraid.”

“Please.” Her voice faltered. “Your brother told us what he did.”

“I don’t have a brother,” Alessa said, her tone flat. “Or a family.” And it still hurt as badly as it had the day she’d left.

“I know you’re angry at me, but I was trying to do as I was told. As the gods wanted me to. Adrick—” She raised a hand to her mouth.