#wishboneverse: of smoke and bone

[wishbonetea]

as a birthday present to myself and in celebration of getting new content for the first time in YEARS (nora i owe u my life), i'm posting the first sneak peak of Of Smoke & Bone Part II: Of Fear & Fury!

Full sneak peak under the cut.

Read the fic on AO3 here!

Of Smoke & Bone In general, Neil Josten managed to keep his two lives in balance. On the one hand, he was a nineteen year old art student in Prague with a part-time job in a mostly-normal coffee shop. On the other, he, Allison, and Renee worked for an inhuman creature, running errands in exchange for wishes. For the most part, these two lives rarely intersect. But it’s fair to say that the Foxes bring their own brand of trouble, and Neil’s two lives soon start to collide.

The first thing Dan registered when she woke up—the first thing she always registered when she woke up—was Matt’s arm wrapped around her waist and the warmth of his breath against her chest. She blinked fuzzily at the ceiling, trying to rid the awful taste in her mouth with her tongue. Despite the warmth of Matt’s arm and breath, it didn’t quite cancel out the throbbing headache that kept her just out of comfort’s reach.

She missed the days of waking up after a night of drinking without a hangover. She was only twenty-three years old but she already missed the days of her youth. Back then, she could wake up and get back to work no matter what happened the day before. Now, she had to deal with the consequences of her actions, and it sucked. She let her eyes fall closed again and it didn’t take her long to drift back into dreams.

When she woke again, it was to the vibration of her phone on her bedside table. She blinked until her eyes finally focused and tried to reach for it without waking Matt. It didn’t work, and her stomach turned at the movement. When Matt grumbled something incoherent as he rolled onto his side, she made a gentle shushing sound. Dan waited until her nausea subsided before trying to sit up. After grabbing for the phone, she wound her arm back around him to read over his shoulder. Matt’s only response was to tug at her arm until she wound it tighter around him, and he snuggled back against her chest and under the duvet. She pressed a kiss into his hair, and it still smelled like the branded gel he insisted was better than the cheaper alternatives. Matt was born into money, and there were some habits he couldn’t shake even when budgeting as a student.

She struggled to read the notification through her eyelashes since the screen was far too bright for a Sunday morning, yet even when she could read it clearly, it took several moments of fumbling through memories until she processed what the words meant.

@TheKathyFerdinand: Painter Kevin Day talks to us at @RAYLEIGHMAGAZINE about his departure from @EdgarAllanUniversity, finding his feet at @PSUoftheArts, and his first solo exhibition. Read the full interview here.

Of course. The interview.

The interview that was supposed to be Kevin’s re-debut and—what Dan had hoped—PSUA’s big introduction to the world outside of Prague. She knew better than to hope for no slip-ups, but she hadn’t anticipated Neil turning on Riko like that. Riko was the kind of man who’d let his popularity go straight to his head, and the worst part was that until she found out what he had done to Kevin, she had thought he deserved his popularity. Riko’s art was exceptional, so he had the right to be a little arrogant, she’d thought. Until Kevin came to PSUA, she’d even been glad that a man like Riko existed. She’d been thrilled that two men of colour were dominating the art scene in London like Riko and Kevin were. A part of her was still glad. Riko’s behaviour and attitude were unforgivable, but he still served as a good role model to kids that looked like him.

Right up until Dan remembered Wymack telling them about Riko’s connections with the fucking mafia.

She didn’t know what to think of that yet, and her current state of mind wasn’t the best state of mind to think about it for too long. She pushed it from her thoughts and pretended she didn’t know what she knew. It wasn’t going to solve anything in the long run, but it would have to do until she had a chance to talk to Wymack about it in more depth.

Reading Kathy’s article did wonders to refresh her memories of the interview. Dan had known that Kathy would draw attention to Neil’s cutting criticism of Riko and Edgar Allan, but her report made Riko’s icy entitlement look like he spent weekends at soup kitchens and environmentalist protests. Kathy had called Neil a spitfire in person, but the Neil she had written was more like a bomb going off, obliterating anything in its focus.

So all in all, Kathy’s interview hadn’t exactly been kind to Neil, but she had certainly paid attention to what Neil had said.

“Matt,” Dan hissed. “Matt. Wake up.”

“What?” he mumbled.

“Kathy Ferdinand posted her interview with Neil and Kevin.”

“What?”

