Deirdre cocked an eyebrow. “And did he?”

Giovanni walked over to stand by Gavin and flicked the end of his blade. “No.”

Jean’s low chuckle echoed in the empty room. Giovanni held a hand out. “Gavin, if you please?”

“Well, you’re not as pretty as the last one that asked for a ride, but I suppose you’ll do.” Giovanni heard Deirdre snort. The wind vampire flew up to the corner of the room and held him, hovering while Giovanni carefully picked the lock. It occurred to him that while Livia had never trusted Giovanni, Andros had never trusted her. Why else would he create a way for him—only him—to escape? No other being he knew of could pick the lock in front of him. He couldn’t have escaped without help, but perhaps Andros had more faith in him than he’d thought.

After a few tense moments, he pulled the starburst from the thin channel and pushed the door open, revealing a dark, earthen passageway. Gavin, who must have been tiring, tossed him through. Then he flew back. Giovanni waited only a few moments before Jean entered the tunnel behind him. They both waited longer—much longer—before Gavin and Deirdre entered. Gavin, Giovanni noted with some amusement, looked decidedly more energetic.

“I can smell fresh air,” Gavin said. “Deirdre, can you tell where it leads?”

She held her hands out and ran both along the walls as she walked forward. “Southwest. It’s long and sloping. If it keeps at this angle it would exit… past the castle wall, I imagine.”

Jean said, “Let’s keep to the plan. The party must still be going on, which means that Carwyn, Tenzin, and Beatrice are still upstairs.”

His heart leapt. “Beatrice?”

Gavin held a hand out. “You’ll see your woman soon, but not here. Livia has to find you missing and discover that none of them—”

“Fuck Livia,” he almost shouted. “I want to see my wife.”

Deirdre stepped in front of him and put a hand on his chest. “Calm down, Gio. She’s the one that came up with this plan.”

“Hey!” Gavin looked rather offended, but Deirdre only rolled her eyes.

“With input from our resident thief, of course.”

“Retired,” Gavin said. “Mostly.”

Giovanni could still feel his skin heating in anticipation. The smell of smoke was sweet in his nose, and he imagined Livia’s skin turning black as she screamed. The steam began to rise from his wet arms.

“Gio, listen.” Deirdre spoke more urgently, sensing his growing tension. “Jean and I will tunnel back down to the river and escape that way. Gavin is going to fly you to his house… somewhere. No one knows but he and Beatrice. Your wife has spent days planning this with my father and Tenzin to orchestrate some particular outcome, so don’t spoil this plan by losing your head.”

Giovanni took a deep breath and tried to shove back the fire that wanted to burst out. He smothered the desire for Livia’s blood for the moment. She would still burn, he vowed, but he would respect his wife’s wisdom in this and wait to hear her plan. “Fine. Gavin, take me out of this damned place.”

“Don’t order me around. You already owe me one. More than that if we’re—“

“Be quiet. This is not the time to argue,” Deirdre cut in. She gave Giovanni a quick hug before she turned to Gavin and halted. The two stood in awkward silence until she said, “Don’t drop him.” Then she turned to the wall of the tunnel, lifted her hands, and the earth moved in front of her. Jean gave Gavin and Giovanni a smile and a small salute before following.

“Well…” Gavin cleared his throat. “Let’s get going. I’m starting to hear voices below.”

Giovanni could hear both voices and water as the large, empty room they had flown through began to fill from the chamber and the river below. The two men rushed up the passageway; the walls and floors were smooth, even if the air was stale and ancient. When the smell of fresh air became more evident, they slowed and listened. Gavin shook his head and whispered, “I hear nothing.”

“Agreed.” Giovanni pushed through a loose pile of rocks that blocked the passage and peeked out. They were on the side of a hill, and he could see the lights of the castle in the distance. They had wound south and then west to a slope that overlooked Livia’s stronghold. He swallowed, imagining his wife sitting in the glittering salons of Livia’s court. So close, yet still past his reach. He swallowed the growl and turned back to Gavin. “Get me out of here. If I can’t see her, take me to where I can.”

“Orders, orders. Why must he always issue orders?” Gavin shook his head. “I’m not one of your minions, you know. And I’ll be more than happy to be done with my part in all this.”

“Fine. Then get me out of here.”

Gavin picked him up under the shoulders and lifted into the air. “You try to do a favor for someone—”

“How much are you getting paid, Gav?”

He could feel, rather than hear, Gavin laugh as they cut through the air, heading north. “A rather princely sum, of course.”

“Carwyn or my wife?”

“Your wife drives a hard bargain, Dr. Vecchio. And she’s cute. It’s deceiving really, hardly fair.”

Giovanni felt the smile curve his lips. His wife. He would see her soon. Within hours, hopefully. As if anticipating the question, Gavin said, “I’ll drop you off and then go back for her. I should be able to get her to you by dawn.”