Alex Verus 5: Hidden (32 page)

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” I said. I got up and walked to the window to stare out into the night, then sighed slightly. “But I know what I need to
be
doing.”

Anne waited, listening. The living room was silent but for the whisper of nighttime traffic. “Back when I first met you, my life was . . . I want to say easier, but that’s wrong. Simpler, maybe? It wasn’t
safe
, but all the dangerous stuff was temporary. I always knew that if I could just last it out, then things would go back to normal. And when that was done I spent most days running my shop. I had time.”

“And now you don’t,” Anne said.

“You remember the last thing that Richard said? ‘Until next time.’ He doesn’t give up.” I turned to look at Anne. “He’ll be back. I don’t know how, or when. But there’s a clock now. A month, six months, two years—I don’t know how long, but I can feel it ticking. And when it runs out, if I don’t have what I need . . .” I shook my head. “Most of the last ten years, I’ve been drifting. I can’t do that, not anymore. I need to be ready.”

“Not just you,” Anne said. “We.”

“You know how powerful Richard is,” I said. “He’ll have allies.”

“So do you,” Anne said. “Luna, Vari, Arachne. Me. And the mages you know from the Council, like Sonder and Talisid. You’re not Richard’s apprentice anymore. You’ve got friends.”

I looked back at Anne, then smiled slightly. “I guess that’s a good start.”

I stayed standing by the window. After a moment Anne rose, moving next to me. We stood side by side, looking out into the darkness of the Camden night.