Page 69

“What? You asked if I was muckingstalls. Plural. I muckedastall. Technically, didn’t lie.”

Skye growled under his breath, but she had him. He knew it. She knew that he knew it, though it didn’t stop the inevitable frown of disapproval. “Cute.”

“Thanks,” she said, grinning.

“But you know what I mean. You were unconscious in my arms just this morning. You shouldn’t be mucking anything.”

He… may have had a point. There was a stitch in her side that wouldn’t go away, and she didn’t want to take another breath on the airbalm. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“I’m fine,” she said, pushing past him. The scent of straw and horses faded as she moved into the open yard. It was dark. Crickets and frogs were just beginning their nightly chorus.

Gravel crunched behind her, and she knew he was following. “Aiden said that Earthlung is painful.Extraordinarilywas the word he used.”

“Oh? Yeah, I guess.”

“So, why didn’t you say anything?”

“I did. I said I had aether sickness.”

“Hey—look at me.” He caught her arm, turning her to face him. The shadows swallowed everything but his eyes, sharp and glowing green. “Taly, we’re talking about the difference between a little breathlessness and having the insides of your lungs spontaneously turn to liquid. They’re not even remotely the same.”

It wasn’t what he said. It washowhe said it—like she was one step away from complete incompetence.

“And how exactly was I supposed to know that?” She jerked her arm away. “I’ve never had aether sickness before. My lungs hurt. It seemed like a reasonable conclusion.”

Skye looked at her, baffled. Taly tried to understand—she really did. She remembered mentioning the pain, but maybe she’d downplayed it. How was she supposed to know that the twisting ache in her chest was something different, something worse?

“I really am fine, Skye.” It would’ve landed harder if that hadn’t been the moment her voice chose to hitch.

With each frustrated beat of her heart, her lungs felt tighter, the air thinner.

She couldn’t wait any longer. Pulling the airbalm from her pocket, Taly took another breath. The taste was… sour. But also bitter. And it lingered. Her mood darkened on the spot.

“Did you need something?” she asked, sharper than intended.

He was bristling, getting himself worked up, and she didn’t feel like fighting. It made her lungs hurt.

It must’ve shown—the pain, the utter exhaustion—because he took pity on her, albeit moodily. “Ivain wanted to see you in his office.”

“Now?”

“Whenever you can.”

Taly nodded, and because it was only her first day home, and she wanted to keep that peace, she went to her toes and kissed his cheek.

He caught her mouth when she pulled back. Kissed her again, then once more like a thief sneaking seconds.

“You’re impossible,” he murmured, still close.

She smirked. “I am a delight.”

“You know, some people just nap after surgery.”

“Sounds boring.” As she stepped back, their hands brushed and caught—fingers curling, then slipping free. “Besides, you wouldn’t know what to do if Ididrest.”

Skye huffed. “I’d celebrate,” he muttered to himself. “Sleep. Maybe stop aging prematurely.”

She walked away without turning back, letting him pretend he meant every word. He was smiling, so clearly, she wasn’tthathard to live with.