Starling (105 page)

“Our notes must be forever protected
from those who might fear or
misunderstand our noble purpose.”

o. No, no, no.” Cass flipped desperately through
the pages. “This can’t be. This makes no sense.”
Her fingers gently traced over the singed parchment, searching for changes in texture or rough
edges, for words secretly hidden in plain sight. Could the book be

No. Cass had seen pages with her own eyes. They were hidden in
the Caravello tomb—pages written in plain ink, faded by water and
time, but not hidden by magic. Somehow this was the wrong book.

But then why had Belladonna died trying to save it?
Cass struggled to remember exactly what had happened the day
of the fire. She saw Belladonna flailing before the glass cabinet, the
flames engulfing her as she struggled to obtain the book. She saw
herself crossing the room, being pushed out the window, waking up
at Palazzo Viaro.
Cristian.
Did Belladonna find the present I left for her before she per