Page 30 of Hymn of Breath and Bone

“Cas,” I whispered.

A sudden flurry of wind made me open my eyes to find Caspian gone, the curtain to the door swinging wildly as if he had just bolted.

I screamed in frustration, scrambling from the bed and running to the main room, where the curtain to the sea and sky was held aside, Caspian framed by the rock.

“Sleep well, Urchin.” He grinned and shot me an irreverent wink before launching into the sky.

I ran to the curtained entry, scowling at his retreating form. “I hate you!”

In the distance, Caspian laughed, waving back at me as he flew into the night. “Tomorrow, Urchin. You’ll love me tomorrow.”

Chapter 12

Suffice it to saythat I had to take matters into my own hands before I was finally able to sleep. My body was too tense from Caspian’s teasing and my mind too occupied with what he had revealed and thoughts of our handfasting.

I would make him suffer for his little stunt.

Zephyr brought me dinner, giving me a knowing wink when she took in my flushed cheeks and scowl. “He’s safe, in caseyou care,” she said, leaving dinner on the low table beside me. “He’ll be working most of the night to get everything ready, but he told me to remind you to get some sleep.”

“I’m going to murder him,” I growled, making Zephyr laugh as she made to leave.

“I’m sure he deserves it.”

I was woken bythe sound of boxes being opened and a feminine voice barking orders the next morning.

The curtain to Caspian’s bedroom was drawn back before I had the chance to scramble for a weapon, and Ana grinned down at me, practically bouncing with giddiness.

“Today is the day!” she squealed, launching herself at me and enclosing me in a tight hug that I was too groggy to return. “Zephyr is getting the ship loaded and staffed. Caspian is responsible for getting the ceremony ready, which really means that my mother will be taking charge.” She winced apologetically. “So I get to spend the day with you and help you prepare!”

“I need a whole day to prepare?” I grumbled, frowning at the boxes and piles of fabric that littered the main room as I rubbed sleep from my eyes. A small army of sirens were bustling around the room, some laying out breakfast, others arranging flowers, and still more draping fabric of all different colors and materials over chairs.

“Well, your gown, your hair, your makeup…” Ana trailed off at the sight of my scowl. “Caspian did say you might be rather put off. He told me to tell you that he promised to make it up to you.”

“Of course he did,” I sighed, wondering at the fuss. I supposed this would be the same nonsense I’d have endured had I been forced to mate Vitulus, and the thought sent my emotions warring.

My parents wouldn’t see my handfasting. They wouldcertainlynot approve of my choice of mate.

But I was to mate Caspian. A male I loved and admired, rather than one chosen for me.

It was strange to feel both so happy and so sad at the same time, especially since my annoyance with said beloved and admirable male was currently outweighing his good qualities.

“Healsotold me to say that if you hate all of this you’re welcome to show up completely naked and undone for the handfasting,” Ana added tentatively. “He said he’d actually prefer it.”

I laughed, admiration taking a slight lead against annoyance. “Of course he would. I’m sure the council would justlovethat.”

“He also said to tell you ‘fuck them,’ if you said that.” Ana grinned. “It would certainly be a memorable handfasting.”

I met her smile with one of my own, sleep finally abating with the smell of fruit and bread and tea. “Very well, I suppose we should do the thing properly. I’m happy to follow your lead and do this the siren way, but there is one tradition from my people we need to uphold.”

“Ooh, yes,” Ana said enthusiastically. I could see the wheels in her archivist’s brain turning as she mentally cataloged everything she had read of selkie tradition. “Is it a sacrifice? Some kind of prayer to the sea? I am at your disposal with whatever it is, short of ritual murder of course.”

I laughed again, glad to have Ana with me. I knew why Caspian had sent her, and I loved him even more for it. She was the perfect person to keepmy mind off the challenges of what we were about to do and focused on the joy of it all.

The tradition was, to Ana’s extreme disappointment, simply a final swim as an unmated selkie. I was grateful Mira’s medicine was working wonders for me, because this was one of the rituals I had feared in marrying Vitulus.

As a symbol of longevity and fruitfulness, selkies, on the morning of their mating, dive to the ocean floor and retrieve a treasure to symbolize their pairing. Pearls were a symbol of wealth and prosperity, coral symbolized happiness and long life, and seaweed represented fertility and protection.

Occasionally a selkie brought up other treasures, like gold coins or knives from shipwrecks, and the priestesses were always able to spin it into some kind of blessing.