  &quot;Rise and shine, Aerys,&quot; a velvet voice murmurs in my ear, causing me to reluctantly swim out of the warm dark bliss of the best sleep I can remember. Warm flickering flames greet my gaze as I struggle to open my eyes. Around the flames, sharp beams of brilliant dawn pierce into my consciousness and I draw my eyelids closed against them. A warm chuckle, and then a warmer hand on my face over my eyes. &quot;You can open your eyes now. This should make it easier.&quot; I slowly comply with his instructions. So considerate. How did I get so lucky?
  &quot;Thanks,&quot; I mumble as my eyes adjust. Why did we have to wake up? Last night could have lasted forever and it still would not have been long enough. Forgiveness and reconciliation brought about such happiness for both of us that the idea of facing the rest of the world again is absolutely abhorrent.
  Unfortunately, I reali

  The dining room is more oppressive than usual this morning. Its windowless walls covered with thick red drapery and its heavy mahogany furniture always make it feel stuffy, but tension hangs over everything in a dense fog that makes it hard to breathe and unspoken words cloud the room. The servants have made themselves scarce in an effort to escape the feeling that a storm is about to break. Zinaida is oblivious to it and no part in the atmosphere, seeing as she is still struggling to wake up; despite her elegant appearance, it is plain that Wesley has dragged her to this meal for reasons I cannot fathom. Wesley, in contrast, is on high alert, like a rabbit being stalked by a bird of prey. I can almost see such a bird--a devil-servant called Anxiety--dark and torturous, hanging over him and harrying him. Dmitri s father watches his son and me, as well as the doors, as his torturing bir

  Warmth, all around. A feeling of safety. Where am I? What happened? Doesn t matter. I could stay here forever, warm and safe.
  No. Something is wrong in the universe. Something happened. What happened? The front of my brain begins to throb as the memories come back: a kiss of betrayal, a declaration of war, a broken necklace, a dark purple cloud, a rat s tail. Yekaterina is gone.
  I haven t had a happier thought since I was sick and Dmitri sat with me.
  Dmitri. Where is he?
  I slowly open my eyes to darkness, pierced with flecks of light like glints from a gemstone. I m outside. But why? The last thing I remember was a swirl of pink, interrupted by crackling electric blue eyes. I turn my head to see plants, and beyond them, dim masses just slightly darker than the night sky. The mountains. I m on the roof. How did I get here?
  &quot;Good morning,&quot; a rich velvet voice intones 

&quot;Rise and shine, Aerys,&quot; a velvet voice murmurs in my ear, causing me to reluctantly swim out of the warm dark bliss of the best sleep I can remember. Warm flickering flames greet my gaze as I struggle to open my eyes. Around the flames, sharp beams of brilliant dawn pierce into my consciousness and I draw my eyelids closed against them. A warm chuckle, and then a warmer hand on my face over my eyes. &quot;You can open your eyes now. This should make it easier.&quot; I slowly comply with his instructions. So considerate. How did I get so lucky?
  &quot;Thanks,&quot; I mumble as my eyes adjust. Why did we have to wake up? Last night could have lasted forever and it still would not have been long enough. Forgiveness and reconciliation brought about such happiness for both of us that the idea of facing the rest of the world again is absolutely abhorrent.
  Unfortunately, I realise as he slowly takes his hand from my eyes that we re still on the roof and that therefore the rest

Chapter 55 Giacomo