“Here. Listen. ‘When I asked Riko Moriyama to join me in Prague for Kevin’s first solo show—not only since leaving Edgar Allan, but ever—I thought Kevin would appreciate the surprise. Yet when Riko entered from behind the scenes, so to speak, it seemed that I was the one in for a surprise. You’ll be surprised to know that last night’s exhibition was the first time Riko and Kevin had spoken since Kevin broke his hand in a skiing accident last month (you can find more details in January’s edition, Peonies Fall For Kings, available here). Yet it wasn’t the heartwarming reunion I was expecting. Instigated by Kevin’s new friend and potential collaborative partner, Neil Josten, Kevin soon revealed that he wasn’t intending on returning to Edgar Allan when his hand heals like we all presumed. Even Riko believed that Kevin was only to stay in Prague temporarily. The works on display were all paintings Kevin had made during his time here in London, but he certainly hinted at plans to start afresh. And it doesn’t seem that Riko is holding onto the past either. When questioned about his plans for the Ravens to continue recruiting in Europe, Riko told me that the Ravens hadn’t altered their schedule for Kevin’s injury and had no intention to do so in the future. Riko believes that Kevin has been left behind, but that he’s ready to welcome his brother home when Kevin is recovered once more. It seems that Kevin, however, had discussed his plans for his future with his new friends in Prague. Neil didn’t sound surprised that Riko expected Kevin to return to London, but was confident that Kevin had nothing to return to. Neil’s quick defence of Kevin reminds me of the earlier days of Riko and Kevin’s partnership, back when the media speculated that such a pairing would hold the two young artists back. It makes me wonder whether Kevin has founded a replacement art collective to rival Edgar Allan’s Ravens, and I personally cannot wait to see what comes of it.’”

“Shit,” was all Matt said.

Dan huffed a laugh. “Yeah. Shit.”

Matt rolled over to face her again and buried his face into her neck. “You need to send that to Neil,” he said between planting kisses that tickled her skin. “He’d freak.”

Dan was momentarily distracted by the roughened timber of his voice to process his words. She paused. “Oh my god that’s so funny, freak? Or, Oh my god we’re all gonna die and I’m gonna flee the country, freak?”

“Neil wouldn’t flee the country.”

“Neil would definitely flee the country.”

Matt rolled onto his back and Dan watched as he blinked up at the ceiling and waited for his vision to focus. He scrubbed the sleep from his eyes to speed it along and turned his head to look at her. He looked as awful as she felt. She’d been the one to suggest they go to The Foxhole Court for a few hours, but there was no way the Foxes wouldn’t turn ordering in into a small party. They’d put away most of two bottles of vodka even without Neil and Renee helping them. Dan hadn’t been counting but it looked like Kevin almost had one all to himself. She didn’t blame him, considering what had happened, but it reminded her too much of Matt and Seth’s own addictions for her to feel entirely at ease with it.

“Okay, yeah, he would. But only for a week,” Matt eventually said. “He’d come back.”

“Plus,” she added, tangling her socked feet with his, “we know too much.”

Matt laughed at that. “Yeah. All that blackmail material like how he takes his coffee and what his favourite colour is.”

She prodded his chest. “Hey. That took me six weeks to get out of him.”

Matt pulled her into his side. “I know. It took me seven to get him to admit he liked cats.”

Dan huffed a laugh and raised her phone to her face once again, copying the link from the article and sending it to the Foxes’ group chat. Even though Matt was right next to her, and had already made his opinion known, he still tapped out a reply.

Dan sent a link Mattata: i’m gonna print and frame that Mattata: that belongs on the wall DamnWilds: i think we need a social media channel for us DamnWilds: look at the comments DamnWilds: ever since @im fine roasted riko to shit people wanna know who we r DamnWilds: weve got everyones attention but if we play this right we can keep it DamnWilds: if we film us working and do interviews with the student mag people might root for the underdog Catty Bitch: how can you encourage @im fine to open his mouth in public? he does bad enough 1-1 im fine: I’m not that bad. Catty Bitch: sweetie do you even remember yesterday The Gay Cousin: neil might not remember it but riko sure does Mattata: neil made riko look like a stupid asshole who sells out friends on a daily basis

Matt continued tapping something on his phone even though Dan could see the three typing indicators on the group chat weren’t showing. After a second or two he sat up and shuffled to the end of the bed, reaching over to the bluetooth printer perched on the edge of the desk. After turning it on, and waiting for it to make its usual grumbles of life, Dan heard the typical squeaks of something being printed out. She watched in curiosity until Matt lifted two sheets of A4 paper with a PDF of the article.

