Even more frightening was the danger this message implied. The Queen had expressed interest in me; Moriarty had been interested in Holmes, too. I swallowed.

"Moran, it is." I managed to keep my voice steady. "I'm going to stash the feather someplace safe."

"Where would that be?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not asking because I intend to steal it," he said. "But you weren't exempt from its thrall. Is anywhere 'safe?'"

"Your experience was completely ...