Page 83 of Hymn of Breath and Bone

Caspian groaned theatrically as I poked him gently in the ribs. “Very well, you fiend. Actually, maybe I’ll start calling you a hell-beast. Ilya said it to Zephyr, and I quite like the sound of it.”

The mention of the Stormcrow sobered me.

“Are you disappointed that it wasn’t you who killed him?”

“Does commanding sea dragons to eat him not count as killing him?”

I rolled my eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“No,” Caspian said, hand stilling on my hair. “He was always the better swordsman, and I had no chance against him while injured. I would have died if not for their intervention.”

“Do you regret not killing him back in Nordhavn?”

Caspian shrugged, then winced in pain.

“Make smaller movements.”

“I can’t help it,” he groused. “I’m an expressive male.”

“Answer the question” I pushed, brushing a fond kiss over his lips. He tried to lengthen it, but I was serious about my decree against defiling.

For now, at least.

Caspian sighed, pressing his face into the pillows.

“A little. But I’m also relieved. It occurred to me that I don’t want to be the kind of king—the kind of male—who kills indiscriminately. The Stormcrow committed crimes, certainly, but perhaps the sea dragons were divine justice in their own way.”

A knock at the door interrupted us, and I tried to rise. Caspian stopped me, holding me firm at his side as two familiar figures entered the room.

Zephyr beamed at us as Mira frowned.

“All of you look terrible.” The healer dropped a heavy bag on the end of the bed and scanned us from head to toe. She scowled at Caspian. “You especially.”

Caspian winced as I pulled myself from his arms so that Mira could inspect him properly. “Astraios told me you might need this,” she said, handing me a vial. “For your lungs.”

“Thank you,” I replied, clutching the precious vial to my chest. “Where is he?”

“He’s helping with the ships,” she replied absently as she began poking and prodding at my mate. Caspian grimaced and mouthed, “Help me!”

“The ships?” I looked at Zephyr, who grinned. “Go see. I’ll stay. Mira wants to inspect my wings, anyway.”

With a last glance at Caspian, who was looking extremely pained to have his stitches examined by his best healer, I ran to the highest floor of the keep I could get to without leaving the tower.

My lungs ached and burned by the time I got there, and I reminded myself to take a dose of Mira’s medicine as soon as I returned to Caspian.

One window overlooked the old stone jetty, where several ships, each with a winged selkie on its masthead, were docked and waiting to be unloaded one by one. The weather was unseasonably warm, the sky a pale blue with fluffy white clouds, and the sun shining brightly above.

Not a single storm or quake had racked the island since Caspian and I had declared our love before my father, and I didn’t think it was a coincidence. The sea tugged playfully at me, inciting me to come play.Not right now, I told her.Caspian needs me.

Astraios was below, a speck of brown hair and feathers, shouting and sweating as boxes and crates were unloaded. Sirens, old and young, were looking at the island with a combination of hope and fear.

“He assured me that they are medical supplies and historical records,” a voice said behind me.

I turned to find my father, looking somehow much older as he leaned against the door to the stairs I’d just run up.

He smiled a little sadly. “Your mate lives.”

“He does,” I replied, unsure whether I should step closer or farther away. I gestured to the window. “You allowed this?”