Page 83 of Ballad of Sea and Sky

“Thank the skies,” I growled, gathering her into my arms and crushing her to me. I had been a fool to think that I’d be able to watch her walk away. There was no way I could let her go, not after this.

And now, she was bound to me, whether she wanted it or not.

“Marina?” I shook her, and she gurgled a protest, her lungs still struggling to take in air as she drifted in and out of consciousness. It felt like I was the one drowning, struggling to breathe, my own lungs and ribs aching. “Shit, I’m going to get you help.”

I felt a flash of relief, a settling feeling of trust come over me, and I nearly reeled back at the emotion that wasn’t mine.

I looked to the damned horse, who confirmed what I had felt with a nod.

Your mate lives, Winged One,Rannoch repeated, looking at her with concern.But she needs care.

“She agreed to come with me,” I replied, looking curiously at the horse. “To my people. She’ll be safe there. I can care for her better there than I can here.”

We will need to transport her carefully, Ran replied, calling to his herd.Sealskins, perhaps.

“I need five minutes,” I agreed, standing and cradling Marina in my arms. She felt so frail like this, so fragile. Skies, she would be absolutely livid at me for saying so. The thought steeled my resolve. “Let’s go.”

You will remember your deal with me, Winged One,Rannoch called after me. I stopped and turned as he approached, his gaze on Marina rather than me.You offered me anything. You will reunite the Silent Isles. What has been done cannot be undone.

His words struck me like a blow as I remembered the same warning from another source from what felt like lifetimes ago.

What has been done cannot be undone. Theia.

“I understand,” I said, shifting Marina closer to my chest as the full meaning of the words struck me. “And I accept.”

Rannoch and his herd accompanied us to the hut, where I wrapped Marina as warmly as I could, tying the remaining sealskins together to make a sort of stretcher. She would be cold, pulled in the ocean, but there was no way I could fly her so far, and Rannoch had vowed to keep her safe.

I carried her to the beach, refusing to give her over to Rannoch’s care until the last possible moment.

“I need you to live, Marina,” I implored, kissing her gently as I settled her between Rannoch and three members of his herd, each who took a corner of the skins in its mouth for the journey. “I need you to come back to me. Please.”

You must lead the way, Winged One, Rannoch commanded.Your mate doesn’t have much time.

I nodded, giving her one last long look before shooting into the sky.

Chapter 31

Iwasgettingverytired of waking up in random places and beds I didn’t recognize. Once in a lifetime was more than enough for this particular phenomenon, and I had lost track of what number this time was.

It took me a moment to feel my body. Everything was a bit fuzzy and numb in a not wholly unpleasant way, and I had the strange feeling that I perhaps didn’twantto feel the full extent of my injuries right now.

I was on a bed, much larger than the one in the tiny hunting lodge, a soft mattress below me and pillows piled all around me in something like a nest. The blankets were a mix of fabrics and textures, one a warm fur rather like sealskins back home, another woven from something soft with big holes between the threads, a third of plain cloth and simple stitching, a little coarser than the others.

It was only at this point that I realized I wasn’t alone.

Caspian was asleep in a chair next to me, his face drawn and pale in the dim light, somehow softer in sleep. His booted feet lay crossed on the bed, his wings drooping and feathers ruffled. He looked cleaner since I’d last seen him, his trousers and boots new and his chest bare aside from his usual leather armor.

How long had it been since the lake and the island and Morar? I felt bruised all over, each breath accompanied by a stab of pain that told me my ribs were broken. Had I been unconscious for only a few hours then? For days?

“Cas,” I croaked, glad to hear that I had something of a voice still.

Caspian startled awake, his face transforming from panic to relief when he saw that my eyes were open.

“Marina,” he murmured, lifting his feet off the bed and moving to sit next to me. I winced as he jostled my ribs painfully. “Apologies, Urchin,” he added, smoothing my blankets. “I’ll be more careful.”

“I’m fine,” I protested, looking around but not really seeing anything but him. “Where are we?”

“Never do that again,” Caspian growled, cupping my face with a fierce expression. “Before I tell you anything, I want your promise.”