Jamie had been brought up to believe that the man in the black-framed painting was something to be afraid of, that the green-eyed monster with his false charm and knowing smile was the very embodiment of betrayal and infidelity, the one thing Jamie must never become. Now he watched the so-called monster as he extended his arms out to Haru, bringing him into his robe where he patted him on the back and ruffled his hair like a father might a son.

A father to the world. That’s what he’d said on the roof in Tokyo, and now he could see it.

‘Welcome home,’ Claude said, voice soothing like incense. ‘You’ve done excellent work.’

Beaming, Haru relaxed, his expression softening in that way it did, where looking at him felt like a refreshing summer breeze, then without warning both Phi and Haru left the room, leaving him alone with the man who was meant to be his enemy.

Claude turned to him now, their eyes meeting like magnets. Framed by the fire that burned behind him, shadows danced at his feet, his long robe dusting the floor, while rich crimson ate up the light. His black hair was tied back, a few strands escaping, reminding Jamie of his own untameable mane. There was nothing threatening in the way he stood or smiled, and yet there was a wildness to him. It mirrored the feeling Jamie had always had deep inside him, the one he had always been told to dampen and push down. It was fire, and it was ferocious.

Even though he’d come here to find Claude, he couldn’t shake how peculiar it was to see him – the Goat Man, the Master of Leviathan, the scourge of the Wolfsons. This was the stuff of nightmares, but it felt like a strange dream.

Claude was the first to speak. ‘I am sorry, please sit down,’ he said with a sigh filled with regret. ‘I’m sure this is all very unpleasant for you. I will get you something warm to eat.’

He swept out of the room again, leaving Jamie alone with the fire. He sat on one of the large grey sofas, his body melting into the cushions, and he had the strangest feeling he was swaying, the fire sending flickers across the exposed brick and wood, the ship cabin come to life, rocking him across the imaginary sea. He thought it curious that they trusted him enough to leave him alone, wondering also if perhaps they were spying on him, waiting to see what he’d do, but he had no plans to snoop; his only mission was to protect Lottie, and he needed Claude for that.

‘Here we are,’ Claude said, coming back in. ‘Ingrid has prepared this for us tonight.’ He placed a large bowl of soup and a plate of bread with cheese on the table. ‘She wanted to do something special for you, a peace offering, if you will.’