Page 52 of Hymn of Breath and Bone

“I’m glad it seems to be working. But my offer stands, Urchin. Say the word, and I’ll beg the Witch Queen or the Demon King to heal you. We'll even travel as far as the Seelie Realm to ask their queen.”

“I wonder what it’s like in their kingdoms,” I mused, still holding Caspian’s arm as we headed into an alley that was darker and more cramped than the main streets. It smelled terrible, and I wrinkled my nose.

Caspian laughed at my expression. “Only a little further. And I’ll take you if you like. When our kingdom is settled and we don’t have to do quite so much politicking.”

Our kingdom. Because it would be one kingdom, unified by the first mated Siren King and Selkie Queen in centuries.

“How many centuries away will that be, do you think?” I asked, meeting his eyes.

Caspian guided me around a puddle of smelly murk that made my stomach turn before stopping in front of a decrepit door.

“We will do it together, Urchin,” he promised, brushing his thumb just under my jaw. “No matter how long it takes, wewillunite our people and restore the isles. And then Iwilltake you on a proper honeymoon.”

And despite the fact that we were standing in quite possibly the most unromantic place in the kingdom, the kiss he brushed to my lips made warmth suffuse every pore of my being and my heart thump a little harder.

Caspian lowered his hand to grasp mine. “Ready?”

I nodded, and he pushed open the door. It creaked on ancient hinges, opening to darkness and smoke and the smell of cloves.

Caspian led the way, stepping into the darkened chamber and shutting the door behind us with a heavy screech.

“Back so soon?”

I peered through the smoke, trying to find the source of the ancient voice that filled the small chamber. Caspian cursed as something clattered, then a candle lit and spread a golden glow through the cloying smoke.

“Hello, Theia,” he said, pulling me with him as he kept his body between me and the ancient figure who sat at the small round table in the center of the room. “Miss me?”

“You’ve brought the girl,” Theia said, interest piquing her tone.

“Marina,” Caspian corrected, pulling me forward until I stood beside him before the low table. “My mate.”

Theia grunted as if this were obvious. “And my gift?”

Caspian placed the books atop the table and slid them to her, where she tore into the paper with long nails that were almost claw-like in their appearance.

Theia was old in the way only near-immortals became old—her body withered and gnarled as if she had dried up in the ages of her life. My stomach turned as I took in her face and the dark, empty sockets where her eyes should have been.

“I didn’t know—” I started, hesitating when those empty pits met my eyes. “Caspian didn’t mention you had lost your vision. The books—”

Theia waved her clawed hand dismissively then continued to tear the paper from the tomes. “I can see well enough.”

It seemed rude to contradict her, but I couldn’t see how this was possible when she clearly had no eyes. I looked to Caspian for clarification, but he just shrugged.

“Maps of the world,” Theia murmured, her hands touching the leather bound covers and tracing the foil titles as if that alone were enough to read the contents. “Why?”

She looked up, not to Caspian, but to me. He squeezed my hand, urging me to answer.

“Since you do not leave to see the world,” I replied, stifling a cough as my lungs struggled with the scented smoke, “we brought the world to you.”

“Sentimental nonsense,” she muttered, caressing the covers lovingly in sharp contrast to her derisive words. When she looked up, her sightless sockets were narrowed on Caspian. “Why are you here?”

“For your wisdom, as always.” Caspian perched on one of the low stools before the table. He looked almost comical, his giant wings taking up far more of the room than anything else.

A draft came from seemingly out of nowhere, and Theia hissed in annoyance as she huddled in on herself. She had no wings, but Caspian had called her his aunt. His great-great-great aunt. A dawning realization of horror hit me.

“You’re her,” I said, dropping to the stool next to Caspian. “You’re the Siren Princess.”

Caspian’s subtle nod told me all I needed, but Theia scoffed in derision.