Starling (151 page)

be right there, will you? I just need to duck into my chamber for a
moment.”
Maximus nodded. He disappeared into the kitchen.
Cass followed him inside. Striding quickly to her room, she laced
on a new cuff and then saw that her hair was coming undone. As she
began to tuck the unruly locks of hair back into the elaborately
braided hairdo Narissa had insisited upon, she noticed a piece of
folded parchment tucked in the edge of her mirror.
Her brow furrowed as she folded back the edge. She knew as soon
as she saw the sketch of a starling who the message was from. Falco
hadn’t stayed for the wedding, but he’d left her one final message.
Congratulations, starling. You were meant to fly.
Smiling slightly, she slipped the note inside the dressing table’s
top drawer. Then she turned toward the doorway, toward the portego
where her husband awaited her.
Luca da Peraga. Her wings. Her heart.