Once Upon a Dark October

Chapter Six

“ T he rain’s washed away the blood. Mine and hers.”

Morrigan crouched in the deserted alley beside me, her boot sloshing a puddle. She had changed into a fresh tunic, black underneath a silver brocade waistcoat. Cutting an imposing figure in a high-collared, black overcoat, the pockets were embroidered with claret-colored flourishes, the waning moon glancing off her copper buttons.

I had borrowed someone’s wool-lined cloak, though I hadn’t needed it for any purpose other than the familiar comfort and a layer against the wind coming off the sea. Morrigan had explained—sometime in between my frenzied blood-drinking—that we ran at a higher temperature with sorcery in our veins, and fledglings were often impervious to the cold after such frequent feedings. I found myself warm despite the wharf’s frigid and misting breeze. I would’ve already frozen to the marrow if I’d still been human.