The punch, so close and packed with intent, never managed to land on Petronio’s nose. Instead of the crack of broken cartilage and a spuming spray of blood, there was a sudden wash of wind that blew both Petronio and Mucum off their feet. The raven’s wings beat like a hurricane, and a single screech nearly burst their eardrums.

“Mucum!” Ark cried out, helpless in the eye of this storm.

To Mucum’s horror, a pair of claws reached down from the sky and plucked Ark from the forest, his home, all that was known to him. A second later, both boy and bird were gone, leaving only two dazed treenagers lying on the walkway.

Mucum lay for a second, anger blazing within. He took a deep breath and levered himself up. Whoever regained their senses quickest would win. “You buddy buzzard. Got my mate killed. I’ll have you! I’ll —” Before Petronio even had a chance to rise, Mucum was on him, leaning with all his weight into his rubber-soled shoe, pressing it hard into Petronio’s neck.

“Please!” Petronio gasped. “I didn’t mean to … it was an accident.”

But Mucum was too far gone. “I saw you smile when the bird took him.” Enough said. A couple of seconds and the boy’s neck would snap like brittle ice. He’d never killed anyone before. What would it be like? He was about to find out.

25• ONLY A BOY

Petronio’s eyes bulged out as the pressure on his neck bore down. For the first, and possibly last time in his life, he was about to cry. How pathetic.

As Petronio’s face began to turn blue, Mucum suddenly felt a thick arm snake around his neck from behind and the point of something very sharp press into his ribs.

“Easy now! Take your foot away, sir. Immediately. I wouldn’t want my knife to slip, would I?” The voice was older and carried authority.

Mucum thought about ignoring the order. He was done for in any case. And maybe he could take at least one piece of vermin with him. But self-preservation kicked in. He lifted his foot off, aware of a strength that could easily snap his own neck. “All right. Doin’ what you say …”

Petronio coughed loudly, then rolled over, retching his dinner all over his expensively embroidered shift. He almost said thanks. The guard had saved his life, after all. Then he remembered who he was. He wiped his mouth and stared up at his savior. “About buddy time, Salix. What took you so long?” Petronio felt the imprint of Mucum’s shoe on his neck. There would be bruises later, but he’d live. He tried to stand up, swaying slightly and soaking wet as he regained his balance.