Page 79 of Ballad of Sea and Sky

You have changed, Little Goddess,Ran observed, butting his wet nose against my shoulder in a gesture of approval.I told you he was good for you. I shall perhaps not drown him out of spite.

Rannoch retreated with his herd, the kelpies flying over the cliffs like some eerily backward waterfall, rising until they disappeared back to their temporary home.

“Tomorrow?” Caspian asked, still waiting for an explanation about my conversation with the kelpie.

“Tomorrow,” I agreed tiredly, letting him help me back up the beach toward our cliff. “Vitulus will return with more force, so it has to be tomorrow. I evict Morar, and then we leave to wherever your home is. You’ll have to fly, I’m afraid, but if the kelpies take me—”

My words were cut off in a yelp that turned to a cry of exhilaration as Caspian scooped me up and shot into the air, his air magic compensating for his still healing wings. He flew fast and high, the autumn winds buffeting us wildly as he held me close and dove, returning to our hut with a gentle swoop of air.

My stomach dropped as we landed, the exhilaration of the flight quickly replaced by that of his kiss as he spun me once, his mouth pressed to mine as if he could breathe me in.

He broke the kiss when I thought I might die from the joy of it, or maybe from my lack of air intake, still holding me aloft as he smiled down at me.

“You are brilliant,” he said, kissing me again. “And brave. And of course I can fly myself. I’ll hover above Rannoch and irritate him the whole way.”

“Seas, he will drown you for sure,” I lamented, cupping his face. “Such a shame to lose such a handsome male to his own pomposity.”

“Hmm, I knew you thought me handsome,” he preened, carrying me into the little hut and sitting heavily on the bed. He arranged me more comfortably on his lap, still smirking at me with more joy than I had seen in him since meeting him. He practically radiated sunshine, his golden skin glowing faintly in the dim room. “And you are beautiful.”

It was silly to be so moved by a compliment based on features I had no control over, but I blushed nonetheless as he kissed me gently, my stomach fluttering like a hundred butterflies had taken up residence there.

“And you need to sleep,” he said suddenly, face turning stern. “When did you last eat?”

“Seas below,” I groaned, trying to wriggle out of his arms. He held me fast, and I sighed. “The coddling is truly unnecessary.”

“You were coughing this morning,” Caspian pointed out. “It probably gets worse as the weather cools, yes?” Without waiting for me to confirm this, he rambled on as if I wasn’t even there. “And you’ll be expending a huge amount of magic, after already expending your reserves today, and then to make the journey—”

“Fine,” I sighed, silencing his diatribe with a kiss, and accepting just a bit of coddling. “I’ll eat and sleep. I can ask the kelpies to keep watch for Vitulus and wake us if we need to run.”

“Your betrothed strikes me as persistent,” Caspian drawled, standing and plopping me into the bed as if he might tuck me in.

“Former betrothed,” I reminded him. “At least, I hope he believes I was serious about that.”

“Doubtless, he suspects me of warping your mind.” Caspian sighed, moving from the bed to the hearth, where he began to pull items from our makeshift abalone shell storage and put them into the pot. “I seriously considered snapping his neck when he tried to reach for you.”

“I hope,” I said, stifling a yawn lest Caspian try to put me to bed before eating, “that he can be persuaded to see reason. He’s a good male, despite his archaic notions.”

Caspian glanced up from his work, giving me a wry smile. “You have a kind heart, Marina,” he said, replacing the pot and standing, dropping a kiss on my forehead. “And I hope to the gods you are right.”

Chapter 29

Ifacedthelakewith Ran on my right and Caspian on my left, the latter holding my hand tightly as he frowned at the inky depths.

“What if I’m not ready?” I said, directing the question to Ran. “My control is better, yes, but I have no idea how to force Morar to leave.”

You have improved significantly in just a few short days,Ran agreed solemnly.I believe you are ready, Little Goddess.

“How unusual,” I teased. “Are you complimenting me?”

Do not become accustomed to it.

I laughed, feeling strangely fond of the water horse. “What exactly do I do though?” I asked. “How do I make him leave permanently?”

Allow the sea to assist you,Ran said cryptically, tossing his head anxiously.Some things are simply known.

He gave me a pointed look, and I remembered that he had said the same thing about his suspicions of me and Caspian. If there was a bond between us beyond desire or growing affection, I sensed nothing supernatural about it. Nothing compared to the darkness lurking in the lake.

“Fine,” I said, sighing as I turned to Caspian. “It’s time. If I black out, you have to let me finish. No saving me.”