“I’m serious,” Matt said. “This is going on the wall.”

He was referring to a stretch of wall in The Foxhole Court’s staff lounge that had been covered in photographs of the team. Some of them were official: photographs of Wymack and Abby with famous people who had somehow stumbled in since the café opened in the nineties, and photographs and snippets of articles clipped from newspapers and local magazines. The majority of the pictures, however, were taken by Dan and Seth. These were scattered everywhere and anywhere they could fit and were held up with blutack and tape. One entire corner was a clump of photos of the Foxes turned into memes.

Dan grinned. She opened her mouth to reply when her own phone started ringing. She expected it to be Allison or Renee but was surprised when Wymack’s contact was displayed. She hit the green answer button and put him on speaker.

“What’s up?” she asked.When Wymack spoke he sounded weary and she felt heavy stones lay to rest in the pit of her stomach. “Get everyone down to Court, would you? We need to talk.”

[lautjess]

A fanart of Neil from Of Smoke & Bone, a fanfic written by the incredibly, amazing @wishbonetea

In general, Neil Josten managed to keep his two lives in balance. On the one hand, he was a nineteen year old art student in Prague with a part-time job in a mostly-normal coffee shop. On the other, he, Allison, and Renee worked for an inhuman creature, running errands in exchange for wishes. For the most part, these two lives rarely intersect. But it's fair to say that the Foxes bring their own brand of trouble, and Neil's two lives soon start to collide.

[wishopenastar]

Fan cover for @wishbonetea's Of Smoke and Bone longest fic ever.

Evryone should read it.

[wishbonetea]

i just finished writing another osab chapter for the first time in ages can't wait for this to not happen again for six months

[wishbonetea]

Hi, hope you’re doing ok! Sorry to bother you, but I was re-reading ‘of smoke and bone’ (for the umpteenth time, because it’s such an all-time-classic), and now I’m wondering if you’re still planning to post a part 2 at some point? Part 1 is fabulous on its own, but another fic would be the icing on the cake (I hope this doesn’t come off as entitled, I’m genuinely happy that you’ve even gifted us part 1)

oh no not entitled at all, i love talking about osab as it's one of my main motivations to keep writing and not keep it all in my head!

i'm definitely still planning to post part two, i'm still working on it (currently writing chapter 54!) and once it's finished and edited and sent off to my lovely editor @sirfatcat-mccatterson and my sensitivity readers, it'll be up online and ready to devour!

it's so lovely to hear that you've read it (and reread it !!) and thank you so much for messaging!

[wishbonetea]

to everyone wanting an update on Of Smoke & Bone since part one finished in march 2022 (ouch),,,, here's my editing process of part two, and yes i am crying at the dates of these comments like girlie write faster

[wishbonetea]

I just finished a reread of OSAB and holy shit just wow. It’s so gooodddddd 😭😭 my obsession with your characrizations and story building and the BANTER, the banter is toooo good. Just 10000000 kudos

ahh thank you so much! i love writing the foxes teasing each other and just generally having fun (just to keep at least some of the story lighthearted), so i'm glad it's coming across well!

and i know it's been so long since an update but i am still working on part two so hopefully this series will be finished before i'm old and grey

[wishbonetea]

Of Smoke & Bone

SUMMARY

In general, Neil Josten managed to keep his two lives in balance. On the one hand, he was a nineteen year old art student in Prague with a part-time job in a mostly-normal coffee shop. On the other, he, Allison, and Renee worked for an inhuman creature, running errands in exchange for wishes. For the most part, these two lives rarely intersect. But it’s fair to say that the Foxes bring their own brand of trouble, and Neil’s two lives soon start to collide.

Part I of Of Smoke & Bone is now complete! Thank you to everyone who's been live-reading, and to everyone else: the binge read can now commence!

[ read the full fic on AO3 ] [ more about Of Smoke & Bone can be found on my writing page ]

[wishbonetea]

You forget this, Neil, but I am a bad person trying very hard to be a good person. I would not be trying at all if not for the outside interventions in my life.

chapter five of Of Smoke & Bone is now up!

