Page 51 of Hymn of Breath and Bone

“I’m just saying, it’s an extremely useful bit of magic,” he grumbled, shaking water from his wings as the weak morning sun did little to dry him. “We should see what else you can do.”

“Later,” I replied, dragging him by the hand down the docks toward the town. A different sea dragon, one with yellow scales and eerie green eyes, now guarded the ship. He snorted a stream of water into the air in greeting as we passed, and I sent a mental hand out to scratch his scaly snout. “No more stalling, you cowardly seagull.”

“You would be a coward too if you’d met her,” he grumbled darkly. “This won’t be a pleasant visit, Urchin.”

“Then prepare me,” I insisted, slowing my pace only when the market had come into view amidst the fog. “Who is she to you, exactly?”

Everything I had heard about Theia had not prepared me for Caspian’s resigned reply. “My aunt.”

“Your aunt?” I stopped dead, Caspian staggering to a halt beside me with a sheepish expression on his face.

“Probably could have told you that earlier.”

“You have a living relative?” I pinned him with an indignant glare. I had believed all his family to be gone. The stakes for this meeting felt suddenly much higher.

Caspian laughed dryly. “Living? Barely. And relative…she’s something like my great-great-great aunt. We’re not close, and she doesn’t leave Nordhavn.” His expression softened as he felt my anxiety claw its way up mybody. “You’ve nothing to be worried about, Urchin. She hates everyone—including me.”

“But—”

“You don’t need to worry about her opinion of you,” he insisted, continuing down the dock now draggingmebehindhim.“I can tell you now that it will be poor. Let’s find her a gift.”

I was too stunned to properly register this bizarre non sequitur, but I hurried after him as he began weaving through market stalls. He seamlessly shook hands and exchanged pleasantries as he perused, and again I had the sense he knew everyone in town as he hunted for something shiny.

“What does she like?” I asked, not sure what kind of gift the estranged great-great-great aunt of my mate would like.

Caspian snorted. “She likes nothing unless it dulls the senses, but she’ll settle for something shiny she can pawn.”

“She’s an addict?” I frowned, trying to remember what I knew of mind-altering herbs and flowers. They were forbidden on the isles, but I knew some still managed to smuggle the substances in.

Caspian paused at a stall that had a large collection of gold chains. “All fake,” he muttered in disgust, picking one up to examine. “And yes. It’s how she copes with her pain.”

“She’s sick?”

“Injured.” Caspian replaced the chain and turned to look down at me. “I wantherto tell you her story, Urchin. I promise to answer all of your questions after you meet her.”

He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it before twining his fingers in mine and pulling me past the next stall.

“Youhaveproven that you keep your promises, I suppose,” I conceded. Caspian grinned as an idea struck me. “Let’s go to the bookshop.”

“You want to buy a book?” Caspian clasped my hand tightly as I wound through the streets toward the bookshop I’d perused on my first visit.

“There are books of maps,” I explained, slowing my pace as a cough threatened and willing my lungs to calm. “Atlases. You say she goes nowhere. I propose we bring other places to her.”

“Urchin.” Caspian drew me to a stop a few yards from the bookshop, whose door was open invitingly in the misty morning. He looked down at me, eyes wide and unreadable.

“Is it a terrible idea?”

“You are…it’s…” He bent to kiss me, catching me behind the neck and claiming my mouth fiercely right there on the street where anyone could see. His voice was a little hoarse as he pulled away, lips brushing mine in a final kiss. “It’s perfect.You’reperfect.”

I beamed, dragging him on toward the bookshop.

I chose two books of maps for Theia—one of the whole continent, and another of lands explored beyond, some of which I had never heard of. The second book was so fascinating that Caspian insisted we buy a second copy for me, and I also selected several books of histories and music that I had coveted on my first visit.

Had I not already loved him, seeing Caspian laugh in resigned amusement as I piled his arms with books would have had me falling hard and fast. For what girl doesn’t want a mate who will buy her all the books her heart desires and then carry them for her?

“We’re going into a seedier area of town,” Caspian warned as we left the bookshop and headed up the street. “Do you need more tea? Should we stop by the apothecary?”

“Mira’s medicine is still working,” I replied, squeezing his arm. “She sent me with enough for another week at least.”