Clover shook her head and rolled her eyes. “My dad was a clockmaker. My mom was a littlings school teacher at the Laments church. No magic on either of their sides.”

“Religion has a magic of its own.”

She scoffed, “I have no religion either. It died in the fire.”

Five years ago, when Kerrigan had been brutally assaulted, Clover had been inside the Laments church on the Square with the rest of the orphans. She was the only survivor, hiding among the dead in the catacombs. She made her way to Dozan after that. But magic hadn’t saved her that night, just her own ability to hide.

Amond ignored her comment but thankfully followed her upstairs. He stepped inside, and Dozan ushered him forward. Amond revealed the blue orb of his magic and ran it over Kerrigan.

He shook his head. “The magic sickness is progressing rapidly. She won’t last through the night if we don’t find a way to stabilize her.”

“Then stabilize her!” Dozan demanded.

“I am not trained in this. My expertise lies elsewhere. You would need a skilled Society healer for this sort of precise work. I am a bit more of a broad stroke,” Amond told them with no ego.

Fordham crossed his arms. “I’m taking her to Helly.”

“You can’t!” Clover said. “She just escaped.”

Dozan put a hand on Clover’s shoulder. “I agree with Fordham.”

Fordham blinked. “You do?”

“If we do nothing, she dies. I can’t live in that world.” Dozan stepped back. “Take her. Do whatever you can.”

Fordham nodded, an understanding passing between them in that second.

“I can’t carry us both through the shadows at that distance,” he said. Clearly, that fact grated at him. “I’ll have to call Netta.”

“Well then, I’m coming with you,” Clover said.

Fordham didn’t object. He picked Kerrigan up in his arms and strode toward the door. Dozan followed behind them, his eyes never leaving Kerrigan. Clover had doubted his affection toward her friend for a long time. She’d wondered what exactly his game was. Had cajoled them both to just have at it again to try to get over this insufferable sexual tension. But that look in Dozan’s eye wasn’t like anything she’d seen from him before. Under all of his bravado, he actually cared about Kerrigan.

They both did.

People still milled around the outside of the Wastes when Netta flew in. Gasps echoed all around them as the crowd made a dash to escape her landing zone. Fordham didn’t break stride. He nodded at Netta and used his shadows to move Kerrigan onto the dragon’s back.

“Are you coming or not?” Fordham asked.

Clover looked up at the imposing beast with a speck of fear. She’d seen dragons all of her life, but it was different than getting on one. She had to douse that dread for Kerrigan.