[wishbonetea]

it's finally here! after starting this project in 2019, Of Smoke & Bone is now being posted to AO3. to celebrate, i've written a bonus scene (under the cut) to give y'all a taste of what i've been working on for the last couple years...

SUMMARY

In general, Neil Josten managed to keep his two lives in balance. On the one hand, he was a nineteen year old art student in Prague with a part-time job in a mostly-normal coffee shop. On the other, he, Allison, and Renee worked for an inhuman creature, running errands in exchange for wishes. For the most part, these two lives rarely intersect. But it's fair to say that the Foxes bring their own brand of trouble, and Neil's two lives soon start to collide.

[ read the full fic on AO3 ] [ more about Of Smoke & Bone can be found on my writing page ]

By nine o’clock that evening, Neil had written several more paragraphs of his dreaded critical theory essay—who was he kidding? Neil hadn’t a clue what he was talking about and his tutor would easily pick up on Neil’s complete misunderstanding of Dada. But he was reaching the word count and hopefully he could just push it up to a passing grade. He was just about to save the word document and make a cup of ramen noodles when his phone buzzed on the table beside him.

Andrew: Sculpture studio 3

Neil’s heart-rate quickened. The sculpture studios? Did Andrew already have something in mind? Neil didn’t have much experience in three-dimensional work but he was keen to branch out his skill-set. A multi-disciplinary project would be a good addition to his portfolio for both grading at the end of the year and for future commissions. He didn’t bother replying to Andrew’s message and instead gathered his bag. It wasn’t until after he filled his bag with his sketchbook and laptop that he remembered he still needed to save his essay progress, so he then pulled his laptop out again to do so. Grabbing his coat and slinging it over his bag to keep his hands free, Neil headed over to the Sculpture department in the Myslbek building.

Neil managed to find the third Sculpture studio by following a bunch of vague signposts dotted around the department, and swung open the door to an empty and dusty room with desks and chairs pushed to the walls, a grimy sink in the corner, and a series of wheeled-trolleys that students could use for their own materials when jumping from one desk to another.

It didn’t take him long to realise that he wasn’t alone. Even if he wasn’t expecting Andrew, Neil thought that he would have guessed who it was; the intensity of Andrew’s stare on his back set Neil’s nerves on edge.

“Did no one tell you I hate surprises?” Andrew asked from somewhere behind him.

Neil turned slowly to find Andrew sitting on one of the desks, legs crossed in a lotus-style similar to Renee’s yoga position but without the straight-backed posture, and he was staring Neil down.

“What makes you think I care?” Neil asked.

“This is not about whether you care or not,” Andrew said.

“So what is this about?” Neil took off his bag and pulled out his sketchbook, letting his bag and coat fall to the floor. He would have to brush off the dust before Allison let Neil bring either back into their apartment, but he didn’t think there would be a single room in the Sculpture department that wasn’t covered in clay dust or plaster. Neil set his sketchbook on the nearest table, pulled up a chair, and started flicking through it until he found the original sketch of Ztuart. He didn’t want to push too much. If Andrew picked up on Neil’s eagerness, he would likely feign disinterest out of spite. Neil heard Andrew uncrossing his legs and sliding off the desk, and then heard his footsteps as he walked toward Neil. Andrew kept just out of arm’s reach from where Neil was sitting, but not by much. The change from Andrew’s usual way of taking up space made Neil wonder what it was Andrew was suddenly wary of.

“Couldn’t wait until March?” Neil asked. “Did you realise I wasn’t a maths problem to solve or a new toy to break?”

“I’m rather curious, Neil,” Andrew started, putting emphasis on his name and cocking his head at the slight twitch on Neil’s face. “Nicky won’t shut up about your little adventures: skipping classes and turning up several days later with some very far-fetched excuses. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without that coat, as if it’s the only thing you really own. Some things don’t always add up, but I think you do. What are you running from, rabbit?”

“Is it that curious? People have jobs, and my shifts don’t always line up with class schedules.”

“And what exactly is it that you do, Neil?” Andrew hummed. “Customer service?” He shook his head. “Terrible manners. Stocking shelves? Too short. The thing is, I’m starting to believe you work for the Wishmonger.”

