Page 55 of Hymn of Breath and Bone

“I have no fucking idea.” Caspian kissed my knuckles, frowning down at me. “Half of what Theia says comes to nothing. But I’m sorry, Urchin. I should have told you my theory about Melusine sooner.”

“I’m not upset,” I assured him. “More confused than anything. And I actually understand why you didn’t.”

“You do?” He raised a brow in disbelief, and I reached up to smooth his frown away with my thumbs.

“It was outlandish enough that I wouldn’t have believed it. Plus,” I confessed, feeling unreasonably proud of myself, “I’d mostly figured it out by myself.”

“Of course you did.” He grinned and bent to kiss me on the cheek before continuing to guide me back to the ship. “Any other revelations you should tell me about?”

“None. You?”

“I think we’re all caught up with each other now, Urchin,” he said, squeezing my shoulders affectionately. “Now we just need to figure out our next move.”

“Oh, I already know our next move,” I said dismissively as we strode up the gangplank to the deck of the ship.

“Of course you do,” Caspian sighed. “Care to share?”

“We go see the Stormcrow.”

Caspian halted as we reached the deck, tugging me around to face him. “No.”

“It’s the only way, Cas.” I tried to keep my voice sweet and convincing as I laid out my reasons. “Theia was no help, and as you said, we can’t win a war on two fronts. We need to eliminate the threat before we see my father.”

“And if itisyour father?” he pushed. “The most obvious answer is that your father hired him to help get you back. Who better than someone who knows the cliffs?”

“And if it was someone else? Is that a risk you’re willing to take?”

“I’m not willing to riskyou,Urchin. He already tried to take you from me once. I’m not packaging you up and delivering you to him myself.”

“Need I remind you that you taught me to defend myself? I’m not helpless, and I’m not afraid of him.”

“Iam afraid of him, Urchin.” Caspian clasped my shoulders, pulling me closer. “I’m fucking terrified of losing you, and I’m not too proud to admit it.”

Before I could reply to this touching sentiment, Zephyr coughed loudly from the main deck. “Any chance your lover’s quarrel can wait? We have guests.”

“What guests?” Caspian asked, still holding me as he looked to the main deck.

“Oh, no one special,” came a voice I had not heard in over a week.

“Astraios!” I smiled up at the male as he flew down from the rigging and alighted beside Zephyr. He looked tired and more scruffy than normal, his beard extra scraggly and unkempt, and his speckled wings drooping with exhaustion. But he was smiling as I made my way up to the main deck and threw my arms around him. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Tired of your mate so soon?” he teased, earning a laugh from Caspian as the two males clasped hands.

“I promise you, Marina is perfectly satiated,” Caspian said, making me blush as Astraios grinned down at me.

“I suppose I can’t blame you for not waiting for me to make an honest male of him,” Astraios sighed dramatically.

“But I’m furious,” came a female voice from behind me, one so familiar and unexpected I half thought I had gone mad.

“Sereia?” I asked, turning to find my silver-haired friend standing looking very uncertain and awkward in her usual seal-skin wrap. I threw my arms around her, tears unexpectedly springing to my eyes. “Why are you here? How are you here?”

“It’s a very long story,” she replied, hugging me back tightly before pulling away to examine me. “You’re well? You’re not ensorcelled? Astraios was telling the truth?”

“I am and he was,” I confirmed, taking her hands in mine and squeezing them. I frowned, taking in the deep bags under her eyes and her skin abnormally pale except for a purpling bruise across her cheek. “You’re not though. What happened?”

“Your father is what happened,” Astraios cut in, looking more murderous than I had ever seen him. “We just flew in. Let’s get some food and drink into your friend, and we’ll tell you the whole sordid tale.”

“First things first,” Caspian interrupted. “Do you have the Selkie King’s reply?”