If Neil had seen this coming, he would have had time to think of the perfect retort to throw Andrew off his trail, but he hadn’t considered that he was in any immediate danger. All it took was a year and a half of living with Allison and Neil had lost all his survival instincts and his ability to think on his feet. Coaxing air back into his lungs was the hardest thing Neil had ever done. It was a miracle his breath sounded so steady when his throat was closing up.

“Mind your own business,” Neil said, which wasn’t even remotely clever but it was the best he had. He lurched to his feet, but Andrew darted forward to grab him by his hair and slam him back into his seat. A cruel twist pulled his head back at a dangerous angle, and Andrew slammed Neil’s hand flat against the table top before he could reach for the knife in his boot. Neil lifted his other hand to pry Andrew’s fingers off, but Andrew let go of Neil’s hair and caught his wrist with his other hand.

“Tonight is Mind Neil’s Business Night,” Andrew said. “Didn’t you notice? Give me something real or I won’t let you stay here.”

Neil managed to slip one hand free and he reached for the knife at his waistband but Andrew was too close to his body to not see it coming. He easily grabbed the knife off Neil and sent it skidding across the floor.

“Another knife, hm? I figured you’d just try to rip my teeth out with pliers,” Andrew mused.

“Maybe I will and wish for you to leave me alone,” Neil seethed.

“Renee said you wouldn’t like this,” Andrew taunted. Neil froze and Andrew’s smile was a cold and dangerous thing. “She didn’t tell you? She said I should trust you, and yet you just tried to stab me. I think she’s a little delusional about who she should trust.”

Neil raked his memory trying to find any signs of what Andrew was and how he knew Renee; if she had betrayed him after all. And Allison? Had his entire life here been a trap, lulling Neil into a false sense of security only to be finally handed over to his father by an unhinged… whatever Andrew was.

Andrew realised that Neil wasn’t going to respond, so he tried encouraging him to talk by pulling out his own knife from an armband and pressing it to Neil’s throat. “Now, you’re going to explain why you’re here and what you want, and I won’t put this through your throat.”

Neil felt his father’s smile curve his lips. “Do it. I dare you.” After all, if he was to be sent to his father, a slit throat would be a much more pleasant way to die. If he wasn’t, and Renee and Allison were his allies, then Renee would glean his soul and bring him back. Hopefully. She would have to find his body first.

“If I can’t get an answer from you, I’ll get it wherever I can. How about I start with Goldilocks?”

“Good luck with that, she’d set one of her snakes on you before you could get one word out.”

“Sounds messy. How many wishes does it take to clean up after?”

Neil ignored that. “What do you want? I’m not a threat to you.”

“Then correct me. You think it over. Think how badly you want to try my patience right now.”

“You’ve waited this far,” Neil said. “What would you have done if I hadn’t come down here to meet you?”

“There wasn’t a chance you wouldn’t meet me down here. You have a one track mind.” Andrew tapped the tip of his knife against Neil’s pulse-point. “Besides, down here I get to do this.”

Neil paused for a moment, thinking out possible scenarios and how he thought Andrew might react to them. If Andrew really thought Neil was a threat, how far would he go to prove it? Neil didn't want to see what came next, but avoiding that meant compromising. He had to tell Andrew something. The truth was out of the question, but Andrew would smell a lie a mile away. What Neil needed was something in-between, enough for Andrew to back off but not too much that he realised exactly what kind of threat followed Neil’s every breath.

His eventual decision made his blood run cold, but it was the safest option, and the smartest. Neil twisted his hands under Andrew’s grasp until they lay palms up, the black ink of his kezir stark against the paler skin there. To anyone else, they looked like tattoos. To Neil, they were something else entirely. Neil could only hope that Andrew fell into the former category. Tattoos were much easier to explain.

“Truth for truth?”

[wishbonetea]

of smoke & bone · a kingdom of oil and canvas

damn i thought i'd get more than 2 minutes of peace before i'm yelled at to post this but okay @estavs and @eloquent-apollo your wish is apparently my command /j

anyway here is the penultimate chapter of Of Smoke & Bone part i!

read on ao3

[image description under the cut]

The moment Jeremy spotted Kevin he clapped one of his friends on the back in farewell and made his way over to Kevin and Andrew.

“Kevin, you crazy fool,” he said, less formally and more cheerfully than most of the guests had tried to greet Kevin. “You never cease to amaze. You’ve always been great but I think this exhibition is much better than the last one.”

“The venue is mediocre at best but most people here don’t know any better,” Kevin said.

“Same old Kevin, as unforgiving and obnoxious as always,” Jeremy said, though his tone was fond. He turned to Andrew then, as if just noticing he was there. Oh, to stand in the shadow of the great and tall Kevin Day. What an honour. “Hey, I don’t think we’ve met. You’re Andrew Minyard, right? I’m Jeremy Knox. Animation.” He held out his hand.

Andrew ignored it. He stifled down a smile until it resembled a scowl. “Wrong twin.”

“Oh. Sorry, Aaron. I thought with the…” he trailed off, and gestured to the arm bands. When he realised Andrew wasn't going to answer, he turned back to Kevin. “How are you finding Prague, mediocre venues aside? I know you’re doing interviews tonight but you know what the media are like. Cameras never seem to get your smile right.”

At that, Kevin’s brown skin warmed. Interesting.

[wishbonetea]

of smoke & bone · on mortality

me: osab is not about teeth osab is not about teeth osab is not about teeth also me: here's a chapter preview featuring teeth

read on ao3

[image description under the cut]

“Can you pass me one of those?” Renee asked, and Allison dropped a tooth into her hand. “Thanks, love.”

Keep it together, keep it together, keep it together, Allison chanted in her head. It was ridiculous. They’d been together for twenty years. She should not still get this flustered over pet names. By the way Renee was biting her lip to stop herself from smiling, Allison could tell she knew. She glared at her, slit-pupils appearing after a blink, and Renee did grin then. She reached over to nudge Allison’s tail with her elbow.

“Did you have a nice day, sweetheart?”

“Yes I did,” Allison said, refusing to take the bait.

“How did the erand go, sunshine?”

Allison gritted her teeth. “Fine.”

“You’re starting to sound like Neil, honey.”

“Neil didn’t invent the word fine.”

“True,” Renee allowed, pursing her lips. Oh no.

[wishbonetea]

OF SMOKE & BONE

In general, Neil Josten managed to keep his two lives in balance. On the one hand, he was a nineteen year old art student in Prague with a part-time job in a mostly-normal coffee shop. On the other, he, Allison, and Renee worked for an inhuman creature, running errands in exchange for wishes. For the most part, these two lives rarely intersect. But it's fair to say that the Foxes bring their own brand of trouble, and Neil's two lives soon start to collide. ⁂ Updates every Thursday.

after working on this for the last two years (with breaks in between for other projects) the first three chapters of Of Smoke & Bone are now online!

read here on AO3

find out more

[wishbonetea]

making ai generated covers for Of Smoke & Bone so i don't have to acknowledge how long it will take me to fully upload the whole thing if i post one chapter a week

[read the fic on ao3 so you can yell at me to hurry up]

[wishbonetea]

of smoke & bone · with broken wings

i'll write many things but i will never write neil not being hot

read on ao3

[image description under the cut]

“I’m going to let him stay,” Andrew said, because although he hated repeating himself, he knew when the occasion called for it.

Neil hummed, and Andrew briefly wondered if that was a trait he had picked up from Renee. Neil Josten was a void of a person, absorbing personalities and habits in pretence of being real. He was just a mask teetering on falling off and revealing the horrors within. A mask waiting to be torn off.

“Renee said you thought Riko was going to come for him,” Neil said, pulling down his damp grey hood to reveal a tumble of coppery curls that cried out for the attention he tended to bat away. It was ridiculous that Neil acted and spoke like he was still in hiding sometimes, like he couldn’t bear to have someone look at him for longer than two seconds, and considered himself unworthy of a second glance, signed off a text with his full name as if he wasn’t going to be the first ‘Neil’ that came to mind.

It was ridiculous because despite all of it, he looked like that.

[wishbonetea]

SPOILER SUNDAYS: chapter thirty

When Neil reached his apartment, he paused at the front door. The keyhole featured the sharp scratches of lockpicks, and Jean had a key. Neil slipped out two of his knives before he opened the door with a twist of the handle. It opened easily, and whoever was inside had decided to keep the lights off. Neil considered the likelihood of their burglar being an environmentalist as he tiptoed through the hallway to the living room where Allison’s expensive television set was kept. Decidedly not, Neil thought when he saw who was sitting in Renee’s armchair, a cigarette burning between unsmiling lips.

The full chapter will be posted on Thursday, and if you’ve not caught up with Of Smoke & Bone yet you can read it here!